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.
NVIDIA Iray is a physically based, progressive renderer used through compatible 3D applications and integrations to create photorealistic product, design, architectural, and visual-effects imagery. Its workflow begins with a real scene: geometry, camera, lighting, and materials are evaluated together, with NVIDIA Material Definition Language (MDL) describing surface and volume appearance. It suits teams that need to inspect how a prepared model responds to light, reflections, refraction, or measured material data, and that can spend time refining a scene before output.
Iray is the right choice when the final image must remain tied to a prepared 3D scene. A designer can set a camera, use physically plausible lighting, assign MDL materials, then progressively refine the result while checking details such as glass, reflections, sun studies, or caustics. RENDERCAD fits an earlier or lighter-weight presentation step: use a clean CAD viewport, product angle, architectural view, or design screenshot as the source image, describe the intended finish, and create polished visual directions without rebuilding the asset in an Iray-compatible host. This makes it useful when a model view already communicates the form but needs a more persuasive context, mood, material impression, or marketing-ready treatment.
Choose Iray for a model-based rendering pipeline where scene fidelity and repeatability matter. Its output is driven by the actual geometry, camera, lights, textures, and material definitions, so it remains the source of truth for technical material studies, controlled lighting changes, compositing passes, animation frames, and panoramic views. That control has a practical cost: the scene needs preparation in a compatible application or integration, and render duration depends on the content and chosen quality settings. RENDERCAD is not a replacement for that physical scene control or for validating material and lighting behavior. Instead, it is useful after selecting a strong source view: upload the viewport or image, keep the design intent clear, and explore presentation treatments for concept reviews, client communication, product storytelling, or campaign imagery. Use Iray when the 3D scene itself must determine the pixels; use RENDERCAD when the aim is to quickly elevate an existing design view into a compelling render.
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 | Iray (NVIDIA) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Generative AI | Physically based path tracing |
| Output | Images + Video | Varies by tool |
| Resolution | HD / 4K | Varies |
| Image Speed | Image renders complete in 60 seconds. | Progressive interactive previews through longer final renders, depending on scene complexity, render settings, and available compute |
| 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) | Supported desktop 3D applications and SDK integrations |
| Install | None | Varies (web or app) |
| Cost | from $9/mo | Varies by host application, plugin, or SDK arrangement |
Side by side, feature by feature. See how RENDERCAD's AI approach compares with Iray (NVIDIA)'s rendering 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 Iray (NVIDIA)
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.
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 image renders complete in 60 seconds. Competing renderer speed depends on scene complexity, render settings, hardware, queue time, and final output quality.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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