3D rendering is the use of computers to generate images and 3D models from a 2D or 3D model or any kind of 3D data. These images and models can be used for various reasons like animation, visualisation, conceptualization and more. And with such a wide variety of applications that it can be used for, it is no wonder that today, 3D rendering software has become an integral part of numerous CAD systems as well as architectural design and now even general computer graphics too.
Here are the most amazing 3d rendering software available.
Corona Renderer
Corona Renderer is a popular new software for architectural rendering industries. It is one of the best rendering software that can give renders lesser render times than other software. You’ll achieve great light effects and clean animations with this rendering system.
It also has full integration with 3Ds Max. This allows you to make complex 3D models without worrying about compatibility issues. The standard price for Corona Renderer is $530 every year. You can also pick from three monthly subscription options: $24.99, $29.99, and $44.99.
Lumion
Lumion is yet another very powerful architectural rendering software that boasts extremely fast rendering and can easily turn 3D models into amazing photorealistic images and videos. It has a very easy-to-use user interface and a learning curve that is incredibly friendly, which makes it one of the best rendering software solutions when it comes to actual usability.
Apart from being an absolute pleasure to use, Lumion stands out from other similar 3D rendering pieces of software in that it is compatible with almost every modelling software available. This is a huge plus for all the professionals who regularly deal with clients, students or peers who have their own personal preferences regarding 3D rendering software.
There’s absolutely no reason for anyone not finding Lumion attractive and remarkably useful, but students might find it more convenient than professionals because Lumion offers free educational licenses for students.
For professionals, Lumion offers licenses for a basic version at $1499 and for a Pro version at $2999, but there’s also a free trial with no purchase obligations. The only drawback is that the trial version contains only about 15% of the full content library and that it works on 7 days in total during a 30-day trial period.
Autodesk 3Ds Max Design
3Ds Max gives a rich and flexible tool for premium designs with the full pack for artistic control. It has the power to build massive worlds for games. You can bring your characters and features to life with the best workstation for 3D modeling.
3Ds Max creates great fluid simulations, fur, hair, and character rigging and movements. Enjoy this rendering software for design and game visualization for $205 per month. If you want the annual subscription, it costs $1,620 at only $135 per month.
Artlantis
Artlantis is an excellent architectural rendering software solution for professionals who want to truly impress their clients. Its large set of useful features and a user-friendly interface can help you quickly and easily make fabulous 3D renderings that will certainly be more than satisfactory.
Its lighting features (both indoor and outdoor) and various luminous materials provide a huge number of possibilities for lighting scenes, especially because all the materials are physically based to help you get amazing photorealistic results.
The software also has a built-in render manager that can help you seamlessly deal with the computing load and distribute it evenly among all your local PCs, which is exactly what makes the producing of renderings extremely fast.
There are two versions of Artlantis available – one for creating high-res still images and the other for creating high-res animations, 360° panoramas, VR objects and still images. The license for the former is available at €500, while you can get the full license for the latter for €990.
If you choose any of these architectural rendering software solutions, you can be sure that you will be making a smart choice, because each and every one of them is definitely worth the time and effort (and the money when it comes to the paid ones), as you will enter a whole new world of 3D rendering possibilities and create magnificent renderings that will blow everyone’s minds.
Keyshot
Keyshot is the fastest and best desktop app for 3D modeling. It’s best for creating interactive visuals and animations. Keyshot is a global illumination and real-time ray-tracing program. This 3D rendering software supports over 20 types of file types. If you’re still a learning student on 3D rendering, this may be the best 3D rendering software for you.
It has a simple user interface with physical lighting, texture mapping, and many more. Keyshot has three versions: HD for $995, Pro for $1,995, and Floating for $2,995.
Maxwell
Maxwell is yet another giant in the architectural rendering industry and a very popular choice among both professionals and beginners. It is also open-source and completely free to use and distribute, not to mention that it is incredibly user-friendly.
With a very simple user interface and a plethora of features and tools, Maxwell could be just the thing you need to create beautiful photorealistic images and animations. You can quickly and easily learn to use it, which is precisely why a great number of architecture students choose to start their rendering adventures with this software before moving onto other more complex solutions.
Maxwell also has a user community that is very helpful and resourceful, so you can easily get the right help you need in case you run into some problems with the software. The only drawback to this software solution is that it is a bit slow at rendering, but that shouldn’t put you off since Maxwell is capable of producing truly wonderful renderings. It’s definitely worth the time.
V-Ray
V-Ray is the most powerful rendering software for architectural industries. It’s suitable for both newbies and professionals. This 3D rendering program is user-friendly, making it ideal for design beginners.
This software has a vast library of features and tools with models and textures. It boasts its high speed in rendering and its seamless integration. You can get V-Ray Sketch-up for $60 per month or the workstation license for $1,180.
Octane Render
Octane Render is one of the fastest architectural rendering software solutions currently available. It can produce fantastic, high-quality renderings in less time than any other rendering software, which is exactly why it is gaining more and more momentum as we speak.
It has become quite popular over the past few years due to its incredibly fast rendering engine that can produce very high-quality renderings, as well as due to its extensive set of powerful features and tools and a huge pool of materials and textures to work with.
What makes Octane Render’s rendering engine so powerful are Nvidia graphics cards (GPU), which is why it stands out from many other unbiased rendering solutions that use CPU. It also stands out because it can seamlessly handle complex problems, such as depth-of-field and motion blur and subsurface scattering, which is not a case with other similar software solutions.
Revit
Revit features plenty of tools for engineering, architecture, and construction plans. You can let it handle repetitive and routine tasks with automation. The features in Revit allow designers to collaborate on projects using BIM 360.
You can get Revit to work faster by checking our guide. Revit costs $305 for a monthly subscription. If you’d rather an annual subscription, you can opt for $2,425 every year.
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D by MAXON Computer GmbH is one of the lesser known products in the architectural rendering community, but it is one of the fastest and easiest-to-use rendering software solutions available right now. Its set of features and tools is outstanding and can help you create marvellous renderings, which is precisely why more and more people are jumping on the bandwagon and harnessing its remarkable power.
If you are not a beginner but a professional who already knows their way around producing architectural renderings, then Cinema 4D could be just what you’re looking for. It’s very fast and stable, has a very intuitive user interface, and its powerful help system and procedural workflows make it truly stand out from the crowd.
There’s a steep learning curve so, in order to effectively work yourself over it, you would need to invest some time and effort into mastering all the features and completely getting the hang of various little details.
However, Cinema 4D comes with a very hefty price tag, but it can definitely be worth the investment if you are searching for something different that can help you bring your own unique style to life. If you can afford to pay $3510 for the software license and you’re ready to invest a lot of time into mastering the software, then you should go for it, but be sure to check out the free trial version first, so that you can make the right decision for your needs.
Conclusion
It’s good to always explore the latest technology to keep your work interesting. But what if you are on a budget? Are there free rendering software tools for architects? There are plenty of open source software tools that you can download. You should consider these free 3d rendering softwares first before you pay any charges.