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16 Render

Materials & Rendering

Apply real materials, set up studio lighting, and render images so good people think you built it already.

Materials, Lighting & Rendering

Rendering turns your model into a realistic image anyone can understand without CAD software.

Materials & Lighting
  • Physical materials -- mass and strength (e.g. 6061 Aluminum, ABS Plastic)
  • Appearances -- color and reflectivity only (e.g. Brushed Nickel, Candy Red)
  • Decals -- 2D images on surfaces (e.g. logos, stickers)

Most renderers use HDRI environments -- panoramic images that wrap around your model for realistic lighting and reflections.

Render Workflow
1
Assign Materials

Apply materials to every body and face.

1 Experience
2 Reflect
3 Theorize
4 Apply
2
Set Up Scene & Camera

Choose an HDRI backdrop and frame the shot.

3
Render

Local for quick previews, cloud for final high-res output.

Stage 2 Pause and Reflect
✓ Your reflections are saved automatically
Stage 4 Apply What You Learned

Prepare a presentation render of your robot for a design review with judges.

  • Choose materials that communicate function (metal for structural, rubber for grip)
  • Set up lighting to clearly show the robot's key mechanisms
  • Pick a camera angle that best communicates the overall design intent
  • Add a simple background/environment that doesn't distract from the robot
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