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CAD Scene vs Gendo

CAD Scene suits focused rendering from an existing 3D view. Gendo suits shared visual development across many assets.

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CAD Scene and Gendo architectural visualization workflows compared
A rendering workbench and a shared canvas serve different studio needs.

At a glance

Competitor facts are current to the review date. A red X marks unavailable or not publicly confirmed. A neutral minus marks partial availability.

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CAD Scene and Gendo comparison
Decision pointCAD SceneGendo
Starting paid price$12/month250 credits per month on Hobby.Lowest listed starting price£79/month[10]Studio is also listed at £790 yearly. Prices exclude tax.
ApproachArchitect-native rendering workbenchCreate, Enhance and Edit share one project workspace.Shared multi-asset team canvas[2][3]Images, renders, notes, and variants can share one browser canvas.
AI brief and prompt guidanceFree brief check on SendClarify an ambiguous render with suggested replies or your own answer. You can also choose Skip and Send Now.AI Assistant and Enhance Prompt[4][5]The assistant can suggest prompts, ask follow-up questions, and prepare an editable final prompt.
Generate persistent project settingsYes, one Composition per projectComposition = Style + Scene + Lighting + Materials + Entourage. Full text-to-all-fields runs during new-project setup. Later, a Project reference image can Generate Composition. Each field can generate from words or images at any time.Not publicly confirmed[3][4]Asset context and tool settings are documented. One generated structured brief shared across studies is not.
Reuse one visual direction across studiesYes, across every studyAll studies share the same project settings, Project reference image, and applied Preset.Within one canvas[6][2]References and style controls can guide related assets. Reusable direction across separate studies is not confirmed.
Parallel generation and VariationsParallel generation at send and laterMultiple images can run in parallel from Composer. Multiple Variations can run later from any finished render.Studio parallel rendering; two outputs[10][6][7]Studio supports parallel rendering. Render Design and Material each return two variations.
Supported resolutions512, 1K, 2K, 4K [1]Base resolution not published[9][10]Paid plans offer 2x and 4x upscale, but the native generation dimensions are not stated.
Supported aspect ratios1:1, 1:4, 1:8, 2:3, 3:2, 3:4, 4:1, 4:3, 4:5, 5:4, 8:1, 9:16, 16:9, 21:9 [1]Not publicly confirmed[6]The reviewed Render Design guide does not publish an Aspect selector or ratio list.
Supported quality levelsLow, Medium, High [1]No native quality levels documented[6][9]Enhance and Upscale are separate finishing steps, not generation quality levels.
Works from a screenshot, any 3D toolYesStarts from screenshots from Rhino, SketchUp, Blender, Revit and other 3D tools.Yes[1][2]Gendo accepts CAD screenshots and exports from major 3D tools.
Built-in 3D model workflowUpload → clay viewer → Capture → EnhanceUpload a supported 3D/CAD model package, inspect clay geometry, set camera and visibility, save a Viewer capture, use it as Enhance source.3D and CAD exports on a shared canvas[1][2]Gendo uploads exports. Exact formats and an inspectable model viewer are not published.
Source constraint and reviewSource-guidedEnhance keeps the source camera, framing, angle and dimensions. Review proportions and openings in every generated result.Vendor-stated geometry retention[1]Gendo says its editing can keep geometry fixed. Check every generated result.
Region editYes, Edit modeMark multiple named regions with Rectangle or Brush. Use Eraser to refine them, then change only those areas.Polygon and lasso material selection[7]Material Edit supports polygon or lasso masks, subtract mode, and multiple passes on one image.
Built-in post-render image operations56 one-click image operationsModify, Relight, and Effects reuse the source Render model, settings, and Composition snapshot. Each result has the normal per-image model charge.Chat Editing for prompt-led changes[8]Conversational edits cover changes such as lighting and time of day, rather than a categorized one-click operation catalog.
Built-in Preset system60+ built-in PresetsApply a built-in Preset, use a Project reference image, or save versioned Presets.Not confirmed[1][11]Style tools are documented. A saved preset and version system is not.
Free 4K upscaleYes, free Lanczos 4KPaid plans: 2x and 4x[9][10]Upscale is paid-only, and 4x can be unavailable for an already-large source.
Renders survive tab closeYesServer-side render jobs continue after the browser tab closes.Not confirmedPublic pages do not state whether generation continues after tab close.
ModelsNano Banana 2, Nano Banana Pro, Nano Banana, GPT Image 2.5 Flare, and GPT Image 2.5 SunburstChoose a model per render.Not publicly named[10][11]Gendo includes current models but does not name them publicly.
Free to tryYes, no credit cardYour first renders are free.Yes, no credit card[10][11]Free includes fair-use generations, one canvas, limits, and a watermark.
Native pluginNoUse a browser screenshot from the 3D tool you already work in.No[1]Gendo describes an upload workflow without native plugins.
See all 56 Modify, Relight, and Effects image operations.

[1] Options depend on the selected model. Aspect ratio is Create-only. Quality is available on GPT Image 2.5.

Price context: green marks the lowest listed starting-price figure, not a like-for-like value ranking. Currencies, annual-effective billing, credits, tax, seats and plan limits differ. Check each source access date before purchase.

Choose the workspace that matches the review loop

Choose CAD Scene when

Architects who want a direct screenshot-to-render workbench with clear project studies.

Choose Gendo when

Teams needing one canvas for assets, notes, viewers, variants, and video.

Where CAD Scene fits

CAD Scene keeps the render brief inside one project. Create, Enhance, and Edit share the same project context.

It starts with the view already composed in your 3D tool, or with the model itself. Upload IFC, 3DM, STEP, GLB, FBX, OBJ, BLEND or USD, frame the clay model, Capture, then Enhance with the camera held. Each result remains a separate study for review.

One Composition of Style, Scene, Lighting, Materials, and Entourage persists across studies. One-click Relight, Effects, and Modify operations replay the finished Render with that context, and presets save as versions.

  • Upload the 3D model or any browser screenshot from your current modeling stack.
  • Choose a model for each render.
  • Edit named regions without rebuilding the whole brief.
  • Keep render jobs running after the browser closes.

Where Gendo fits

Gendo treats the canvas as the main project surface. Many source images, generations, notes, and decisions stay visible together.

That structure suits a distributed studio review. Viewer roles and sticky notes reduce separate handoff documents.

  • Run several generations in parallel and compare them side by side.
  • Invite editors, administrators, and viewers into a shared workspace.
  • Generate short video work alongside still assets.

Pricing and plan boundaries

Gendo Free costs £0. It includes fair-use generations and one active canvas.

Studio costs £79 monthly or £790 annually. The annual figure excludes tax.

The plans differ on more than limits. Free outputs belong to Gendo. Free work is not confidential.

Studio users own generated outputs. Gendo says paid prompts and outputs stay confidential.

Evaluate the collaboration, not a sample gallery

Use one current project and one agreed camera. Keep the same source image and brief.

Review proportions, openings, materials, and entourage. Treat every generated image as a design draft.

  • Create three material options and record the prompt for each.
  • Ask a colleague to comment, edit, and approve one option.
  • Close the browser during one generation and record the outcome.
  • Export the chosen image and inspect its actual pixel dimensions.
  • Check the selected plan against client confidentiality requirements.

Useful questions

Is Gendo better for studio collaboration?
Gendo has the clearer team canvas. It includes roles, viewers, notes, and parallel generation.
Who owns work made on Gendo?
Gendo says Studio and Enterprise users own outputs. Gendo owns Free and Education outputs.

Compare the wider field

Read the best AI rendering tools for architects for the narrative shortlist. For the category workflow and review checks, use the AI architectural rendering guide. Or return to the comparison hub.

Sources and review dates

Competitor facts use public product and pricing pages. Check the linked pages for changes after the access date.

Official Gendo product and workflow sources

Canvas, editing, video, upload, notes, and team workflow claims.

Official Gendo plan and data sources

Reviewed prices, limits, ownership, confidentiality, and fair-use terms.

Where CAD Scene pulls ahead

Six things the Gendo route leaves to you

Gendo has no public equivalent for three of the six, covers two with limits and matches one. Each plate names the CAD Scene capability and Gendo's state on the review date.

Available
With limits
Unavailable or unconfirmed

  1. 3D models

    Start from the model, not a flat export

    Upload IFC, 3DM, STEP, GLB, FBX, OBJ, BLEND and more. Frame the clay model, Capture, then Enhance with the camera held.

    • IFC
    • STEP
    • 3DM
    • GLB
    • FBX
    • OBJ
    • BLEND
    • USD

    Gendo: Uploads 3D and CAD exports to a shared canvas. Exact formats and an inspectable clay viewer with a capture step are not published.

  2. Composition

    One direction, every study

    Style, Scene, Lighting, Materials and Entourage persist across studies. Each new view starts briefed.

    • Style
    • Scene
    • Lighting
    • Materials
    • Entourage

    Gendo: Asset context and tool settings are documented. One structured brief that every study starts from is not.

  3. Relight and Effects

    56 one-click image operations

    20 Relight, 20 Effects and 16 Modify operations. Each replays the finished Render with its model and Composition.

    • Clear morning
    • Soft overcast
    • Bright midday
    • Atmospheric mist
    • Lens flare

    Gendo: Chat Editing covers lighting and time-of-day changes by prompt. No categorized one-click Relight or Effects catalog is documented.

  4. Presets

    60+ built-in presets, versioned

    Apply a preset, tune any field, save a version. Roll back when the client changes course.

    • Built-in
    • Project reference image
    • Saved versions

    Gendo: Style tools are documented. A saved preset with restorable versions is not.

  5. Image models

    5 image models, one Project

    Google and OpenAI models sit in the same Composer. Switch per render without losing history.

    • Nano Banana 2
    • Nano Banana Pro
    • Nano Banana
    • GPT Image 2.5 Flare
    • GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

    Gendo: Gendo includes current models but does not name them publicly. No per-render switch between named providers.

  6. Edit

    Named regions, one prompt

    Mark the façade and the paving. Name them. One Edit changes both and holds the rest.

    • Rectangle
    • Brush
    • Eraser

    Gendo: Material Edit supports polygon or lasso masks, subtract mode, and multiple passes. Regions are not named for one shared prompt.