Advanced tools for design visualization, illustration, and animation are helping design engineers create realistic representations of their products. Continually enhanced tools allow users to quickly create photorealistic CAD renderings and animations that can convey ideas and explain designs to manufacturers or customers prior to a physical prototype. These visualized renderings can also become the blueprint for 3D prototypes.
Renaissance Services has created VIVID (http://www.ren-services.com/relationships/vivid/), which integrates data with upstream engineering and manufacturing information.