ArchiCAD AI Rendering: Photorealistic Results in 60 Seconds
Upload an ArchiCAD viewport screenshot and get a photorealistic architectural render in under a minute. Skip Cinerender wait times, avoid the Enscape subscription cost, and work without a dedicated GPU.
Starter pack from $9 for 30 credits. Credits never expire, no subscription.
ArchiCAD is the BIM platform of choice for many European and international architectural practices, particularly those with a focus on collaborative design and integrated documentation. Its object-based modelling approach, native IFC support, and teamwork collaboration tools make it a strong choice for practices that prioritise BIM coordination. For client-facing presentation output, however, ArchiCAD's built-in Cinerender engine has significant limitations in speed.
A complex interior scene rendered through Cinerender at a quality suitable for a client presentation typically takes 30 to 90 minutes. For practices that have multiple client meetings per week, that render time is a genuine workflow bottleneck. The alternatives are Enscape for ArchiCAD (from $1,500 to $2,000 per year per seat, requiring an NVIDIA GPU) or exporting to an external rendering platform, which adds both time and licence cost.
airender removes the renderer from the equation entirely. Capture a perspective screenshot from any ArchiCAD 3D view using the Save Image function or a standard screen capture, upload it to airender, and receive a photorealistic result in approximately 60 seconds. The ArchiCAD BIM model's spatial accuracy, wall compositions, window positions, and structural relationships are all preserved in the output. The AI adds the material quality and lighting that Cinerender takes an hour to compute.
Workflow tips
Getting the best results from ArchiCAD screenshots
Use the OpenGL 3D view for a fast, clean input screenshot
ArchiCAD's OpenGL-rendered 3D view in Perspective mode gives the AI a shaded, spatially clear representation of your model without waiting for Cinerender. Go to 3D and set the projection to Perspective, then adjust the camera with the Orbit tool. Once you have a good angle, use the Save Image function under File to export a high-resolution PNG directly from the OpenGL viewport.
Apply Surface overrides for better material inference
ArchiCAD elements use Surfaces (formerly called Materials) for visual appearance. Before screenshotting, assign clear Surface overrides in the 3D view style: white for interior wall plaster, warm timber tones for flooring, glass for curtain walls. You do not need photorealistic ArchiCAD surfaces - flat colour Surfaces give the AI enough signal to apply the correct material category in the output.
ArchiCAD Solo and educational versions work without any modifications
Because airender uses a screenshot rather than a file import, it works with ArchiCAD Solo, the ArchiCAD Educational version, and the full ArchiCAD commercial licence equally. There is no plugin to install, no licence tier required, and no file export step. A screenshot from any ArchiCAD edition is the only input needed.
What airender preserves from ArchiCAD BIM models
ArchiCAD's object-based BIM approach means every element carries architectural intent. Walls know their finish, windows know their frame, slabs know their material. The AI reads this from the viewport output:
ArchiCAD practices that benefit most from airender
European and international BIM practices using ArchiCAD as their primary platform often find that Cinerender's 30 to 90 minute render times create a bottleneck during the weekly design review cycle. airender closes this gap: a screenshot from any ArchiCAD perspective view produces a photorealistic result in 60 seconds, suitable for design review presentations without the Cinerender queue.
Small ArchiCAD Solo practices face the same rendering challenge as large firms but with smaller budgets. Enscape for ArchiCAD costs approximately $1,500 to $2,000 per year per seat and requires a dedicated GPU workstation. For a solo practice producing 5 to 10 client presentations per month, airender's credit-based model costs a fraction of that while producing comparable still image quality.
Architects transitioning from AutoCAD to ArchiCAD BIM who have not yet invested in rendering tools use airender as a bridge. The ArchiCAD model produces accurate architectural geometry; airender provides the photorealistic presentation layer without requiring an additional software subscription during the BIM transition period.
How it works
Three steps from ArchiCAD to photorealistic
Screenshot your model
Take a screenshot from your software. No plugin, no special export, no file conversion. A plain JPEG or PNG from any viewport is enough.
Upload to airender
Drop the screenshot into airender. Optionally add a style note or material preference. You can also leave the prompt blank and let the AI work from the source geometry alone.
Download in 60 seconds
The result is automatically upscaled to 4K resolution. Download a photorealistic image ready for client presentations, planning submissions, or portfolio work.
Comparison
ArchiCAD rendering vs airender
Try it with your ArchiCAD screenshot
Starter pack from $9. Upload any screenshot and get a photorealistic result in under 60 seconds.
Get startedFrequently Asked
Questions
How do I export a screenshot from ArchiCAD for airender?
In ArchiCAD, open the 3D window with a perspective view set. Go to File, then Save Image. Choose JPEG or PNG format and set the resolution (1920x1080 minimum, higher is better). Click Save. Alternatively, use a standard system screenshot of the 3D window. Either method produces a usable input for airender.
Does airender work with ArchiCAD Solo?
Yes. Because airender uses a screenshot rather than a file import, it works with every ArchiCAD edition including ArchiCAD Solo and the educational version. Enscape for ArchiCAD requires a full commercial ArchiCAD licence, which is one reason small and solo practices find airender more accessible.
Can airender replace Cinerender for client presentations?
For still images used in design review meetings and early-stage client approvals, yes. airender produces results in 60 seconds compared to Cinerender's 30 to 90 minutes, at no additional software cost. For complex final renders with specific material accuracy requirements, Cinerender's precise physical simulation remains the right tool.
What display mode in ArchiCAD produces the best airender results?
OpenGL-rendered perspective view in ArchiCAD's 3D window with basic Surfaces applied to elements produces the strongest airender input. The AI reads surface geometry, spatial depth, and material colour from the screenshot. White walls, warm timber floors, and glass Surfaces for windows are enough to guide the AI to produce accurate material assignments in the output.
Can I produce both interior and exterior renders from ArchiCAD with airender?
Yes. Both interior perspective views (camera placed inside a room) and exterior perspective views (camera placed outside the building) work as airender input. For exterior views, the ArchiCAD Marquee tool can be used to crop the visible area and focus the screenshot on the relevant building face.
How much does airender cost for ArchiCAD users?
Credit packs start at $9 for 30 credits. Each credit produces one medium-quality render. Credits never expire.
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