Vectorworks AI Rendering
Your Vectorworks drawing already holds the design — this gives it a surface.
Vectorworks carries a project a long way: design layers, classes, hybrid 2D/3D objects and a document that stays coordinated from sketch to construction. Renderworks will produce a finished image from that model, but it wants textures assigned, lighting placed and render settings resolved before it gives you anything presentable.
That cost lands at the worst moment — early, when the design is still moving and you need to show someone a direction rather than a deliverable. Most practices solve it by not rendering at all at that stage, and presenting line work instead.
Archome works from any Vectorworks viewport exported as an image: an OpenGL or hidden-line 3D view, a section viewport, an elevation, a site plan. Upload it, describe the materials and the light, and a photoreal image comes back in about 30 seconds with your geometry unchanged.
Nothing is installed and the .vwx file never leaves your machine — you export a picture, not a model. That also means it works the same whether you are on Vectorworks Architect, Landmark or Spotlight.
How it works with Vectorworks
- 1
Set the view
Frame the viewport you want on a sheet layer or in the design layer — the camera you choose is the camera the render keeps.
- 2
Export as image
Export the viewport as PNG or JPG. Shaded and hidden-line views both read well; a white model reads best of all.
- 3
Upload and describe
Open the browser studio, upload the image, and name the palette: "warm limestone base, dark bronze mullions, timber soffit, low afternoon sun".
- 4
Generate and compare
A photoreal image returns in about 30 seconds. Change only the material words to produce a comparable set of options on the same geometry.
What you can bring from Vectorworks
- —OpenGL or Shaded 3D viewport exports
- —Section and elevation viewports saved as PNG/JPG
- —Hidden-line renderings from any sheet layer
- —Site plans and Landmark site models
- —Interior perspectives set up in the design layer
Vectorworks rendering, the usual way vs Archome
| Traditional | Archome AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Renderworks textures, lights and render settings | Export the viewport, write a sentence |
| Time | Hours per presentable image | About 30 seconds |
| Skill needed | Renderworks and lighting knowledge | Ability to describe materials in words |
| Hardware | Local CPU/GPU, machine tied up while rendering | Any laptop — cloud rendering |
| Model security | Rendered locally from the .vwx | Only an exported image is uploaded |
Who uses it
- —Showing a client a facade direction before textures exist in the model
- —Turning a section viewport into something a non-technical stakeholder can read
- —Comparing three material palettes on the same elevation in one sitting
- —Adding visuals to a planning submission without pausing documentation
- —Landmark site models presented as a place rather than a plan
Frequently asked
Can I render Vectorworks views without Renderworks?+
Yes. Export the viewport, section or elevation as an image, upload it, and a photorealistic render is generated in the cloud in about 30 seconds — no textures, lights or render settings required.
Does my Vectorworks file leave my computer?+
No. You upload an exported image only, never the .vwx, so design layers, classes, records and worksheets stay on your machine.
Will my geometry stay accurate?+
Yes. The exported viewport anchors the result: wall lines, opening positions, storey heights, roof pitch and camera all hold. Materials, lighting, sky and surroundings are what the AI generates on top.
Does it work with Landmark site models?+
Yes — export the site view as an image and use the Landscape tool. Terrain shape and planting positions stay where you placed them.
Is a plugin required?+
No. It runs in the browser, so it works the same on Mac and Windows. Free plugins exist for SketchUp, Rhino and 3ds Max if you also model in those.
How much does it cost to try?+
100 free credits to start, no credit card required.
Try it with your own Vectorworks view
100 free credits to start. No credit card, nothing to install.
Get started freeChoosing for a firm, not just yourself?
Teams run Archome with a shared credit pool on the Studio plan, and the Enterprise tier adds a multi-seat workspace and API access. The architecture-firms guide covers the throughput math.