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8 BEST FREE RENDERING SOFTWARE

There is nothing better to showcase your designs than beautiful renderings. However, it is difficult to find free rendering software. This article will introduce 8 best free rendering software and introduce their features.

NameUseOSVersion
ModeloArchitectural rendering, collaborationWindows, macOS, Linux Free
BlenderModeling, architectural renderingWindows, macOS, LinuxFree
CyclesModeling, architectural renderingWindows, macOS, LinuxFree
Arnold3D rendering, animationWindows, macOS, LinuxFree trial
Indigo Renderer3D rendering, animationWindows, macOS, LinuxFree version
EnscapeArchitectural visualizationWindowsFree trial 
Clarisse3D rendering Windows, macOS, LinuxFree learning edition
Wings 3D3D modeling Windows, macOS, LinuxFree
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1. Modelo

Modelo has become the most popular online free rendering software recently with the characteristics of massive rendering scenes, rich material library, fast drawing, and easy operation. Modelo supports most mainstream 3d model formats. So no matter what modeling software you’re using, Modelo can render your model with one click and plot in ten minutes. In addition, Modelo has a variety of rendering methods for you to choose from, you can render a single image, or you can try the free 360 booth rendering and video rendering.

2. Blender

Blender is free and includes modeling, animation, post-processing, and video editing tools with audio, and most importantly, rendering tools. A user-friendly interface is one of the advantages of Blender rendering software. It includes many icons and tools that allow you to render quickly. You can also use available shortcuts to automate some actions. This 3D software features the grease pencil tool for creating 2D animations.

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3. Cycles

The great advantages of the engine are the ability to quickly view the result directly in the 3D viewport, as well as rendering using GPU. So, it is an excellent choice for beginners. The capabilities of this free 3D software are suitable for creating awesome characters for games and various architectural objects.

4. Arnold

Arnold is a program designed to render a wide variety of objects, you can get photorealistic images, impressionistic images, or anything in between. It is one of the best free rendering software that includes a node-based material editor. As a result, Arnold is very clear for users. Another advantage of this software is the ability to create your own nodes. However, Arnold does not have a fully functional texture renderer. They are only available in a limited mode. The controls and user interface are simple and intuitive.

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5. Indigo Renderer

The Indigo Renderer software is a powerful rendering tool for modeling lighting effects, which includes a material editor that allows you to create any kind of material from sand, leather, and wood to car paint and water. This is the best option for you if you are trying to achieve maximum photorealism. This free rendering software can be used not only with a CUDA-capable NVidia graphics card. It is also compatible with the OpenCL standard used by AMD. If you want to make the rendering process faster, it’s possible to organize a powerful system of slave renderers.

6. Enscape

Enscape is one of the most famous architectural renderers. This is a paid program that offers a great free trial. You can also find features for designing process support here. Thanks to them, you can monitor all your changes to have an idea of how the final picture will look after rendering. You may use this rendering software free to apply various stylized modes, such as paper, sketch, and polystyrene models. In Enscape you can get the content you need from many programs, such as SketchUp, Rhino, Revit, and ArchiCAD. 

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7. Clarisse

Clarisse is not only fast 3D rendering software. This free 3D software is very popular among the creators of science fiction movies. It works on a layering and node-structure system. Thanks to the layered structure, the previous work of animators and designers remains unaffected during rendering. If you are a beginner in this area, you can figure out how to work in this photo rendering software by reading the detailed tutorial – Personal Learning Edition.

8. Wings 3D

Wings 3D is open-source software for modeling and texturing. Wings 3D has a customizable interface. The program does not support animation, so to create scenes in the dynamics of the figure, you will have to export to other software. This 3D rendering app is not difficult to use. It has many customizable features for working with multi-layered materials, scenes, modifying lighting settings, and effective scene rendering. You can also use various free textures to get breathtaking results.

Conclusion

When choosing the best 3D rendering software, you can frequently face the problem of high or simply unaffordable prices. In the quest to create high-quality and realistic renderings, this can be a significant obstacle. That is why the search for professional but free rendering programs is becoming popular and relevant. So, we have selected for you the top 8 free rendering software that will best meet all your needs.

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Modelo|How to Merge Multiple 3d Max Models Online

Modelo enables users to merge multiple 3d Max models online for free. Come and see how you can do that in just two easy steps.

First, you need to upload your 3d Max models to Modelo. Just drag to upload your 3d Max models to Modelo. You can upload several models online at one time.

When you click the ”Combine Model“ option on the project page, you can select the models to be merged and open them on the same page. You can see the list of models on the left side of your window.

You can select the model through the list on the left and adjust their positions through the axes. Don’t forget to click the save button in the upper right corner after editing.

After the merge is completed, you can share the model with one click and complete online communication with others through the Model comment, which improves collaboration efficiency.

When you click the ”Combine Model“ option on the project page, you can select the models to be merged and open them on the same page. You can see the list of models on the left side of your window.

You can select the model through the list on the left and adjust their positions through the axes. Don’t forget to click the save button in the upper right corner after editing.

After the merge is completed, you can share the model with one click and complete online communication with others through the Model comment, which improves collaboration efficiency.

After the merge is completed, you can share the model with one click and complete online communication with others through the Model comment, which improves collaboration efficiency.

Bring Me To Modelo
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How to Merge Multiple Rhino Models Online

Modelo enables users to merge multiple Rhino models online for free. Come and see how you can do that in just two easy steps.

First, you need to upload your Rhino models to Modelo. Just drag to upload your Rhino models to Modelo. You can upload several models online at one time.

When you click the ”Combine Model“ option on the project page, you can select the models to be merged and open them on the same page. You can see the list of models on the left side of your window.

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You can select the model through the list on the left and adjust their positions through the axes. Don’t forget to click the save button in the upper right corner after editing.

After the merge is completed, you can share the model with one click and complete online communication with others through the Model comment, which improves collaboration efficiency.

When you click the ”Combine Model“ option on the project page, you can select the models to be merged and open them on the same page. You can see the list of models on the left side of your window.

You can select the model through the list on the left and adjust their positions through the axes. Don’t forget to click the save button in the upper right corner after editing.

After the merge is completed, you can share the model with one click and complete online communication with others through the Model comment, which improves collaboration efficiency.

Bring Me To Modelo

Modelo enables users to merge multiple Sketchup models online for free. Come and see how you can do that in just two easy steps.

First, you need to upload your Sketchup models to Modelo. Just drag to upload your Sketchup models to Modelo. You can upload several models online at one time.

When you click the ”Combine Model“ option on the project page, you can select the models to be merged and open them on the same page. You can see the list of models on the left side of your window.

You can select the model through the list on the left and adjust their positions through the axes. Don’t forget to click the save button in the upper right corner after editing.

After the merge is completed, you can share the model with one click and complete online communication with others through the Model comment, which improves collaboration efficiency.

When you click the ”Combine Model“ option on the project page, you can select the models to be merged and open them on the same page. You can see the list of models on the left side of your window.

You can select the model through the list on the left and adjust their positions through the axes. Don’t forget to click the save button in the upper right corner after editing.

After the merge is completed, you can share the model with one click and complete online communication with others through the Model comment, which improves collaboration efficiency.

Bring Me To Modelo
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How to Merge Multiple Sketchup Models Online

Modelo enables users to merge multiple Sketchup models online for free. Come and see how you can do that in just two easy steps.

First, you need to upload your Sketchup models to Modelo. Just drag to upload your Sketchup models to Modelo. You can upload several models online at one time.

When you click the ”Combine Model“ option on the project page, you can select the models to be merged and open them on the same page. You can see the list of models on the left side of your window.

Bring Me To Modelo

You can select the model through the list on the left and adjust their positions through the axes. Don’t forget to click the save button in the upper right corner after editing.

After the merge is completed, you can share the model with one click and complete online communication with others through the Model comment, which improves collaboration efficiency.

When you click the ”Combine Model“ option on the project page, you can select the models to be merged and open them on the same page. You can see the list of models on the left side of your window.

You can select the model through the list on the left and adjust their positions through the axes. Don’t forget to click the save button in the upper right corner after editing.

After the merge is completed, you can share the model with one click and complete online communication with others through the Model comment, which improves collaboration efficiency.

Bring Me To Modelo
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Modelo – The fastest and easiest way to deliver your model to the client without your creation being stolen

During architectural design, how to best showcase their work to clients has always been a tough issue for architects. Traditional 2D drawings and renderings can no longer meet the clients’ needs. That gives rise to the need for architects to display 3D models at the early stage of design so that the clients can better follow up and control the overall project. And for those clients who have backgrounds in the architectural industry, they would naturally put forward more requirements, even ask to have the BIM models. But now Modelo can help you solve this issue. This article will discuss the designers’ frustrations when asked to deliver a model and explain why Modelo is the fastest and easiest way to deliver your model.

Frustrations when asked to deliver a model

  • Information security: At present, most architects use Revit, Sketchup, and other modeling software to make models. In the process of the model, file delivery, information security becomes a crucial issue. Architects often encounter information leakage problems. What’s more, some unethical clients will take the model files as their own after obtaining them, or in other words, stole the work, which every architect hates.
  • Model completion issue: When referring to seeing a model, clients may usually expect the complete building model. But considering the competitive pressure and time cost of the architectural industry, it is almost impossible for architects to show the model to clients only after the model is fully completed. Therefore, architects urgently need a way to show the best side of a model to clients and hide other parts that can be improved in the future.
  • Platform compatibility problem: With the refinement of the architectural model and the continuous update of the modeling software, a complete architectural model can easily be hundreds of MB or even a few GB. Such a model also requires the architect and clients’ computers to have above-average hardware to process. Many architects often meet the dilemma that their models cannot be opened on clients’ computers.
  • Operational issues: Although clients would like to watch models, most of them may have no experience in operating professional model software. Therefore, even if clients get a complete building model, the high learning cost will cause them to fail to fully understand the models’ value and architects’ work.

Modelo is here to help you deliver

Modelo was founded to help professionals who work with CAD software, including Revit, Rhino, and SketchUp, more intuitively collaborate with team members to perfect their designs and interactively present them. The powerful display function of Modelo solves the pain points of the above-mentioned architects one by one. Show the architect’s model to clients in the fastest and safest way. Here is what Modelo could help you.

  • Modelo supports all the mainstream model formats in the ACE industry, such as rvt, skp, 3dm, etc., and converts the model to a proprietary format. Clients can only view the models but cannot download them, which guarantees the model information security. You can even use the Auto 360 function to render the model into a 360 panorama tour, which not only guarantees information security but also gives clients a stronger sense of immersion when watching the model.
  • Aiming at the problem of model completion, Modelo creatively invented the “Client Ready” function. It can be set to show only part of the model to clients and hide the unfinished parts. You can also render a 360 panorama at a fixed angle of the model and share it with clients in one click.
  • Modelo is a browser-based model platform. Clients can view the model without installing any software. In addition, Modelo is currently the fastest 3D model conversion and rendering engine on the market and can increase the clarity of the model when needed. It has been tested that the loading and rendering speed of Revit models on Modelo is 10 times faster than BIM360. The Modelo rendering frame is 56-60FPS, while the BIM360 only has 4-28FPS.
  • The Modelo operation is extremely simple, which the model can be operated by simply dragging the mouse. Architects can also use Modelo to make multimedia PowerPoint and attach audio, video, picture and other files. Through the sharing function, Modelo reduces the clients’ learning cost to see the model significantly.

Case study: world-renowned architecture firms are really using Modelo

Woods Bagot is an internationally renowned architectural firm that originated with a history of 138 years in Australia, and its design works have spread all over the world. According to the 2017 ranking of the top 100 construction companies in the world given by the architectural design magazine “Building Design”, Woods Bagot ranked seventh in the world. Not only that, Woods Bagot has been ranked among the world’s top 10 companies for three consecutive years and firmly holds the position of Australia’s largest architectural design company.

As an architectural firm with extensive project experience, Woods Bagot has also experienced the many pain points of showing the model to clients. For example, in the Angel Hospital project, Woods Bagot encountered almost all the above-mentioned pain points: due to the project model is too large and the model is too duplicated, it is difficult for clients to open the model through professional software in their computers. Even after a successful opening, it is difficult to understand the value of the model in a short time because the client does not have the model operation skills. In addition, Woods Bagot, as an internationally renowned architectural firm, has high requirements for project information security. Therefore, Woods Bagot urgently needs an innovative model display software that can solve all pain points. After comparing and screening nearly a thousand software on the market, Modelo was recognized by Woods Bagot for its stable, outstanding, and innovative characteristics and became its main model display tool in the future. In addition, Woods Bagot is very keen to use the Modelo Auto 360 feature, and praised it as “an impressive creative invention in the field of model display.” Woods Bagot used Modelo to perfectly realize the fastest and safest way to show the model to Clients.

In the project display phase, Woods Bagot often uses the Modelo “Client Ready” feature to show the finished parts of the model to clients. This not only ensures the security of model information but also meets the client’s needs for viewing the models. In addition, the lightweight feature of Modelo allows the clients to easily open the model shared by Woods Bagot. Modelo’s simple operation method also greatly reduces the learning cost for the client. Woods Bagot also often renders the finished part of the model into a 360 panorama at a specific angle and then shares the panorama to others, which further reduces the difficulty for the client to view the model.

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Rhino to 360 VR Tour in One Click

Modelo is the easiest way for Rhino users to create and share VR experiences of their models. By using Modelo’s new auto 360 tour feature, you can effortlessly create 360 VR tours in one click, allowing for clients and colleagues to truly understand the design vision throughout the design process.

Step 1. Import your model into Modelo

Drag your Rhino models into Modelo. All the views in your model will automatically transfer to Modelo Comments. If you need more views, just create one more comment in Modelo!

Step 2. Start Rendering

Click “Rendering 360” icon on the left of the Modelo toolbar. You jump to the panorama page. Then click the “Start Rendering” on the top right of the page. Modelo will start to render your views into HD panorama images. Later, these images will be connected in the correct order automatically.

Now your 360 VR tour is ready. Isn’t it easy? Try it now! 

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Revit to 360 VR Tour in One Click

Revit has become an essential software in every stage of design because of all of its powerful tools. But users often have painful experience in rendering time-consuming and complex VR tours in Revit. Today we will talk about how with Modelo you can create 360 VR tours from Revit files in one click and have your clients viewing models in VR without any training or fancy hardware needed.

Create Your Own

Steps to convert Revit files to VR:

Step 1: Go to www.modelo.io to create a free account and to download the Revit exporter that can be found in the top right corner of your home page when logging into Modelo. If you don’t know how to do that, please watch this video.

Step 2:  Open up your model in Revit, copy and paste your token from Modelo to upload it into the correct project and folder. Make sure to select the view you want to upload with. These views will convert to Modelo Comment Cards automatically. If you need more views, just click one more comment in Modelo.

Step 3: After your comment cards are ready, click “Rendering 360” icon on the left of the Modelo toolbar. You will jump to the panorama page. Then click the “Start Rendering” on the top right of the page. Modelo will start to render your views into HD panorama images. Later, these images will be connected in the correct order automatically.


Now that you have your Revit model in 360 VR tour, it’s time to share your 360 VR tour with clients and collaborators. Besides, you can turn everything into a PC compatible executable file.

Create Your Own

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3D Max to 360 VR Tour in One Click

Modelo is the easiest way for 3D Max users to create and share 360 VR tours of their models, allowing for clients and colleagues to truly understand the design vision throughout the design process. All you need to do are uploading your 3D Max models and creating 360 VR tours in one click.

Drag your 3D Max models into Modelo. All the views in your model will automatically transfer to Modelo Comments. If you need more views, just create one more comment in Modelo!

Modelo will transfer your 3D Max views to Modelo comment cards automatically. If you need more views, don’t worry, just simply create a new comment card.

After your comment cards are ready, click “Rendering 360” icon on the left of the Modelo toolbar. You will jump to the panorama page. Then click the “Start Rendering” on the top right of the page. Modelo will start to render your views into HD panorama images. Later, these images will be connected in the correct order automatically.

Now that you have your 3D Max model in 360 VR tour, it’s time to share your 360 VR tour with clients and collaborators. To learn more, check out how to and Share your VR tours with clients.

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SketchUp to 360 VR Tour in One Click

Creating your 360 VR tour from your SketchUp models has never been easier. By using Modelo’s new auto 360 tour feature, you can effortlessly create 360 VR tour in one click. It is faster and easier than anything available on the market by following these simple steps:

Step 1. Import your model into Modelo

Drag your SketchUp models into Modelo. All the views in your model will automatically transfer to Modelo Comments. If you need more views, just create one more comment in Modelo!

Step 2. Start Rendering

Click “Rendering 360” icon on the left of the Modelo toolbar. You jump to the panorama page. Then click the “Start Rendering” on the top right of the page. Modelo will start to render your views into HD panorama images. Later, these images will be connected in the correct order automatically.

Now your 360 VR tour is ready. Isn’t it easy? Try it now! 

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Modelo Functionality Update before August

Modelo is constantly bringing you new features and updates. We just released new capabilities including automatically match PBR Material Properties in KooRender and create 360 Panorama Tours with One-Click. These enhancements provide better model rendering effects and user experience.

Automatically Match PBR Material Properties in KooRender 

Modelo KooRender provides a better rendering effect now. We add refraction and reflection properties to materials. You can also adjust the material reflection intensity to make your models more realistic. The following is the updated material list:

  • Add refraction properties and reflection properties to the glass material.
  • Add refraction properties to water surface materials
  • Add reflection and highlight properties to metal materials

Create 360 Panorama Tours with One-Click in Modelo

You are able to render panorama images directly from the 3d comment cards now! After importing your models, just click “start rendering” and Modelo will automatically generate completed 360 panorama tours for you.

Comment Card Interface Optimization

To correspond to the function update, we also optimize the Comment Cards interface. The comment icon becomes smaller and turns to grey. The functions have also been adjusted and listed below：

  • Reply button canceled
  • Three-point button canceled
  • Query 360 panorama rendering service canceled
  • Delete function moved to the outside 
  • The change style setting button moves to the upper right corner
  • Added the function of rendering a single 360 panorama image

Bugs

  • Fix presentation and attachment issues in KooRender
  • Fix shadow drifting issues during movement
  • Fix UI display issues in Daylight&Address search box