SmartWash was the second animation we developed for SISO, immediately following the successful launch of SnapShot. Both projects shared the same 3D whiteboard visual system, giving SISO a unified, ownable look across their product suite. While SnapShot focused on real-time monitoring and analytics, SmartWash introduced a fully automated turbine washing system built to reduce downtime and boost efficiency. With the visual language and production pipeline already in place, we were able to reuse core assets, camera rigs, and rendering setups—cutting production time and ensuring SmartWash felt like a seamless extension of the SnapShot story.

Pre-Production

Concept & Scripting

The SmartWash story followed a clear, straightforward arc: dirty turbines degrade in performance, SmartWash automates a cleaning cycle, sensors verify cleanliness, and SnapShot tracks performance gains. The client shared photos of the wash skid and tank, along with UI screenshots—reference materials that helped us shape a logical, step-by-step sequence plant operators could easily follow.

From day one, clarity was the focus. We structured scenes to first show two turbines being washed side by side, then zoomed in on a single turbine to break down the process in more detail. We scripted key visual moments to spotlight ease of use—like the one-button start—and backed it up with data visuals, including sensor outputs and performance graphs, to confirm the system’s impact.

Rapid Prototype

Thanks to the groundwork laid by SnapShot, SmartWash ramped up quickly in the RP phase. We reused the LM-2500 turbine, combined-cycle plant model, line rendering setup, and camera choreography. That gave us more time to focus on what was new: SmartWash-specific modeling and effects.

The biggest addition was the wash skid and tank, built directly from client reference images. To visualize the wash cycle itself, we built a stylized water shader inside Blender—not a full-blown fluid sim, but an abstracted effect that fit the whiteboard style while clearly communicating function.

We added grime buildup on turbine blades to establish a clear "before" state, then animated a rinse that visibly cleared away the dirt. In After Effects, we built conductivity sensor displays as dual bar charts: one bar for baseline inlet values, and another that dropped from 5.0 µS to 1.0 µS, indicating a completed rinse. Performance data was animated to show pre-wash losses and post-wash recovery, with views showing both short-term (three-month) and long-term (year-over-year) improvements.

Client feedback came in clearly and was easy to implement thanks to the modular production approach. They asked for steeper graph slopes to dramatize gains, relabeled axes to reflect Power (MW) and HPC Efficiency, and called out timing tweaks to make sure the wash skid and piping appeared exactly when mentioned in the VO. All changes were folded in quickly using the SnapShot production infrastructure.

Style Choices and Reasoning

SmartWash carried forward the clean, schematic 3D whiteboard look introduced in SnapShot. White surfaces with Grease Pencil linework defined all forms—keeping visuals clean and brand-consistent.

The style evolved slightly to fit SmartWash’s story. Grime and dirt effects were added to communicate the cleaning process clearly, while the water shader remained abstract and schematic—not photorealistic—maintaining visual cohesion with the rest of the platform. Carryover UI overlays and dashboards from SnapShot reinforced brand continuity, while new elements like conductivity sensors added variety and freshness without breaking the system.

Full Production

Look & Animation Development

With the RP approved, we shifted into final production. Camera animation was refined to deliver clean, readable framing, especially in the side-by-side wash sequences. Grime was tuned to feel visible but not overpowering. The rinse pass used subtle particle effects to convey dirt removal without disrupting the schematic aesthetic.

Graphs and dashboards were dialed in to sync tightly with the narration. Curves for performance loss and recovery were redrawn to be more dynamic and easier to read. The “time to wash” alert triggered at the moment of turbine degradation, and conductivity sensors animated down to the “Clean Complete” status in sync with VO. The SnapShot logo was locked into dashboard shots to reinforce that SmartWash plugged into the existing monitoring infrastructure.

Technical Workflows

We continued with Blender’s Eevee renderer and Grease Pencil lines for visual consistency. The new water shader was rigged to conform to turbine interiors with simple keyframes. After Effects handled compositing, overlays, and all particle and sensor display animation. Precomps kept everything modular and editable, making it fast to revise labels, adjust values, or tune animation timing based on client input.

With so much of the base setup carried over from SnapShot, we were able to move quickly without having to rebuild anything from scratch. Minor revisions like updating conductivity values or adjusting chart slopes were implemented efficiently without slowing down production.

Collaboration & Revisions

Just like SnapShot, SmartWash was shaped by close client collaboration. SISO asked for a stronger visual emphasis on efficiency gains, removal of extraneous graph lines, and steeper slopes to highlight SmartWash’s impact. They also asked for another zoom-out shot to give viewers a better sense of the full wash skid layout. All changes were made without friction, thanks to the streamlined production system.

Final Compositing & Delivery

In post, we pulled everything together—Blender line renders, After Effects overlays, grime and water passes, and final data graphics. Contrast and sharpening were applied subtly to make lines crisp. Music and narration were balanced to maintain pacing and clarity, and subtitles were added for accessibility.

The final SmartWash video was delivered in 1080p H.264 and ProRes, matching SnapShot’s file structure for easy pairing. Both videos now sit side-by-side as a cohesive part of SISO’s sales and communications toolkit—web-ready, presentation-ready, and fully on brand.

Transcript:
Knowledge is power. SmartWash by SISO is the data-driven, turnkey turbine cleaning system.

We give you clarity, consistency, and customized data from every wash.

When turbines run cleaner, they produce more power. 

SmartWash provides a consistent and customized wash every single time. Helping you recover measurable gains in output and efficiency.

It’s engineered for ease: just push a button, and SmartWash handles the cleaning from start to finish.

Conductivity sensors track the rinse process until the rinse matches inlet conditions  – confirming a complete clean.

And using the SISO SnapShot System, you'll have insight into the power recovery of your engine 

That means reliable efficiency, optimized maintenance timing, and repeatability.

With monitoring and alerts of when to wash and how often, with SmartWash, you’re upgrading how you operate.

More output. More certainty. More control. SmartWash by SISO.