What is Viewport render?

A viewport render uses a plain screenshot (or export) of a 3D modelling window, such as SketchUp, Revit, Rhino or 3ds Max, as the input to an AI renderer. The camera angle and the massing come from your model; the AI adds materials, lighting, sky and surroundings.

Why it matters

Setting up a conventional render means assigning materials, placing lights, adjusting cameras and waiting. A viewport render removes most of that. You frame the view you want in the modelling program, capture it, and get a presentable image, which is useful in early design and for quick client reviews.

Example

In SketchUp you turn off textures, set a clean view with hidden-line or shaded style, and capture it. With the prompt "light render, pale stone, evening sky", the grey model becomes a realistic exterior.

Common mistake

Capturing a cluttered viewport: grid lines, selection outlines, UI panels and section planes can leak into the result. Hide helper geometry and use a clean, consistent shading style first. Very rough models with intersecting faces can also confuse the AI.

Practical tips

Switch off shadows and textures that you do not want inherited, set a field of view that matches a real camera, and keep verticals vertical. Use plain, distinct colours for different material zones, because the AI often reads colour blocks as separate surfaces. Save the camera as a scene so you can return to the same view after changing the model.

In Archome AI

Archome AI is designed for this: see Render from SketchUp and the SketchUp AI tool page. Free accounts get 3 free renders, no card.