From CAD to CGI: The Complete Workflow Behind Professional 3D Interior Renderings

The journey from basic architectural drawings to photorealistic interior visualizations is far more structured than most developers realize. In 2026, Canadian real estate professionals in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and beyond rely on a proven CAD to 3D interior rendering workflow to transform technical files into high-impact marketing assets.

Understanding this process helps developers set realistic timelines, deliver the right inputs, and collaborate efficiently with visualization studios. This guide walks through every stage used by top Canadian studios today.

Stage 1: Project Briefing and Asset Collection

Everything starts with clarity. The studio gathers:

• 2D CAD plans, elevations, and sections
• 3D Revit or Archicad models (preferred)
• Material specifications and finish schedules
• Reference images, mood boards, and branding
• Target camera angles or key views
• Time of day, season, and lifestyle direction

Stage 2: Model Cleanup and Optimization

Raw CAD or BIM files often include unnecessary complexity. Artists clean and optimize the model by removing annotations, fixing geometry issues, organizing layers, and simplifying overly detailed Revit families.

Typical duration: 1–3 weeks depending on complexity

Stage 3: Detailed 3D Modelling and Scene Building

With a clean base model, artists add missing elements that complete the interior:

• Custom furniture, millwork, and architectural details
• High-quality furniture, décor, and accessory assets
• Exterior context visible through windows
• Small realism details like outlets, trims, and switches

Leading studios maintain extensive libraries of Canadian furniture brands to accelerate production.

Typical duration: 2–4 weeks

Stage 4: Material Creation with Physically-Based Rendering (PBR)

Artists build accurate PBR material sets including albedo, roughness, metallic, normal, and height maps. Materials are scanned or created from real supplier products commonly used in Canadian developments.

Typical duration: 1–3 weeks

Stage 5: Lighting Setup and Simulation

Lighting transforms the scene. Studios set HDRI environments, portal lights, artificial fixtures with IES profiles, and enable global illumination or path tracing.

Typical duration: 1–2 weeks

Stage 6: Camera Composition and View Development

Professional composition applies photography principles and natural focal lengths to highlight selling features like views, kitchens, and primary suites.

Typical duration: 5–10 days including feedback

Stage 7: Test Renders and Client Review Cycles

Studios deliver mid-resolution test renders, collect consolidated feedback, and iterate until approval—typically 2–3 major rounds.

Typical duration: 2–4 weeks

Stage 8: Final High-Resolution Rendering

Final renders are produced at 4K–8K resolution with full global illumination, denoising, and render farm distribution.

Typical duration: 1–2 weeks

Stage 9: Post-Production and Colour Grading

Renders receive professional finishing—exposure balancing, colour grading, lens effects, and brand matching.

Typical duration: 3–7 days

Stage 10: Delivery and Additional Assets

• Full-resolution hero images
• Web-optimized versions
• Alternative crops and angles
• 360° panoramas or short animations (optional)

Typical duration: 2–5 days

Complete Timeline Overview (Canadian Standards)

How Developers Can Speed Up the Process

• Provide clean Revit models instead of 2D CAD
• Finalize finish schedules early
• Approve camera angles with clay renders
• Consolidate feedback through one contact
• Book studio time 3–6 months ahead

The Future of the Workflow

• AI-assisted model cleanup and materials
• Real-time rendering for instant changes
• Automated furniture placement
• Direct Revit-to-render engine pipelines