Is CGI the same as 3D rendering?

Largely yes in property work. CGI is the broader term for computer-generated imagery, while 3D rendering is the process of producing an image from a 3D model.

Is a photomontage the same as a render?

No. A photomontage places a 3D model into a real photograph of the site, matching perspective and light. A standard render is built entirely from the 3D scene.

Which term should I use to find a studio for building exteriors?

Search for exterior rendering or architectural visualization. Then confirm in the brief how many views you need and where the images will be used.

Does the term I use change the cost?

No, scope does. Image type, model complexity, level of detail and revisions drive price, and 3D Praxis Studio's renders start from $199 per image depending on scope.

Another Word for Rendering Services: Terms Explained

Q: What is another word for rendering services?

The most common alternatives are architectural visualization (ArchViz), 3D visualization, CGI and architectural illustration. They overlap, so describe the deliverable you need as well as the term.

The most common another word for rendering services is architectural visualization (often shortened to ArchViz), followed by 3D visualization, CGI, and architectural illustration. They overlap heavily, but each leans toward a slightly different deliverable: stills, animation, photo-composites or interactive experiences. Knowing which term fits your project helps you find the right studio and write a brief that gets accurate quotes.

What are the other names for rendering services?

Studios, architects and developers use these terms almost interchangeably:

Architectural visualization (ArchViz): the industry’s umbrella term. It covers stills, floor plans, animation and virtual tours.
3D visualization / 3D visualisation (UK): a broader phrase that also covers product and interior work, not only buildings.
3D rendering: the technical act of generating an image from a 3D model. Often used for a single still.
CGI (computer-generated imagery): common in the UK and in marketing and film circles. In property work it usually means photorealistic stills or animation.
Architectural illustration: can mean 3D images, but may also imply hand-drawn or stylized artwork.
Photorealistic renders: describes the look of the result rather than the service.
Design visualization: often used by interior designers and furniture makers.
Photomontage: a different technique, where a 3D model is composited into a real photograph.

What does each term actually mean in practice?

Architectural visualization

This is the safest term when you want a studio that understands drawings, planning submissions and sales material. A studio that uses it generally works from CAD, Revit or SketchUp files and understands how a building is built, not just how it looks. If you are an architect or developer, architectural rendering is the closest match to this meaning.

3D visualization

This term is wider. It suits interior designers, hospitality groups and product brands as well as architects. If your project is a lobby, a restaurant fit-out or a furniture line, this phrasing will surface studios that handle materials and lighting at close range.

CGI

CGI is the term many UK and European buyers use, particularly in marketing departments. It tends to imply a finished, campaign-quality image or film. It is a fine search term, but when you brief, add specifics: exterior or interior, still or animation, and where the images will be used.

Photomontage

A photomontage is not simply a render. A studio places a 3D model into a real site photograph, matching camera position, lighting and perspective. Planning and consultation work often needs this because it shows a proposed building in its real context. Do not use “rendering” and “photomontage” as if they were the same line item when requesting quotes.

Walkthroughs, animation and virtual tours

These are motion or interactive formats. An animation is a fixed film. A virtual tour lets the viewer move through a space. A VR experience is built for a headset. They all start from the same 3D model as a still, but they cost and take more time because of camera work, rendering many frames and, for interactive formats, extra development.

Which term should I use when searching or writing a brief?

Match the term to the outcome:

What you need	Term to use
A sales image of a building	Exterior rendering / architectural visualization
A room for a client presentation	Interior rendering / 3D visualization
A site plan for investors	Masterplan or aerial render
A planning submission image	Photomontage / verified view
A film for pre-sales	Architectural animation / walkthrough
A buyer-facing layout	3D floor plan

In a brief, avoid relying on a single word. Write what you want to see, who will see it and where it will appear. “Four exterior stills for a brochure and website, plus one aerial” is far clearer than “CGI package.”

Does the name change the price?

The label does not set the price; scope does. Four things move it:

Image type. A single exterior still, an interior, an aerial masterplan and an animation are different workloads.
Model complexity. A simple villa and a mixed-use block with detailed facades are not comparable.
Detail level. Landscaping, furniture, people, vehicles and custom materials all add modeling and styling time.
Revisions. Changes to layout after a render is underway cost more than changes to color or lighting.

At 3D Praxis Studio, renders start from $199 per image, and the final figure depends on scope. Any quote worth trusting should list what is included: how many views, what resolution, how many revision rounds and what source files you receive.

How do I brief a rendering studio properly?

A good brief saves more time than any other step. Include:

Drawings: plans, elevations and sections as CAD, Revit or SketchUp files, plus a note on which version is current.
Materials: a list or samples for facade, flooring, roofing and joinery. Product links or photographs work if you do not have a formal schedule.
Reference images: two or three images of the mood, time of day and camera height you want. Say what you like about each one.
Camera views: a marked-up plan with the positions you need, or a description such as “eye-level from the street corner, looking north-east.”
Context: site photos, surrounding buildings, landscape intent and orientation, if lighting matters.
Purpose: planning, sales, investor deck, competition or website. The purpose decides how realistic, how polished and how large the file should be.

If you are missing information, say so. Studios can propose assumptions, but they should flag them so you can correct them before final rendering.

What is the typical process from brief to final image?

Most studios follow a similar order:

Model build from your drawings.
Clay or white-model review, where you check massing, proportions and camera angles before any materials are applied.
Materials and lighting, where finishes, daylight, landscaping and furniture are added.
Draft render and markups, where you comment directly on the image.
Final delivery in the agreed formats.

The clay stage is where you should be most careful. Changing a camera or a massing decision later is slower and more expensive than approving it early. Colors, plants and sky tend to be easy to adjust late.

What deliverables should I expect?

Ask for these to be written down:

High-resolution stills in a standard format, usually JPG or PNG, sized for print or screen as agreed.
Any alternate crops or lighting versions you’ve paid for.
For animation, the agreed video format and length, plus any music or voiceover terms.
For virtual tours, the hosting or delivery method.
Clarity on whether you receive layered or source files. Many studios keep the 3D model unless the contract says otherwise.

What affects render quality most?

Quality is rarely about software. It comes from:

Accurate input. A render cannot fix a drawing that is out of date.
Composition. Camera height, lens choice and framing matter more than extra polygons.
Lighting. Time of day and sky set the mood of a scheme more than any single material.
Material realism. Believable reflections, texture scale and wear separate a convincing image from a plastic one.
Context and staging. Landscaping, people, signage and everyday objects make a scene feel lived in.

When you review portfolios, look for projects similar to yours: residential and developer work, interiors or aerial masterplans. A studio that excels at one may not be the right fit for another.

How do I choose between studios using different terms?

Ignore the label and compare the specifics. Check that the studio works from your file types, shows work close to your building type, explains its revision process, states what is included in a quote, and has working hours that overlap with yours for quick feedback. Ask for a written scope before you commit.

How does 3D Praxis Studio handle this kind of project?

Whatever you call it, the work starts the same way for us: we review your CAD, Revit or SketchUp drawings, reference images and material lists, then confirm the views and the scope in writing. We deliver in rounds with your markups, and our schedule overlaps with US and UK mornings so feedback does not stall. We serve architects, developers, builders, interior designers and hospitality groups in the US, UK and Europe.

If you have a project and are unsure which term or format fits, send us your drawings and a short description through our contact page and we will suggest a scope.