SketchUp + AI
SketchUp AI render: photorealistic in 30 seconds, no GPU
Archome turns any SketchUp view into a photorealistic render in about thirty seconds — entirely in the cloud. No graphics card, no render farm, nothing heavy to install. Use the free SketchUp plugin to send your viewport with one click, or simply upload a screenshot of your model. Your geometry and camera stay exactly as you set them; the AI adds real materials, light and context.
Real-time renderers like Enscape are excellent, but they ask for a capable GPU and a licence from around $47 a month. If what you need is fast, convincing visuals from the SketchUp model you already have, Archome does it online for a fraction of that — and it runs the same on a workstation or a five-year-old laptop, because the rendering never touches your machine.
100 free credits to start. Free SketchUp plugin — or just upload a screenshot, nothing to install.
How it works
- 1
Capture your SketchUp view
One click with the free Archome plugin sends your viewport straight to the cloud — or just take a screenshot / 2D export of the view you like. No plugin required.
- 2
Describe materials and mood
Plain words: "white render facade, oak cladding, late afternoon sun, landscaped garden". No render settings, no material libraries, no lighting rigs.
- 3
Get the photorealistic render
The finished image comes back in about 30 seconds — your model, your camera, but photoreal. Iterate on styles, compare options, download in high resolution.
Who it's for
- —Architects presenting SketchUp concepts as client-ready visuals the same day
- —Design studios that model in SketchUp but do not want to maintain GPUs or render farms
- —Freelancers who need Enscape-level output without the monthly licence and hardware cost
- —Students rendering coursework on laptops that could never run a real-time engine
Download the free SketchUp plugin
The plugin sends your active viewport straight to the render engine — no export, no re-upload. It works with SketchUp 2021 and newer on Windows and macOS, and it is free. You do not need it to use Archome; a screenshot works too.
Download plugin (.rbz)Install in three steps
- 1. In SketchUp open Extensions → Extension Manager → Install Extension and pick the .rbz file you just downloaded.
- 2. Create an API key at Settings → API and paste it when the plugin asks. It is stored locally, once.
- 3. Frame the view you want and click Extensions → Archome AI → Render current view. The result comes back in about 30 seconds and is saved to your Archome account.
Renders started from the plugin draw on the same credit balance as the browser, and follow the same rules: free renders are watermarked, paid plans are not.
Frequently asked
How do I render a SketchUp model with AI?+
Two ways. The fastest: install the free Archome SketchUp plugin and send your current viewport to the cloud with one click — the render comes back in about 30 seconds. Or skip the plugin entirely: take a screenshot or export a 2D image of your SketchUp view, upload it to Archome in the browser, describe the materials and mood, and generate. Your geometry, camera angle and composition are preserved; the AI adds photorealistic materials, lighting and context.
Do I need a GPU or a powerful computer?+
No. All rendering happens in the cloud, so a basic laptop is enough. This is the main difference from GPU-based real-time renderers like Enscape or Lumion, which need a capable graphics card on your machine and a paid licence (Enscape starts around $47/month). With Archome the heavy lifting runs on our servers and you only need a browser.
Is there a SketchUp plugin?+
Yes, and it is free. The Archome SketchUp plugin sends your active viewport straight to the render engine with one click — no exporting, no re-uploading. But the plugin is optional: a plain screenshot of your SketchUp window works just as well as an input.
Will the render respect my SketchUp model?+
Yes. The AI works from your actual view, so the geometry, proportions and camera you set up in SketchUp carry through to the render. What changes is the visual layer: flat SketchUp faces become real materials, the default sky becomes real light and atmosphere, and empty surroundings gain believable context.
Is it free to use?+
Yes, it is free to start. Every account gets 100 free credits each month. An Ultra render costs 30 credits, so that is about three renders a month, watermarked, with no credit card required. The SketchUp plugin itself is completely free. Paid plans add more credits, watermark-free files and a commercial licence.
Render your SketchUp model today
One click from the free plugin — or a plain screenshot — and a photorealistic render comes back in about 30 seconds. 100 free credits to start, no GPU, no credit card.
Try it free