10 Expert-Curated Tips to Make Your Enscape Renders Stand Out

Enscape is a game-changer for architects and designers who need real-time rendering without the complexity of traditional visualization software. However, to truly maximize its potential, you need more than just a basic understanding of the software, you need to refine your workflow, optimize your models, and apply advanced techniques to get stunning results.

Here are ten of my favorite tips, each with detailed, actionable advice to help you get the most out of Enscape.

1. Shadows and reflections

Shadows and reflections work together to create depth and realism. Shadows frame your design, while reflections add an extra layer of believability by interacting dynamically with the environment. Strategically placing objects to create foreground shadows can frame the building and enhance visual interest.

• Add trees, buildings, or objects behind the camera not only to introduce subtle shadows but also to create realistic reflections on glass and glossy surfaces. 
• Adjust sun positioning to control shadow angles and ensure they interact well with reflective surfaces for added realism. 
• Use soft shadows in the settings to mimic natural light diffusion, preventing overly harsh transitions in reflections and on the ground. 
• Consider ground cover elements like leaves or dandelions to add complexity to both shadows and reflections, breaking up large, empty spaces. 

2. Optimize your model 

Creating a high-performance model in Enscape requires finding the balance between efficiency and realism. During the early stages of scene composition, using low-poly assets can help keep performance smooth and allow for rapid adjustments. However, for final renders, these should be replaced with high-detail assets to ensure the best possible visual outcome. 

• Purge unnecessary geometry in Revit or SketchUp to keep the file size manageable.
• Keep textures at 2K-4K max for an ideal balance of quality and performance. 
• Turn off unnecessary layers before rendering to free up resources. 
• Use proxy objects for complex assets to maintain efficiency. 

3. Composition 

Great rendering composition follows the same principles as professional photography. To create visually striking and balanced renders, you should use composition techniques such as the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Ratio to guide the viewer’s eye through the scene. 

• Use the Rule of Thirds to divide your frame into a grid and place key elements at the intersection points for a balanced composition. 
• Frame your subject using foreground elements,  such as trees, furniture, or architectural details, to add depth and context to the shot. 
• Use leading lines, such as roads, paths, or architectural edges, to direct the viewer’s eye toward focal points in your render. 
• Avoid trying to show everything in a single shot, your renders should take the viewer on a journey through the building, gradually revealing details rather than giving everything away at once.

4. Leverage high-quality materials for realism 

Realism hinges on accurate material settings. Here’s how to refine your materials in Enscape.

• Use PBR (Physically-Based Rendering) materials for accurate reflections and imperfections. 
• Apply bump, normal, and displacement maps to create depth, ensuring they match real-world material properties. 
• Adjust roughness and metallic sliders for better material interaction with light.
• Source high-resolution, seamless textures from trusted sources like Poliigon, AmbientCG, and Textures.com, ensuring they are correctly scaled to real-world dimensions. 
• Use Enscape's Material Editor to fine-tune transparency and reflections, and ensure UV mapping is seamless to prevent visible texture tiling and stretching. 

Read more about how to change materials in Enscape here.

5. Utilize the Enscape Asset Library and custom assets

The right assets will add realism to your scene, but you need to remain mindful of file size and avoid system crashes! Use pre-optimized trees, furniture, and people from the Enscape Asset Library, prioritizing high-quality assets in the foreground while using lower-poly models for background elements to maintain performance.

• Consider the difference between foreground and background elements to frame your composition.
• Adjust scaling and positioning to match the real-world environment.
• Use layered vegetation to break up repetitive textures and distribute vegetation assets naturally and efficiently. 
• For exterior shots, simple image planes can be used to create realistic backdrops and fill the horizon without overloading the scene.

6. Camera settings

Camera settings enhance the composition and storytelling of your renderings. Adjust the Field of View (FOV) to set the right rendering perspective. Be sure to familiarize yourself with real-world focal lengths such as 20mm, 30mm, and 50mm, which dramatically affect the feel of a render. Enable Depth of Field (DOF) to add realistic focal blur effects. 

• Modify exposure settings to avoid overexposure or dark shadows. 
• Use two-point perspective mode to maintain vertical alignment in architectural shots.
• Avoid trying to capture everything in a single render, each image should focus on a specific moment or perspective.

7. Fine-tune interior lighting for realism 

Interior lighting plays a crucial role in creating depth, realism, and atmosphere in Enscape.  Optimize your lighting setup for the best results by using layered lighting techniques by combining ambient, task, and accent lighting to achieve depth.

• Add top-down rectangular lights to simulate real-world ceiling lighting and avoid flat-looking interiors. These can also be used as skylight portals through windows to introduce highlights and additional ambient lighting, ensuring interior spaces feel more naturally illuminated.
• Adjust artificial light brightness settings to balance the intensity of artificial and natural light. 
• Lower sun brightness values slightly and shift exposure up to reduce the contrast between light and dark areas, creating a softer, more natural look. 
• Position hidden light sources behind objects like walls or furniture to create soft indirect lighting. 
• Experiment with different color temperatures (warm or cool tones)  to influence the atmosphere of your scene. 

Check out this article for more Enscape interior rendering best practices.

8. Use HDRI skyboxes for true to life environment lighting 

The sky greatly impacts lighting and reflections. Using custom HDRI Enscape skyboxes ensures your renders look more lifelike. Import high-quality HDRI skyboxes, as they contain real-world lighting data, making them the most accurate form of environmental lighting for both exterior and interior visuals. 

• Adjust sun rotation to ensure natural shadow placement.
• Experiment with different HDRI settings for mood changes (day, sunset, overcast, etc.). For free high-quality HDRIs, check out PolyHaven, a leading resource for realistic skyboxes.
• Test HDRI lighting impact on reflective surfaces for the best results, such as glass or marble counters. Not every scene requires a bright, sunny sky; overcast HDRIs often produce more natural and balanced lighting conditions. 

Check out this article for information on where you can find free 3D textures.

9. For animations, keep it smooth 

Video walkthroughs are a powerful way to present your designs, but they should be simple,  smooth, and well-composed to be effective. Instead of overcomplicating movements, start with fundamental techniques that work well in Enscape. 

• Use simple, linear camera movements when starting out. Stick to forward, backward, upward,  and downward motions to maintain clarity and avoid disorienting the viewer.
• Keep camera movements slow and steady to mimic real-world filming techniques and prevent jerky or unrealistic motion.
• Export animations at 60fps for smoother playback.
• Experiment with different camera angles and heights to add variety, such as eye-level perspectives, low-angle dramatic shots, or top-down overviews.
• When compiling multiple clips in a VFX or video editing software,  you'll be surprised how keeping things simple and well-paced creates a more professional final result. 

And here is a full guide on how to create a walkthrough video in Enscape.

10. Maximize render quality with Enscape's speed and AI enhancements 

One of Enscape's biggest advantages is its incredibly fast rendering times, allowing you to push resolution limits without significant delays. This means you can render at 8K resolution and downscale to 4K for ultimate sharpness and detail, something not easily achievable in other rendering engines.

• Export still images in PNG or EXR format for lossless quality, ensuring maximum flexibility in post-production. 
• Utilize the Chaos AI Enhancer to refine renders with automated enhancements, improving overall clarity, lighting, and realism in 3D people.  

By applying these advanced Enscape techniques, you can elevate your renderings from basic to breathtaking. Whether you’re working on conceptual presentations or final high-end renders,  these best practices will help you achieve efficiency, realism, and visual impact.

Start implementing these strategies today, and take your architectural visualizations to the next level. To accelerate your learning with Enscape, join the masterclass by ArchAdemia.