# A few lines. A world of possibility.

Every line suggests a place. Explore what yours could become, one conversation at a time.

**Audience:** For architects and designers exploring early ideas

[Bring your sketch to life](/try/sketch-to-render/start)

## How it works

Sketch to render, from your own image.

1. **Capture your drawing clearly** — Scan it or photograph it straight-on with readable lines and even lighting.
2. **Give the lines some context** — Explain the building, materials, setting, and how much interpretation you want.
3. **Refine the visual concept** — Review the output, clarify misunderstood details, and explore another direction if needed.

## Example prompt

```
Translate this exact line drawing into a photorealistic architectural visualization. Retain the flat roof, left solid wall, right glazing bays, steps, terrace and camera precisely. Use warm pale limestone for the solid wall, slim dark bronze glazing frames, travertine terrace, restrained grasses, warm late afternoon light and a distant wooded hillside. No new building volumes.
```

## From reference to concept.

A generated source, its edited result, and a closer look at the same result. Use the comparison above to inspect what changed.

- **Architectural sketch** — The generated source image used as the edit reference.
- **Rendered concept** — The result of the task-specific edit, using that source image.
- **Stone and glazing** — A tightly framed detail from this result, shown at three times the scale of the full view.

## Benefits

- **Start before there is a full model** — Use a photographed hand sketch, a scan, or exported architectural linework.
- **Explain what the drawing means** — Tell Bob which lines define the design and where materials or context are still undecided.
- **Keep exploring the idea** — Try a material direction, adjust the atmosphere, and develop a concept you can discuss.

## Tips

- Crop out the desk or paper edges so the drawing fills the image.
- Explain ambiguous marks instead of assuming the model can read every line.
- Say whether you want a faithful material study or a more exploratory interpretation.

## Sketch to render questions

### Can I start from a hand-drawn architectural sketch?

Yes. Upload a clear photograph or scan and explain what the sketch shows. Readable lines and a description of the important geometry help establish the brief.

### Can I use exported CAD linework?

Yes. Export the drawing as an image and upload it. This workflow creates an image concept; it does not read native CAD layers or recover measured geometry.

### Can I choose materials and the surrounding landscape?

Yes. Describe the facade materials, lighting, and setting in your prompt. You can refine those choices in the conversation after seeing the result.

### Will the result follow my drawing exactly?

No exact match is guaranteed. AI can misinterpret lines or add details. Specify the design constraints, then compare the concept with the source drawing.

### Is this the same as converting an image into CAD?

No. Sketch-to-render creates a visual image. Rendervis also has a separate image-to-DXF workflow for approximate traced outlines; that is a different operation with different limitations.

AI interprets ambiguous linework and may invent or change details. A generated image is not recovered CAD geometry, a measured drawing, or proof that the concept can be built.

## Related workflows

- [Presentation set](/try/architectural-presentation-set.md)
- [Exterior design](/try/ai-exterior-design.md)
- [Exterior paint](/try/exterior-paint-visualizer.md)

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