topic Re: Simple AI rendering Addon in Visualization

Simple AI rendering Addon

Miha Nahtigal — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:46:45 GMT

After getting tired of the numerous commercial AI rendering services out there, I decided to create my own.

The goal is simplicity. The add-on captures a snapshot of your current 3D view when you click "Capture Current 3D". Simply enter your prompt below the captured image and click Send. Not satisfied with the result or want to make some adjustments? Just enter another prompt, and the AI will continue working on the last generated image.

The add-on is quite flexible and supports multiple AI engines, including Google's Nano Banana (Gemini), BFL Flux, or even your own locally hosted models through Forge (e.g., Stable Diffusion, Flux, and others).

The easiest way to get started is to create an account in Google AI Studio (https://aistudio.google.com/), generate an API key, purchase some credits, paste the API key into the settings dialog, and you're ready to render.

Best of all, the Addon is completely free and open source. The source code is available on GitHub: https://github.com/malamalca/BIMrender

Contributors are welcome!

Pre-built add-on releases can be found in the Releases subfolder (download the add-on from there).

Enjoy, and please send your feedback.

Operating system used: Windows

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Miha Nahtigal — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 14:00:04 GMT

The animation below is made with locally installed AI model Flux-2 (running on RTX 5070Ti).

It is not as good as commercial AI models but for quick renders, it does its job.

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

GDS_LG — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 18:39:31 GMT

Hi Miha,

Very interesting tip. Please can you explain how I can run this plugin in archicad. Apologies, I'm not great with Github etc.

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Botonis — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 19:02:31 GMT

Doing this API enabling in Gemini NOT FOR THIS ADDON I was charged 150 euros.Obviously I should had read

more about the terms.I did it to try another addon.This GEMINI intergration obviously is reaaly promising

As long as this Archicad 's AI Visualizer is not moving forward Gemini will prevail.

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Miha Nahtigal — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 04:05:57 GMT

Hi, Botonis. I agree that allowing unlimited Gemini token usage can be problematic. However, you can always set a spending limit in your AI Studio dashboard, so you'll only use the tokens you've already paid for.

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Miha Nahtigal — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 04:14:37 GMT

Hi, installing the add-on is quite simple.

Download the appropriate version of the add-on from the Releases folder:
https://github.com/malamalca/BIMrender/tree/main/Releases

Choose the file that matches your Archicad version. (The file without an appended version number is for Archicad 29.)

You can install the add-on in one of two ways:

Copy the add-on file into the Archicad Add-Ons folder and restart Archicad:
C:\Program Files\GRAPHISOFT\Archicad 29\Add-Ons
Or copy the add-on anywhere on your computer and add it manually in Archicad via Options → Add-On Manager → Add...

Getting started

After installation, the add-on will appear in the main Archicad menu. Open a 3D view, then go to BIMrender → AI Render to open the palette. Click Capture Current 3D to capture the current view.
Click the Settings button (to the left of the Capture button) and choose the AI engine you want to use. The easiest option is Google Gemini (Nano Banana). Before using Gemini, create an API key in Google AI Studio (https://aistudio.google.com/) and purchase some credits/tokens. Then copy and paste your API key into the settings dialog.
Enter your prompt, for example:
Create a photorealistic render of a family house. Add landscaping, trees, people, cars, and realistic lighting.
Click the yellow Send button. Your AI-generated render should appear shortly.

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

graava — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:25:34 GMT

This Addon looks quite promising! Are you planning to release a Mac version?

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

GDS_LG — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:03:25 GMT

Hi Miha,

Thanks for this. I run on Mac but will try this on a desktop that I also can get access to at some point.

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Miha Nahtigal — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:04:11 GMT

I have implemented a few really great features:

- user can use the newest AI model gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image (RELEASED TODAY)

- I've added prompt template suggestions - users uses dropdowns with render settings, moods, ... and the prompt auto generates (eg Photorealistic architectural photography of brutalist concrete architecture, bright clear midday sun, dramatic cloudy sky, standard 35mm lens. Keep all architectural geometry exactly as in the input image.)

- one click AI prompt enhancement (prompt above becomes "Photorealistic architectural photograph of raw, board-formed brutalist concrete under harsh, direct midday sun, casting deep, crisp shadows. Dramatic, heavy storm clouds dominate the sky, with piercing shafts of sunlight breaking through. Captured with a sharp 35mm prime lens, wide depth of field.")

- prompt history

Wanna se the result of the above prompt 🙂 ?

This image...

renders into...

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Miha Nahtigal — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:18:08 GMT

Two more examples from the same 3d model. Different prompts using prompt templates.

Modern classic, rainy eveneing

Scandinavian vibe, foggy blue hour.

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Florin Luca — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:31:08 GMT

Looks great! Any hope for a Mac version, too?

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Miha Nahtigal — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:34:01 GMT

I would like to point out another feature of my Addon.

You can chain renderings. After creating a first render, you can specify additional prompt, which will be used on a rendered image. This is very useful when user does like the produced rendering, but wants to optimize it further.

But the main part in chaining renderings is that you can even specify a part of image (region) that you want to change. AI should than change only the marked area according to your wishes. There might be some quirks, but generally this works great.

Let the images speak for themselves:

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Miha Nahtigal — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:45:25 GMT

Yes, there will be a Mac version soon.

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Miha Nahtigal — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 10:48:49 GMT

Mac version is online. Download the project and browser for addon in Releases folder.

https://github.com/malamalca/BIMrender/archive/refs/heads/main.zip

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Florin Luca — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:21:11 GMT

Thank you! A small issue though. I was able to install, buy credits, etc, but when I launch the Add-on I cannot capture the 3d view, see attached

The Capture Current 3D is not active. Any ideas what am I doing wrong?

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Miha Nahtigal — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:53:14 GMT

Please try downloading Addon again. I've implemented some fixes. Report if it works for you

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Florin Luca — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:29:35 GMT

For the life of me, I can't figure it out. I got the BIMrender file form Releases/BIMrender.bundle/Contents/MacOS/BIMrender, but it has no extension so I added.bundle and copied it to the Add-on folder. It's not loading 😞

Never mind, I manage to download it!

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Miha Nahtigal — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:33:48 GMT

Copy entire folder BIMrender.bundle to your desired location (anywhere on disk). Open AC, goto Options->Add On Manager, Click Add button and point it to the BIMrender.bundle bundle.

Or copy entire BIMrender.bundle Archicad 29/Add-Ons folder and restart AC.

Sometimes when using custom Archicad profiles, menu item won't appear. Try applying default profile in Options->Work Environment->Apply Profile->Architectural Profile 29

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Florin Luca — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:35:39 GMT

More news: AI Renderer loads and renders (I tried gemini 3.1 flash lite image and 3.1 flash image) but AC crashed each time on trying to save 😞

Re: Simple AI rendering Addon

Miha Nahtigal — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:07:38 GMT

Thank you for your input. Could you download latest version and try again?