Create 3D architectural renderings with real-time previews inside of your BIM software

Redshift is a GPU-accelerated, physically based renderer used to create high-quality, photorealistic images from BIM models. When paired with supported BIM software, Redshift enhances the speed of development with real-time visualization. When your project is nearing completion, use Redshift for final-quality imagery, client presentations, and marketing visuals while maintaining a strong connection to the underlying BIM project. 

Redshift is optimized for modern GPU hardware. On Windows systems, it requires an NVIDIA RTX graphics card. On macOS systems, Apple Silicon hardware (M3 Pro, M4 Pro or higher) is required. A capable GPU significantly improves performance, responsiveness, and final render quality. GPU acceleration is central to Redshift’s speed and scalability advantages. See Requirements details.

Redshift includes a library of physically accurate materials that can be applied to BIM geometry to achieve realistic surface behavior under real-world lighting conditions. These materials are designed to handle reflections, transparency, and roughness correctly, making them well suited for architectural finishes such as glass, metals, stone, and coatings. Materials from BIM software can often be converted or replaced with Redshift materials, allowing users to balance ease of use with higher visual fidelity.

Redshift is particularly well suited for architectural lighting scenarios, including daylight studies, artificial lighting design, and interior visualization. Its global illumination system produces natural light bounces and accurate shadowing, helping spaces read more realistically. When combined with physically based lights and real-world exposure values, Redshift delivers predictable results for both interior and exterior scenes across BIM-driven workflows.

Yes, our Redshift for archviz plugin allows you to export projects directly to Cinema 4D. Geometry, materials, cameras, and basic lighting typically transfer well, allowing users to continue refining scenes, materials, and lighting at a higher level of control. Within Cinema 4D you can add animation and simulation to take your project further.

Animating a scene or creating a simulation in Cinema 4D can be accomplished through a variety of tools designed for motion graphics, visual effects, and character animation. Basic animation typically begins with keyframes, where you can record changes to an object's position, rotation, scale, or other properties over time. For more advanced motion, Cinema 4D includes powerful simulation systems for rigid bodies, soft bodies, cloth, ropes, liquids, particles, and Pyro effects such as fire and smoke. You can create realistic physical interactions, dynamic destruction effects using MoGraph, or cinematic camera movements with spline paths and procedural motion controls. Simulations can be refined through settings such as gravity, friction, turbulence, viscosity, and collision behavior, then cached or baked for reliable playback and rendering. Cinema 4D provides a unified workflow that combines keyframed animation, procedural systems, and physics-based simulations to bring scenes to life. Learn more by visiting this getting started link.

Redshift for Archviz is available through the Maxon App and supports multiple integrations, including Vectorworks and Revit.

Installation Instructions

1. Download and install the Maxon App.
2. Launch Redshift from the Maxon App.
3. Open Available Integrations and install the plugin for your preferred application (e.g., Vectorworks or Revit).

Once installed, launch your application and start using Redshift.

Yes, Redshift supports hardware raytracing on Nvidia Optix RTX, Apple METAL RT, and AMD HIP RT. It's especially valuable for architecture scenes with large volume of polygons (like foliage) and geometrically complex scenes. This accelerates production rendering and final frame rendering.