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.
Kerkythea is a free standalone renderer for preparing imported 3D scenes, assigning physically accurate materials and lights, and producing rendered still images. Its workflow suits architectural, interior, and product visualization users who can bring in an OBJ or 3DS model, or use a compatible SketchUp export workflow. The application includes a real-time scene viewer and material editor, so the source model becomes a render scene that can be inspected and refined before final output.
Kerkythea is built for the point in a visualization workflow where a complete 3D scene is available: import the model or export it from SketchUp, place or adjust cameras and lights, edit materials, choose render settings, and render locally. RENDERCAD is useful earlier or alongside that process when the best available input is a CAD viewport, SketchUp view, product concept, or architectural screenshot. It can turn a selected design view into a more presentation-ready image without requiring a Kerkythea scene, exporter, or material library. Choose Kerkythea when the image must follow a deliberately configured scene and lighting setup; choose RENDERCAD for fast visual directions, stakeholder images, and concept exploration from an existing view.
A practical Kerkythea workflow begins with usable geometry and material assignments from the modeling tool. After importing an OBJ or 3DS file, or opening a compatible exported scene, the user stages the view in Kerkythea's viewer, works on lights and materials, selects a camera and image size, and starts a local render. This offers meaningful control for still architectural exteriors, interiors, and product views when the model, camera, and surface treatment need to remain the source of truth. It also means that export compatibility, missing textures, scene cleanup, and rendering time can affect the result. RENDERCAD takes a different input path. Capture the clearest viewport or concept image that communicates the intended angle, proportions, and major finishes, then use it to create polished render-style variants for a design review, marketing direction, or client presentation. It is particularly helpful when a CAD or early SketchUp model changes too often to justify repeated exporter and material setup. The output should be treated as a visual interpretation, not as proof of exact geometry, lighting calculations, material parameters, or construction details. Keep Kerkythea or the original CAD model as the authority when those details must be verified; use RENDERCAD to accelerate image exploration. For implementation guidance, see RENDERCAD developer documentation.
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 | Kerkythea |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Generative AI | Physically based ray tracing and GI renderer |
| Output | Images + Video | Photorealistic rendered still images from configured 3D scenes |
| Resolution | HD / 4K | User-configured image size based on local render settings |
| Image Speed | Image renders complete in 60 seconds. | Scene-dependent; local renders can take minutes or longer |
| Video Speed | Videos complete in 2-5 minutes. | Not a video-first renderer; animation workflows require separate scene/export setup |
| Scene Set Up | No separate local scene | Import or export a scene, then configure camera, lighting, materials, image size, and render settings |
| Input | Screen Snip | OBJ, 3DS, Kerkythea XML, and SketchUp exporter scenes |
| Materials | 2,600+ Textures | Manual Kerkythea material libraries and editor-based material setup |
| Backgrounds | 1300+ Backgrounds | Tool-dependent |
| Conditions | 40+ Effects | Tool-dependent |
| References | Up to 6 Per Render | Varies |
| Hardware | Cloud (None Required) | Desktop (Windows, Linux, Mac) |
| Install | None | Local desktop application plus optional exporters and material libraries |
| Cost | from $9/mo | Free |
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
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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