Create stunning photorealistic images and videos from any CAD system, real life photo, or even a quick napkin sketch.
IMAGE RENDERS COMPLETE IN 60 SECONDS.
Act-3D develops Lumion, a real-time visualization application for architects and designers working from CAD, BIM, and 3D models. A typical Lumion project imports a building or design model, then layers in materials, contextual objects, terrain, lighting, weather, effects, and camera views before rendering presentation images, movies, or panoramas. LiveSync can keep supported modeling workflows visually connected while a design is being refined. This makes Lumion particularly useful when the team needs to author and revisit a complete 3D presentation scene, not simply improve one existing view.
Act-3D's Lumion is a full architectural visualization workspace, built around importing or synchronizing a CAD/BIM model and shaping a reusable 3D scene. Architects can test surface finishes, place vegetation, furniture and other context, adjust terrain and atmosphere, compose cameras, and create images, films, or panoramic presentations. RENDERCAD serves a narrower but practical stage of that visual workflow: take an already useful viewport capture, massing view, product view, or architectural reference image and turn it into a polished still without first constructing a separate Lumion scene. Choose Lumion when the presentation depends on model-linked scene authoring, navigation, or motion; choose RENDERCAD when a fast still image is the goal and the essential geometry and viewpoint are already visible.
Lumion asks the user to work from source geometry. After importing a compatible 3D model or using an available LiveSync connection, the team assigns or refines materials, populates surroundings, sets lighting and effects, and stores camera viewpoints or paths. That control is valuable for design review and for delivering a coordinated series of visuals as the model changes. It also means that source model quality, imported material organization, scene setup, desktop hardware, and final export choices remain part of the production process. RENDERCAD begins later, from a selected image. A clean CAD viewport, BIM perspective, product screenshot, or early architectural view can be used to explore a more presentation-ready still for a client review, proposal, portfolio, or marketing concept. Keep Lumion or the originating CAD/BIM model as the source of truth for dimensions, editable materials, walkthroughs, and 360 views. RENDERCAD is not a replacement for model synchronization or a navigable project scene; it is best used when image-based rendering can shorten the path from an existing design view to a compelling visual.
Screenshot the CAD viewport you already have, render in the browser, and download a client-ready still or video without exports, plugins, or GPU setup.
Modeled by CADSharp in Onshape. Rendered with RENDERCAD.
Add | Change | or Remove referenced objects with the stroke of a brush.
RENDERCAD uses a maintained selection of image-generation models for different rendering tasks. Results can vary by model and input, so compare generated output with the source design before relying on geometry, materials, or dimensions.
| Feature | RENDERCAD | Act-3D |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Generative AI | Real-time architectural visualization |
| Output | Images + Video | Varies by tool |
| Resolution | HD / 4K | Varies |
| Image Speed | Image renders complete in 60 seconds. | Real-time scene feedback; final render time varies with the scene and output |
| Video Speed | Videos complete in 2-5 minutes. | Varies by workflow |
| Scene Set Up | No separate local scene | Varies by workflow |
| Input | Screen Snip | Varies by tool |
| Materials | 2,600+ Textures | Library varies |
| Backgrounds | 1300+ Backgrounds | Tool-dependent |
| Conditions | 40+ Effects | Tool-dependent |
| References | Up to 6 Per Render | Varies |
| Hardware | Cloud (None Required) | Windows desktop application with import and LiveSync workflows |
| Install | None | Varies (web or app) |
| Cost | from $9/mo | Commercial Lumion software with evaluation options |
Side by side, feature by feature. See how RENDERCAD's AI approach compares with Act-3D's interactive visualization workflow.
Skip a separate local scene build. Pick a condition, material, and background while RENDERCAD handles the image-generation step. Image renders complete in 60 seconds.
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RENDERCAD™
Use the browser workflow directly, capture a selected view with the desktop app, or start from the browser extension.
Get StartedCommon questions about RENDERCAD vs Act-3D
Yes. Request a golden-hour look and describe the mood or direction you want. The generated warmth, shadows, and light direction can vary between results, so compare important design details with the source image.
Describe an environment such as a sunny forest or urban street and use a reference image when needed. Image renders complete in 60 seconds without building a local scene file or environment map.
RENDERCAD's Create Video workflow generates a video from a single image and provides Camera and Product Motion controls. Videos complete in 2-5 minutes.
RENDERCAD can generate orbit-style motion from a single image using a Camera option. Because the motion is inferred rather than rendered from a complete 3D model, review geometry and hidden-side details before publishing the result.
Usually. Generation runs in the cloud, so it does not occupy a local renderer. Keep the relevant browser workflow available as required, and expect normal network and browser resource use while the job is submitted and results are loaded.
RENDERCAD processes generation in the cloud, so it does not require a dedicated local rendering GPU. You still need a supported browser and internet connection, and normal browser, upload, and download activity can use local device resources.
RENDERCAD avoids much of the scene, shader, and local-renderer setup used by traditional rendering tools. Users still need to prepare a useful source image, choose suitable options, describe the intended result, and review generated details.
RENDERCAD starts at $9/month with credits that refresh monthly - predictable costs with no upfront investment or perpetual license fees.
RENDERCAD is designed to create more polished, realistic-looking presentation images from a source view. Results vary by input and settings, and generated images should be checked against the original model before they are used to communicate exact design details.
RENDERCAD can generate a visual interpretation of a described or referenced material without requiring shader parameters. It does not guarantee physically measured or specification-accurate material behavior, so validate critical color, grain, reflectivity, and finish details against approved references.
Describe the wood species and finish you want, and provide a reference image when scale or grain direction matters. RENDERCAD can generate a wood-like visual treatment, but it does not replace model-level texture mapping or guarantee an exact, repeatable grain pattern.
With RENDERCAD, upload or snip a clear image, describe carbon fiber, and add a material reference when exact visual direction matters. Image renders complete in 60 seconds.
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