Polished PCB visuals from KiCad 3D board views.
KiCad PCB Editor's 3D Viewer lets electronics teams inspect an assembled board, orbit it from useful angles, manage visible components, and export board images for technical communication and product presentation.
KiCad PCB Editor's 3D Viewer lets electronics teams inspect an assembled board, orbit it from useful angles, manage visible components, and export board images for technical communication and product presentation.
KiCad 3D Viewer gives PCB teams a working view of the assembled board before it reaches a wider audience. It is useful for checking the visual presence of connectors, switches, displays, mounting hardware, and other footprints whose 3D models help a board read clearly in an image. The viewer can be orbited to establish a top, underside, angled, or component-detail view, and component categories can be hidden when they distract from the message. A clean exported view is a strong source for RENDERCAD when a hardware team needs a more intentional hero image, datasheet graphic, design update, assembly explainer, or portfolio visual. Preserve recognizable details such as the board outline, connector placement, solder mask, silkscreen, and the relative scale of major components, then use RENDERCAD to explore a controlled setting, lighting direction, and composition appropriate for the audience. KiCad remains the source of truth for the PCB, footprint assignments, component models, clearances, and manufacturability. A refined visual should not be used to confirm fit or imply that missing or simplified 3D models match the manufactured assembly.
Open the finished board in KiCad's 3D Viewer and inspect the specific side and components that must be visible. Confirm that important footprints have assigned 3D models and that their orientation looks credible; missing models and engineering simplifications should be resolved or acknowledged before the image is used externally. Choose a top, angled, underside, or close detail viewpoint, using visibility controls to reduce clutter and keeping labels, connectors, and the board outline readable. When a more attractive KiCad source is helpful, use its raytracing mode with the understanding that it can take longer than the default view. Export the current board view as an image, then bring that image into RENDERCAD to develop the background, lighting, material emphasis, crop, and surrounding visual context for the intended deliverable. Review the final image against KiCad before publishing whenever technical accuracy matters. For repeatable board-image workflows, see RENDERCAD developer documentation for current RENDERCAD developer documentation.
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 | Competitor |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Generative AI | Varies by tool |
| Output | Images + Video | Varies by tool |
| Resolution | HD / 4K | Varies by workflow |
| Image Speed | Image renders complete in 60 seconds. | Varies by scene/tool |
| 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 |
| Hardware | Cloud GPU | Often local GPU/CPU |
| Install | None | Varies (web or app) |
| Cost | from $9/mo | Varies widely |
Read the numbers. We trust you to know theirs.
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 solutions for KiCad 3D Viewer users
Masking lets you target a region of a CAD screenshot, real photo, or hand drawing with a reference image or instruction. Generation can still affect other regions, so inspect the full result.
Reuse the same authorized lighting, material, and style references, then review every output against the brand system. References can help consistency but do not guarantee it.
Upload a clear image, choose the Realistic engine, and describe the intended glass type, tint, and lighting. Transparency and reflections can vary between generations, so inspect the output before use.
Choose a suitable background and describe a reflective floor. Inspect the generated reflection for alignment, product fidelity, and unintended details.
Upload a CAD screenshot, real photo, or hand drawing, open the Video panel, and choose an available duration, camera preset, and product motion. Videos complete in 2-5 minutes.
If the source viewport is visible but a local renderer fails, capture a clear screenshot and use it as a RENDERCAD input. Image renders complete in 60 seconds.
Yes. Upload a photo of a foam model and prompt "Finished plastic product" to visualize the final look.
Use the Realistic engine with a clear input, a specific material description, and a suitable background or reference. Results vary, so review the output against the source product.
Image renders complete in 60 seconds.
Generation runs on cloud infrastructure, so a local rendering GPU is not required. The device still needs sufficient resources for the source application, browser, and network connection.
Context prompts can provide a visual scale cue, but the source model and known dimensions remain authoritative. Do not infer measurements from generated imagery.
RENDERCAD starts from a 2D image and uses generated material and environment direction. Built-in renderers may provide direct scene, geometry, lighting, and material control.