Ok so, I totally get the struggle with those Chaos V-Ray render times... it's literally a productivity killer when you're just trying to iterate. Since people already brought up the usual suspects, I'd suggest looking at PromeAI and D5 Render.

I've been using D5 Render 2.8 lately and honestly, it's been a lifesaver for my SketchUp workflow. It's not strictly an "AI generator" like Midjourney, but it has some insane AI-powered features for textures and clutter that make things look photorealistic in seconds. Plus, the real-time ray tracing is way faster than the old-school engines.

For that specific massing-to-render jump you mentioned, check out these points:

* PromeAI Sketch Rendering is actually sick for taking a simple SketchUp linework export and turning it into a high-end exterior. It handles brushed concrete textures surprisingly well if you use the right prompts.
* If you want to stay in your CAD app, Archicad AI Visualizer (if you're an Archicad user) is built on Stable Diffusion but tuned way better for architectural intent.
* For the glass reflections you're worried about, I find that Krea AI works great as a post-production enhancer. You can upload your base render and use the "Enhance" feature to sharpen those reflections without losing the geometry.

It's all about finding that balance... I usually keep the AI creativity slider around 30-40% so it doesn't start adding weird balconies where they don't belong lol. Hope that helps! 👍

Sooo, I went through this last year when I was drowning in deadlines for a commercial project. I totally feel u on the rendering wait times... it literally kills the vibe when you're in the flow. Since someone already mentioned EvolveLAB Veras, I wanted to share my deep dive into the more technical side of the pipeline, specifically using LookX AI and some Stable Diffusion workflows.

Basically, I started messing around with LookX AI because it's built specifically for architects. Unlike Midjourney which can be a total wildcard, LookX actually lets you upload a depth map or a line drawing from your CAD model. I found that by feeding it a high-res screenshot of my Trimble SketchUp Pro model, I could maintain the *exact* proportions of the building while the AI handled the heavy lifting for textures like brushed concrete and those tricky glass reflections. It's highkey amazing how it understands 'architectural intent' compared to generic tools.

I also spent way too many late nights experimenting with ControlNet for Stable Diffusion... it's a bit more of a learning curve since it's open-source, but the level of precision is insane. You can use an 'Edge Detection' module to lock in your geometry so the AI doesn't move a single window or column. Honestly, it saved me like 70% of my post-production time. If you want that photorealistic look without losing the design, looking into dedicated architectural models (Checkpoints) for SD is the way to go imo. It's a bit techy but seriously worth it if you want total control!! gl with the transition!

Ok so, I've been experimenting with this exact problem cuz the rendering wait is literally the worst!! In my experience, Veras AI plugin for SketchUp is a total game changer for keeping that architectural intent you're worried about. I was super cautious at first since AI can get weird with glass, but honestly, it's amazing for quick iterations! Just be careful with the 'Geometry Override' slider—keep it low or your brushed concrete will basically turn into grass lol. Good luck!

> I’m specifically looking for tools that can take a basic 3D massing model or a simple SketchUp export and turn it into a high-quality, photorealistic render

Ok so, just a heads up: be REALLY careful with the "creativity" sliders on these tools. If you crank them too high to get that photoreal look, the AI basically starts redesigning your building and you lose the original architectural intent. It's a total mess if you're trying to show a client a specific design.

I've been using ArkoAI lately and I'm pretty satisfied because it’s cheap and lives right in SketchUp. Comparing it to Chaos Enscape, it’s way faster for quick ideation, though Enscape is still safer for final accuracy. Honestly, I'd say start with the free trials and keep the prompt strength low so your walls don't turn into trees lol. Good luck!!

Honestly, if you're worried about cost and keeping things professional, I'd check out LookX AI vs DALL-E 3. DALL-E is basically free with some subs, but it's kinda messy with architectural precision. LookX AI is built for us and has a decent free tier to test. It handles glass reflections and concrete textures way better than generic tools, so it's worth the small sub fee imo. Both save so much time compared to Chaos V-Ray tho!!

This ^

Big if true

Just saw this thread and had to jump in because I love where the tech is going! I was reading some technical deep-dives into cloud-inference speeds recently and it is absolutely amazing how fast things are moving. I think I heard that a few firms are starting to move away from heavy local hardware to focus on ultra-fast cloud upscalers for that final pop in textures. Not 100% sure if the brushed concrete physics are perfect yet, but the performance gains are basically legendary! I've been hearing a lot of hype about these lately:

• ArkoAI for SketchUp which seems to handle massing really well
• Magnific AI Image Upscaler for that insane 8k crispness
• Mnml.ai Architectural Design Tool for quick exterior iterations IIRC, there's also a cool community over at Civitai where people share specific LoRA files for architectural materials, though I havent personally tried setting up a local build for it yet because it looks kinda complicated... but the results people get for glass and metal are just fantastic! Definitely check those out if you want to geek out on the performance side.