Modern terms relating to 3D architectural renderings

• Render (verb), rendering (adverb): The computational process of creating an image from a 3D scene. This process can actually be viewed on screen as the image is gradually created.
• Rendering (noun): The final image created from a 3D scene.
• Renderer (noun): The software used to create the final image.
• Render farm: A series of powerful computers linked together to increase processing power and therefore decrease the time needed to render an image.
• Architectural rendering: A piece of 3D artwork derived from architecture.
• 3D architectural rendering: an architectural rendering that is created from a 3D virtual reality process.
• Animation: motion footage through a 3D scene. Also referred to as fly-through video. We have dedicated pages that refer to animated fly-throughs.

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Updated December 2005