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.
CATIA Live Rendering is a CATIA visualization workflow for exploring product shape, color, material, trim, lighting, environments, cameras, and animation while the design remains in the CATIA and 3DEXPERIENCE context. It supports interactive visual review and can produce rendered images and videos from the configured scene.
CATIA Live Rendering is a strong choice when a CATIA team needs to assess a product inside its design environment: apply or tune materials, use HDRI-style ambience and lights, choose a camera, and inspect reflections, shadows, and proportions while discussing design alternatives. RENDERCAD fits a later, lighter handoff when the useful view already exists as a CAD viewport screenshot, product angle, or design image. Start from that view to generate a polished still or short visual for a concept deck, client conversation, sales page, or internal presentation without rebuilding the scene or exchanging geometry. Keep CATIA Live Rendering for the controlled in-model visual review; use RENDERCAD to turn an approved view into communication-ready imagery quickly.
CATIA Live Rendering stays close to CATIA product data and its scene-authoring tools. Designers can work with material appearance, lights, ambiences, cameras, decals or stickers, and animation, then evaluate the result interactively. Its rendering workflow is useful when color and material choices, surface reflections, lighting context, and camera framing need to be reviewed alongside the product model. Reusable scene settings and animation tools also suit teams preparing repeatable design presentations or rendered product documentation.
RENDERCAD is not a replacement for CATIA's authoritative model, material definitions, or interactive design-validation workflow. It is useful after a team has selected a clear product view and needs an image-led visual upgrade with less scene preparation. A designer, engineer, marketer, or founder can use a clean CATIA viewport capture or existing product image as the starting point, describe the desired presentation direction, and create visual alternatives for a campaign mockup, proposal, product story, or stakeholder review. For current implementation guidance, use RENDERCAD developer documentation.
Choose CATIA Live Rendering when the task requires hands-on control of the native scene, faithful review of the modeled product, or production of an animation from CATIA. Choose RENDERCAD when the source view is already good enough to communicate the design and the immediate need is a stronger presentation image rather than further CAD scene authoring. Treat CATIA data and engineering decisions as the source of truth; use RENDERCAD output as a visual communication asset, not as evidence for manufacturing or design approval.
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 | Catia Live Rendering |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Generative AI | Real-time visualization/ray tracing |
| Output | Images + Video | Varies by tool |
| Resolution | HD / 4K | Varies |
| Image Speed | Image renders complete in 60 seconds. | Interactive previews; final time varies |
| 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) | CATIA and 3DEXPERIENCE workstation workflows |
| Install | None | Varies (web or app) |
| Cost | from $9/mo | Enterprise Dassault licensing |
Compare the workflows side by side and choose the one that fits the next task.
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 and this workflow
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 image renders complete in 60 seconds. Competing renderer speed depends on scene complexity, render settings, hardware, queue time, and final output quality.
RENDERCAD starts at $9/month with credits that refresh monthly - predictable costs with no upfront investment or perpetual license fees.
RENDERCAD starts from a supported 2D image such as a CAD viewport capture, product photo, or drawing. You do not need to import the native 3D scene, but you may need to capture or export a clear image from the source application first.
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.
Yes. A clear viewport capture can become a more polished visual for a design review. Image renders complete in 60 seconds, making it practical to prepare or iterate presentation options.
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.
Upload a clear view, describe the brushed-aluminum finish you want, and add a material reference when the visual direction matters. Because the result is generated from an image, inspect the grain direction and surface details against your original design before using it in a final presentation.
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.
Start with a clear source view, choose a simple background, and describe the studio look you want. RENDERCAD can generate a presentation image without requiring you to build a traditional light rig, but the lighting is image-based and should be reviewed rather than treated as a physically measured setup.
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.
The Seamless Loop option is designed to improve continuity between the end and beginning of a generated video. Inspect the transition before publishing because generative motion and loop quality can vary by image and model.
What RENDERCAD customers say