Architectural scale model of a cityscape with illuminated buildings, roads, and green spaces enclosed in a clear display case.
Dan Stine

Dan Stine

Published: April 03, 2025  •  4 min read

An AI-Enhanced Architectural Visualization Workflow Using Enscape and Veras

With the recent acquisition of EvolveLAB by Chaos, it will be exciting to see how the strengths of the Chaos AI Enhancer and Veras combine to create a more complete and robust workflow for architects and visualization specialists.

This article will highlight how I have used both Enscape and Veras, from early design in Forma to Revit renderings and book covers.

Enscape rendering enhanced with the Chaos AI Enhancer, of people and succulent assets, comparing before and after results.

Example of an Enscape rendering enhanced with the Chaos AI Enhancer

Introduction to AI visualization

Veras is a versatile AI-based tool used to create renderings based on geometry in Autodesk Forma, Autodesk Revit, or Trimble SketchUp, as well as rendered images and 3D models exported/saved to a file. Compared to more well-known text-to-image tools like Midjourney and Adobe Firely, the value here is extra control afforded the designer. However, Veras still allows for measured deviations on geometry and material assignments (if any have been made) to explore options and be inspired.

Compared to Veras, Enscape offers the most control over the rendered result, but the results are often discernible from reality. Enter Enscape’s built-in Chaos AI Enhancer tool, designed to carefully replace the people and vegetation with incredibly realistic-looking versions.

As with any AI tool for architects, the results must be reviewed for accuracy and appropriateness. For example, these tools might change the gender or ethnicity, which may be fine in some cases but not in others. It is also worth noting that, for better awareness and ability to mitigate the potential challenge, the same scene or different vantage points of the same space can look very different. Plus, these AI enhancements do not apply to videos or VR, only static rendered images.

Veras extension in Autodesk Forma

Autodesk Forma is gaining popularity among architects, given its ability to analyze early-phase massing (e.g., CFD wind, Traffic noise, embodied carbon, etc.). Since Forma is not a closed system, Versa developed an extension for it.

The model below is an example of a massing model with geometry created in Forma as well as imports from Rhino and Revit. This sample project is from a YouTube playlist series I created on Autodesk Forma, click here to learn more about Forma. I will also be presenting on Forma at the 2025 national AIA conference in Boston later this year.

Screengrab of early massing modeling in Autodesk forma of a cityscape.

Early massing modeling in Autodesk Forma

When Veras is launched in Forma, several pre-baked options are presented on the Explore tab. Simply click Render for 1-4 options, like the “Balsa Wood Model” example below.

Dan Stine-Forma 02

Veras extension with Autodesk Forma

Screengrab of Veras results using default settings on the Explore tab in the software.

Veras results using default settings on the Explore tab

Switching to the Compose tab offers a custom text prompt to be entered as well as some self-explanatory controls over geometry and material deviations.

Screengrab of Veras results using a custom text prompt on the Compose tab.

Veras results using a custom prompt on the Compose tab

On the Edit tab, Veras results can be refined using the selection tool. Just the selected area can be modified with a text prompt and geometry/materials controls. In the following example, I selected the proposed buildings, inverted the selection, and then entered a prompt to make all the background buildings white.

Greengrab of the Veras software, showing the inversed selection on the Edit tab.

Inversed selection on the Edit tab

Screengrab of Forma window showcasing Veras results using a custom prompt against the selected area on the Edit tab.

Veras results using a custom prompt against the selected area on the Edit tab

Another interesting example to share within Forma is how Veras renders a view with a section box applied in Forma. Notice how the faces of the section box become something akin to a plexiglass model cover (or snow globe) in the Veras-generated images.

Screengrab of Forma window with Veras results when a section box is applied.

Veras results when a section box is applied in Forma

Three images of an architectural scale model in a display box, showcasing Veras results when a section box is applied in Forma.

Several Veras results when a section box is applied in Forma

Chaos AI Enhancer

Enscape also has an AI tool built in. This tool will render a scene based on the current settings, upload it to Chaos Cloud, and then use AI to enhance the people and vegetation. Compare the first two images below. Then, the third and fourth images below zoom in on the plant to more clearly show the impressive quality improvements gained by the process. The final AI-enhanced image can then be downloaded to your computer.

Enscape rendering created in Revit of people socializing in an office kitchen.

Enscape rendering with Revit

Enscape rendering created in Revit of people socializing in an office kitchen enhanced by the Chaos AI Enhancer.

Rendered people and vegetation optimized using the Chaos AI Enhancer

Enscape rendering of a succulent in a pot, on a kitchen table.

Enscape rendering of vegetation

Enscape rendering of a succulent in a pot, on a kitchen table enhanced by the Chaos AI enhancer.

Rendered vegetation optimized using the Chaos AI Enhancer

Veras enhanced Enscape rendering

In addition to Veras being an add-in for Revit, SketchUp, and Forma, it is also a standalone web-based tool. This allows a simple massing model or even a scanned sketch to be uploaded and turned into an AI-rendered image.

In the examples below, I uploaded an Enscape rendered image. Where the Chaos AI Enhancer mainly focuses on people and vegetation. The Veras tool can enhance and/or change everything.

Veras does not handle the people as well as the Chaos AI Enhancer. This is a perfect example of how the strengths of each tool could now be combined to create a much more robust workflow!

The first image below is simply the Enscape rendering uploaded into Veras. The second image is an enhancement based on a text prompt adding wood flooring and set to minimize geometry changes. The last image in this section increases the ability for AI to change the geometry… remember this “geometry” is being interpreted from a flat/static image, which is really cool.

Enscape rendering of people in an office kitchen, uploaded to Veras.

Enscape rendered image uploaded to Veras cloud-based tool

Enscape rendering of people in an office kitchen, uploaded to and enhanced by Veras.

Enscape rendering changed via custom Veras prompt and settings

Enscape rendering of a corporate break room, uploaded to Veras.

Break room alternate example #1 (without people)

Enscape rendering in Veras of a corporate break room, with minimal geometry override.

Break room alternate example #2 (without people) - minimal geometry override

Enscape rendering in Veras of a corporate break room, with geometry override.

Break room alternative #3 (without people) - geometry override

My Autodesk Revit book covers

Finally, in this last section, I will share how I used the Veras add-in for Revit to generate book covers for four of my Revit 2025 textbooks. In previous years, I have used Enscape to create the covers. The following image compares the varied benefits and qualities of my residential Revit 2024 (Enscape rendering) and Revit 2025 (Veras rendering) book covers. By the way, this is the #1 Revit textbook in North America 😊.

Two alternative book covers for Revit featuring two-storey houses, one rendered with Enscape, the other enhanced with Veras.

Alternative use case: Enscape (2024 cover) and Veras (2025 cover)

Here is the view composed in Revit:

Screengrab of a Residental model in Revit.

Residential model in Autodesk Revit

Here is the Veras interface within Revit, which closely matches the interface of the web version covered above in this article:

Screengrab of a residental model in Veras, using the add-in for Revit to study options.

Using the Veras add-in for Revit to study options

Within minutes, it is possible to generate many, many results, as depicted by the thumbnails below:

42 book cover options of residential homes.

Many options within minutes

Conclusion

It is easy to see how the coming together of Chaos and EvolveLAB is going to lead to even more exciting things for architects and visualization specialists alike! We already have an amazing collection of tools, and they are only going to get better.

 

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Dan Stine
Dan Stine

Dan is an author, blogger, educator, design technologist and Wisconsin-registered architect. He is the Director of Design Technology at Lake | Flato architects in San Antonio, Texas. Connect with Dan on LinkedIn.

Enscape rendering enhanced with the Chaos AI Enhancer, of people and succulent assets, comparing before and after results.

Example of an Enscape rendering enhanced with the Chaos AI Enhancer

Screengrab of early massing modeling in Autodesk forma of a cityscape.

Early massing modeling in Autodesk Forma

Dan Stine-Forma 02

Veras extension with Autodesk Forma

Screengrab of Veras results using default settings on the Explore tab in the software.

Veras results using default settings on the Explore tab

Screengrab of Veras results using a custom text prompt on the Compose tab.

Veras results using a custom prompt on the Compose tab

Greengrab of the Veras software, showing the inversed selection on the Edit tab.

Inversed selection on the Edit tab

Screengrab of Forma window showcasing Veras results using a custom prompt against the selected area on the Edit tab.

Veras results using a custom prompt against the selected area on the Edit tab

Screengrab of Forma window with Veras results when a section box is applied.

Veras results when a section box is applied in Forma

Three images of an architectural scale model in a display box, showcasing Veras results when a section box is applied in Forma.

Several Veras results when a section box is applied in Forma

Enscape rendering created in Revit of people socializing in an office kitchen.

Enscape rendering with Revit

Enscape rendering created in Revit of people socializing in an office kitchen enhanced by the Chaos AI Enhancer.

Rendered people and vegetation optimized using the Chaos AI Enhancer

Enscape rendering of a succulent in a pot, on a kitchen table.

Enscape rendering of vegetation

Enscape rendering of a succulent in a pot, on a kitchen table enhanced by the Chaos AI enhancer.

Rendered vegetation optimized using the Chaos AI Enhancer

Enscape rendering of people in an office kitchen, uploaded to Veras.

Enscape rendered image uploaded to Veras cloud-based tool

Enscape rendering of people in an office kitchen, uploaded to and enhanced by Veras.

Enscape rendering changed via custom Veras prompt and settings

Enscape rendering of a corporate break room, uploaded to Veras.

Break room alternate example #1 (without people)

Enscape rendering in Veras of a corporate break room, with minimal geometry override.

Break room alternate example #2 (without people) - minimal geometry override

Enscape rendering in Veras of a corporate break room, with geometry override.

Break room alternative #3 (without people) - geometry override

Two alternative book covers for Revit featuring two-storey houses, one rendered with Enscape, the other enhanced with Veras.

Alternative use case: Enscape (2024 cover) and Veras (2025 cover)

Screengrab of a Residental model in Revit.

Residential model in Autodesk Revit

Screengrab of a residental model in Veras, using the add-in for Revit to study options.

Using the Veras add-in for Revit to study options

42 book cover options of residential homes.

Many options within minutes