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.
Thea Render is an Altair physically based renderer for prepared SketchUp and Rhino scenes. Architects, interior designers, and product designers use it to develop photorealistic stills from a modeled view, with camera, lighting, environment, material, and quality decisions kept in the host workflow. Its interactive rendering supports judging changes while working, while production rendering can be used for final images, render passes, and animation-oriented output.
Thea Render is for the SketchUp or Rhino user who wants to keep rendering tied to a prepared 3D scene. It offers interactive and production rendering with its Presto and Nitro engines, plus control over camera, lights, environment, materials, denoising, and render channels. That is valuable when a design needs repeatable, physically based results and the model is the source of truth. RENDERCAD is a practical alternative for a different stage of the workflow: start with the most useful saved viewport, clay view, product shot, or design screenshot, then create a more presentation-ready visual without rebuilding the scene in a render plugin. It suits quick option exploration, stakeholder reviews, early marketing concepts, and polished still-image variations when the desired deliverable is an image rather than a fully editable render scene.
A typical Thea Render workflow begins with the SketchUp or Rhino model, then continues with deliberate scene preparation: choose a camera, assign or refine materials, set emitters or an image-based environment, select an engine, and tune the render for interactive review or production output. Thea can produce component render channels for compositing, and its scene-based approach is appropriate when material accuracy, lighting behavior, and repeatable revisions matter. It remains the better source of truth for a final render that must track exact model edits, named materials, camera parameters, render passes, or animation frames. RENDERCAD works from a selected image view rather than replacing those controls. Use a clean, well-composed Thea, SketchUp, Rhino, CAD, or product viewport as input; make the geometry and focal product readable; then use RENDERCAD to explore a more finished visual direction for a review deck, concept board, listing image, or campaign draft. Keep Thea or the host model for engineering changes and final scene-controlled output. For current RENDERCAD 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 | Thea Render |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Generative AI | Physically based rendering with the Presto and Nitro engines; GPU acceleration is available |
| Output | Images + Video | Varies by tool |
| Resolution | HD / 4K | Varies |
| Image Speed | Image renders complete in 60 seconds. | Interactive rendering can help assess scene changes; final render duration depends on geometry, lighting, materials, engine settings, output size, and available hardware |
| 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) | SketchUp and Rhino integrations on supported desktop operating systems and host versions |
| Install | None | Varies (web or app) |
| Cost | from $9/mo | Commercial software accessed through Altair One licensing |
Side by side, feature by feature. See how RENDERCAD's AI approach compares with Thea Render'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 Thea Render
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.
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.
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