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.
Shaderlight was an interactive, progressive ray-tracing plug-in for SketchUp. It let architects, interior designers, and other SketchUp users develop a model view with materials and lighting, then watch a rendered image refine over time. Its developer ceased trading in December 2021, ending new licenses, upgrades, support, and future product updates. Existing licensed installations may still be used, but Shaderlight is now a legacy workflow rather than a current option for new rendering setups.
Shaderlight was designed around the SketchUp scene: prepare the model, choose a composition, refine surfaces and lighting, and let its progressive renderer improve the image. That approach remains relevant to users opening an older licensed project, but the product is discontinued and is not maintained for newer SketchUp releases. RENDERCAD offers a current, browser-based route when the useful starting point is already a SketchUp viewport, clay model capture, design image, or product concept. Submit the chosen view, describe the intended material, lighting, and presentation direction, then use the resulting still for an early concept board, client presentation, product pitch, or marketing exploration.
The practical difference is where the rendering work begins. Shaderlight worked from editable SketchUp geometry and was useful when the artist needed to iterate inside that model with renderer-specific material and lighting settings. RENDERCAD starts from an image of the selected design view, so it can avoid a legacy plug-in installation and does not require a new file conversion or a rebuilt rendering scene. A strong input is a clean SketchUp viewport with the intended camera angle, clear massing, visible openings, and enough material cues to preserve the design. This makes it useful for testing an architectural exterior or interior mood, presenting a product concept, or turning a CAD view into a more polished still. RENDERCAD does not replace SketchUp modeling, dimensions, editable material assignments, or the source model as the authority for design decisions. For current API implementation details, 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 | Shaderlight |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Generative AI | Progressive Ray Tracing |
| Output | Images + Video | Varies by tool |
| Resolution | HD / 4K | Varies |
| Image Speed | Image renders complete in 60 seconds. | Legacy progressive preview and final-render workflow |
| 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) | Legacy SketchUp plug-in; the final release supported SketchUp 2021 |
| Install | None | No current installer or activation path; existing licensed legacy installations only |
| Cost | from $9/mo | Discontinued; no new licenses |
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
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.
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.
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