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.
Pixie is a legacy open-source RenderMan-like renderer for photorealistic 3D images from prepared scene data. It supports REYES-style rendering, ray tracing, programmable shading, motion blur, depth of field, and global illumination for technical rendering workflows.
Pixie is a traditional RenderMan-style renderer: it expects prepared 3D scene data, shaders, lights, cameras, and local or network compute before it can produce a final frame. RENDERCAD starts from a CAD or design viewport screenshot and turns that visual into a polished render in the cloud, so it is better for quick presentation imagery when you do not want to export RIB files or build a shading pipeline. Pixie fits technical rendering study and legacy RenderMan-style workflows; RENDERCAD is for fast model-to-image visualization.
Pixie and RENDERCAD solve different rendering problems. Pixie is an offline renderer with a RenderMan-like interface, programmable shading, displacement support, motion blur, depth of field, ray tracing, and REYES-style rendering. To use it effectively, a scene must already be described with geometry, materials, lights, camera settings, and renderer-specific shader work, then rendered on available desktop or network hardware. That gives technical users control over rendering behavior, but it is not a lightweight way to improve a CAD viewport or design screenshot. RENDERCAD removes the scene-export step: upload a viewport, product view, or architectural image and use cloud AI rendering to create a presentation-ready result. Use Pixie when you need to work inside a RenderMan-style rendering pipeline; use RENDERCAD when the practical goal is a fast photoreal visual from an existing design view.
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 | Pixie |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Generative AI | RenderMan-style REYES/ray tracing |
| Output | Images + Video | Varies by tool |
| Resolution | HD / 4K | Varies |
| Image Speed | ≈10 - 60 Seconds | Scene and hardware dependent |
| 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) | Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix) |
| Install | None | Varies (web or app) |
| Cost | from $20/mo | Open-source renderer |
Side by side, feature by feature. See how RENDERCAD's AI approach compares with Pixie's rendering 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.
™
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 Pixie
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 renderer speed depends on scene complexity, render settings, hardware, queue time, and final 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.
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.
Trusted by Architects, Product Designers, and Engineering Teams