Choose the right rendering engine

Choose a rendering engine for your next decision

Start with what you need the image to do. A review focused on model geometry calls for a different priority from a final image intended to show the richness of its materials and lighting.

Engine	Choose it when…	Starting point
Fidelity	Precise geometry preservation and a reliable, realistic view of the design matter most.	A model view, using Render.
Lumen	You want stronger overall realism, with improved lighting, materials, and atmosphere.	A model view, using Render.
HyperReal	The design is settled and you want to take an existing render’s realism to the next level.	A Vibe3D render or a draft render from another tool, using Enhance.

The Render panel offers Fidelity and Lumen. To use HyperReal on an existing image, open Enhance.

Fidelity: prioritize the geometry of your design

Fidelity produces realistic images reliably while preserving the model’s geometry precisely. Choose it when the main question is how faithfully the visualization represents the design you have already modeled.

It is a useful starting point for reviews centered on proportions, openings, furniture placement, and the relationships between architectural elements. For example, when discussing a kitchen layout or a façade’s window arrangement, Fidelity keeps the focus on the geometry you need to evaluate.

Use a clear source view with the intended design visible. The design-preservation guide explains what to compare before selecting an image for a review.

Lumen: improve the overall realism of a model view

Lumen brings a stronger sense of realism to lighting, materials, and atmosphere while aiming to stay true to the original model. Choose it when you want the image to communicate both the design and how the space could feel.

For an interior, that may mean a more convincing relationship between daylight, surface finishes, and the room’s mood. For an exterior, it may mean a more cohesive presentation of the building’s materials, lighting, and surroundings. These strengths make Lumen a useful choice for everyday visualization and client presentations.

If precise geometry preservation is your deciding priority, start with Fidelity. If your priority is the overall realism of the lighting, materials, and atmosphere, start with Lumen. You can compare both on the same model view when the project needs a balance of those qualities.

HyperReal: take a settled render further

HyperReal is suited to the final visual finish. It enhances existing renders with layered lighting and shadows, richer textures and materials, and more convincing glass and mirror reflections. Choose it when the composition and design are settled and you want an ultra-realistic image for a final presentation, portfolio, or marketing visual.

The starting image can be a completed Vibe3D render or a draft render exported from software such as V-Ray, Enscape, or D5. For example, you can enhance an approved Lumen render before a client presentation, or develop the realism of an existing Enscape draft without rebuilding the design.

HyperReal is available only in Enhance mode. It is the engine behind enhancement of an existing render. Fidelity and Lumen are the choices for creating a render from a model view. See HyperReal Enhance for the enhancement workflow and the Enscape guide for preparing an external draft render.

Do I need to use all three engines?

No. Fidelity and Lumen are alternative starting points: choose the one that serves your current review or presentation best. HyperReal is an optional finishing step once you have a render worth taking further.

If you already have a suitable draft render from another tool, begin with Enhance. If a Fidelity or Lumen result already meets your needs, you can use that result directly. Check the amount shown for each operation and your account’s feature access before generating.

Compare results against the same source

For a useful Fidelity–Lumen comparison, keep the model view, camera, lighting settings, and optional instructions equivalent. For HyperReal, compare the enhanced image with the exact render you submitted. Review geometry, material boundaries, reflections, and small details at the size you intend to present them.