Create stunning photorealistic images and videos from any CAD system, real life photo, or even a quick napkin sketch.
60 SECONDS. ZERO CONFIGURATION. STUNNING RESULTS.
LightUp is a real-time rendering and lighting plugin for SketchUp. It is built for designers who want to light a SketchUp model, walk through it inside the SketchUp window, test sun and daylight behavior, and export stills, movies, panoramas, or prepared scene data.
LightUp is strongest when the work starts as a SketchUp model and the goal is interactive lighting: place light sources, adjust sun or sky conditions, tour the model, and export views from the same SketchUp scene. RENDERCAD is a better fit when you already have a viewport screenshot, concept view, product image, or architectural image and need a polished AI render without installing a SketchUp-only renderer or rebuilding materials and lights. LightUp gives deeper control over model-based lighting studies, while RENDERCAD prioritizes fast browser-based visual refinement from images.
LightUp and RENDERCAD solve adjacent visualization problems. LightUp works inside SketchUp, so the user prepares the model, places lights, tunes materials and daylight, then reviews the result in a real-time walkthrough or exports stills, movies, panoramas, and model data for downstream use. That workflow is useful for architects and interior designers who need interactive lighting feedback, sun studies, or a SketchUp-centered presentation pipeline. RENDERCAD does not try to replace that scene authoring workflow or LightUp's lighting analysis tools. It starts from the image instead: upload a design viewport, model screenshot, product image, or architectural view, then generate a cleaner photorealistic result in the browser. For a SketchUp user who needs to test actual light placement inside a navigable model, LightUp remains the more direct tool. For a designer who needs presentation-ready still imagery from whatever visual they already have, RENDERCAD removes the plugin, model-prep, and local rendering steps.
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.
Tired of keeping up with the latest gen AI models? RENDERCAD is powered by a proprietary ensemble of the most cutting-edge AI engines, always up to date and fine-tuned to strictly maintain your design intent.
| Feature | RENDERCAD | LightUp |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Generative AI | Real-time |
| Output | Images + Video | Varies by tool |
| Resolution | HD / 4K | Varies |
| Image Speed | ≈10 - 60 Seconds | Real-time viewport feedback |
| Video Speed | ≈1 - 5 Minutes | Varies by workflow |
| Scene Set Up | Zero | 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 3 Per Render | Varies |
| Hardware | Cloud (None Required) | SketchUp desktop plugin |
| Install | None | Varies (web or app) |
| Cost | from $20/mo | Paid license with trial |
Side by side, feature by feature. See how RENDERCAD's AI approach compares with LightUp's interactive visualization workflow.
Skip the setup tax. Pick the condition, material, and background with just a click while RENDERCAD handles the heavy lifting. No lighting rigs, no environment setup, no 45-minute wait; get photorealistic results in seconds.
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RENDERCAD™
We bring the tools directly to you. Overlay your system with our web app. Desktop app & browser extension are being redesigned and will be back soon.
Get StartedCommon questions about RENDERCAD vs LightUp
With RENDERCAD, upload your image or snip your screen, type "Carbon Fiber" in the prompt, and the AI retextures your image realistically in 10-60 seconds. No UV mapping or texture coordinates required.
Yes. Select the Realistic engine, set Condition to Clean, and type "Brushed Aluminum." The AI applies correct texture orientation to your geometry automatically.
Prompt "Sunny Forest" or "Urban Street" and RENDERCAD generates a matching environment in 10-60 seconds. No scene file or environment map setup.
RENDERCAD handles studio lighting automatically - select a Gradient or White background for a clean studio look. No manual light placement or HDRI setup needed.
Yes. The Gentle Orbit camera setting generates subtle rotation from a single static image automatically.
Yes. The Seamless Loop option ensures the last frame matches the first for perfect looping - ready for social media, websites, and displays.
No. RENDERCAD runs on cloud GPUs, so you can render 4K images on a basic laptop or even a Chromebook. Your computer never slows down.
RENDERCAD still-image jobs usually complete in about 10 - 60 seconds. Competing real-time tools may preview quickly, but final output speed still depends on scene complexity, hardware, export settings, and output quality.
RENDERCAD starts at $20/month with credits that refresh monthly - predictable costs with no upfront investment or perpetual license fees.
RENDERCAD works from 2D images. Upload a CAD screenshot, real photo, or hand drawing - no file conversion, no exports, no compatibility issues.
Yes. RENDERCAD understands materials semantically - it knows what brushed aluminum should look like without you defining roughness values, IOR, or shader parameters.
RENDERCAD excels at rapid client presentations. It delivers impressive photorealistic results in seconds, enabling real-time feedback sessions during design reviews.
Trusted by Architects, Product Designers, and Engineering Teams