AI rendering or ray tracing: which should you use?

Ray tracing calculates an image from the visible geometry of your model. AI interprets a screenshot and may change design details. Use ray tracing to show the design you modeled, and AI to explore mood and lighting, reviewing the result before showing it to your client.

The viewer interface is in Spanish; English coming soon

Editorial review: October 20, 2026 · DRB Studio.

1. Open the project and frame your view

   Open your model and switch to “Revisión” (Review). In the standard 3D view, left-drag orbits, right-drag pans, scrolling zooms toward the cursor as in SketchUp, and middle-mouse dragging looks around from your current position. Choose a view where you can check doors, windows and proportions.

2. Check the finishes before generating an image

   Open “Render”. Under “Calidad en pantalla” (Display quality), choose “Realista” (Realistic) to review reflections and finishes. Adjust “Texturas de acabados” (Finish textures) for the presentation. Display quality controls the real-time preview; “Hacer render” starts ray tracing.

3. Create the ray-traced render

   Select “Hacer render” (Render) and wait. Keep the camera still and do not switch projects during preparation. Rendering runs locally in your browser; the ray-tracing engine downloads on first use. More samples take longer and help reduce noise. “Detener y guardar” (Stop and save) finishes early. Select “Descargar” (Download) in the result.

4. Generate an AI version from the same view

   Close the result without changing the camera. In “Render”, select “Foto realista con IA” (Photorealistic image with AI). This sends a screenshot to the selected AI service. If that service does not generate images, select “IA” (AI) to open “Conexiones: IA y mapas” (Connections: AI and maps), choose “Automático” (Automatic) or “IA de DRB Studio · sin clave ni cuenta” (DRB Studio AI, no key or account), and select “Guardar” (Save). Download the image when it appears.

5. Compare both images with the model

   Check windows, doors, number of floors, proportions and materials. AI may add or change details even when asked to preserve the design. If it changes something important, do not use that image to explain the proposal; use the model render as your reference. Automatically generated finishes in the ray-traced image also need review.

6. Choose the image for the meeting

   Use ray tracing to explain the geometry you modeled. If you show an AI image to discuss atmosphere and materials, label it as an interpretation and include the model view. Neither image replaces drawings or construction documentation.