Software:Lumion

From HandWiki
Lumion
Developer(s)Act-3D B.V.
Initial release2010
Stable release
Lumion Pro 2025
Operating systemWindows
Type3D visualization
LicenseProprietary
Websitelumion.com

Lumion is a real-time 3D architectural visualization software developed by Act-3D B.V., a privately owned Dutch company, developer of the Quest3D engine, headquartered in Sassenheim, Netherlands.[1] Primarily used in architecture, landscaping, urban planning and interior design, Lumion allows the creation of high-resolution renders and visualizations. It is available in 180 countries worldwide.[2][3][4]

History

Act-3D, a company behind Lumion, was founded in 1998 in Leiden, Netherlands.[5]

In September 2001, the company developed Quest3D, a proprietary 3D engine utilized in the areas of architecture, product design, computer games, training software, and simulation environments.[6][7]

Act-3D shifted focus to architectural 3D rendering shortly after its inception. The first version of Lumion software was released in December 2010.[2][8]

In April 2025, Lumion released Lumion Pro 2025, introducing AI-based image upscaling, expanded ray-traced effects such as water and volumetric lighting, a scene inspector, performance controls, and new nature assets created through photogrammetry.[9][10]

In April of the same year, Lumion released Lumion View, a real-time visualization plugin for SketchUp that allows users to create ray-traced 4K renders directly within the modeling software.[11][12]

In August 2025, Lumion announced the acquisition of Denmark-based startup Niimblr, which specializes in cloud-based collaboration, and rebranded it as Lumion Cloud. Bringing a visual-first collaboration solution to its ecosystem.[13] Lumion Cloud enables architectural visualization professionals to upload files with seamless integration to Lumion View and Pro, and collect feedback from team members, clients and stakeholders.[14]

In October 2025, Lumion released Lumion View for Revit plugin, offering the benefits of Lumion View to Autodesk Revit users.[15]

Overview

Lumion has Lumion View, Lumion Pro, and Lumion Cloud for commercial use. Lumion View is a lightweight, real-time rendering plugin that integrates with modelling applications (such as SketchUp and Revit) to support early-stage design review and fast visual feedback, while Lumion Pro is the full-featured desktop application that provides the advanced rendering tools and the complete content library for production-grade visualization.[16] Lumion Studio is offered as a bundled subscription that combines the capabilities of both View and Pro.[17][18]

Lumion Cloud, a web-based collaboration platform built for architects and designers, is currently free for all users with a Lumion Account.[19]

Lumion also has two educational licenses for non-commercial use only: Lumion Student and Lumion Faculty. Lumion Student is a free 1-year license designed for students. It can be renewed throughout their studies and is intended for non-commercial use only. Lumion Faculty is a free 3-year license for faculty members representing educational institutions. Lumion Faculty is restricted to use on university computer labs only.[18]

Features

Lumion offers real-time rendering, allowing users to view changes and updates instantly.[8]

It also has integration with popular CAD software, such as Revit, SketchUp, AutoCAD, Archicad, and many more. Lumion LiveSync was introduced for the first time in 2018 for Sketchup, enabling real-time model-to-render synchronization.[20][8][21]

LiveSync feature allows CAD modeling and Lumion rendering integration for simultaneous work in both environments with modifications that are instantly visible within the context of a lifelike landscape, including realistic skies, vegetation, furniture, and other rendered elements.[20][22]

Lumion's render engine combines rasterization technology with ray tracing for realistic light behavior and automatically generates realistic indirect lighting, reflections, and shadows.[23][24][8][25][26]

It is compatible with both Nvidia and AMD GPUs.[27][28] It supports PBR material workflow, utilizing 8 material maps. Renders natural physical properties through the calculation of light conditions and gives control over the material settings.[23]

System requirements

Lumion's system requirements vary by version, generally recommending a powerful graphics card, sufficient RAM, and a high-speed processor for optimal performance. A benchmark test is available for individual assessment (Lumion benchmarks the user's computer graphics card, graphics memory, CPU, and system memory; if any of these components have a red score, the user may need to upgrade this component for a better Lumion use). System requirements also differ between the products: Lumion View is intended to run on lighter hardware as a plugin, while Lumion Pro requires a more powerful workstation (notably a fast graphics card and increased memory).[29][30]

References

  1. ↑ Bella, Alberto; Cascone, Santi Maria (2015-11-05) (in it). BIM in Project Manajement Revit 2016 | Ecotect Analysis | Lumion 5 Software. Alberto Bella | OcMare. https://books.google.com/books?id=0D3wCwAAQBAJ&q=lumion. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Thacker, Jim (March 15, 2023). "Act-3D ships Lumion 2023.0" (in en-US). https://www.cgchannel.com/2023/03/act-3d-releases-lumion-2023-0/. 
  3. ↑ Mottle, Jeff (June 16, 2021). "Discover 'Aedas City', the largest ever architectural visualization rendered with Lumion" (in en). https://www.cgarchitect.com/features/articles/175295ec-discover-aedas-city-the-largest-ever-architectural-visualization-rendered-with-lumion. 
  4. ↑ Purcell, Aaron D. (2019-02-08) (in en). The Digital Archives Handbook: A Guide to Creation, Management, and Preservation. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-2239-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=7eyADwAAQBAJ&dq=%22lumion%22+3d+rendering+software&pg=PA177. 
  5. ↑ "3D Visualization Software: The Features, Capabilities, and UX in Lumion 10" (in en). https://freedesstudio.com/. 
  6. ↑ Yuan, Sinan; Song, Shuang; Zhang, Yukun (March 2014). "Athens Journal of Technology Engineering. Experimental Research in Urban Spatial Cognition by Using Virtual Reality Technology.". Athens Journal of Technology Engineering. https://www.atiner.gr/journals/technology/2014-1-1-2-SONG.pdf. 
  7. ↑ Vergara, Diego; Extremera, Jamil; Rubio, Manuel Pablo; Dávila, Lilian P. (2020-01-31). "The Technological Obsolescence of Virtual Reality Learning Environments" (in en). Applied Sciences 10 (3): 915. doi:10.3390/app10030915. ISSN 2076-3417. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Lumion vs Twinmotion: how they compare" (in en). https://www.easyrender.com/a/lumion-vs-twinmotion-how-they-compare. 
  9. ↑ "Lumion Expands Visualization Ecosystem with AI-Enhanced 2025 Release and New Tools for Architects". Consumer World Report. April 2025. https://www.consumerworldreport.com/article/807650744-lumion-expands-visualization-ecosystem-with-ai-enhanced-2025-release-and-new-tools-for-architects. 
  10. ↑ "Lumion releases Lumion 2025.0". CG Channel. May 2025. https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/05/lumion-releases-lumion-2025-0/. 
  11. ↑ "Lumion View: Design Companion Viz Tool Debuts". AEC Magazine. April 2025. https://aecmag.com/news/lumion-view-design-companion-viz-tool-debuts/. 
  12. ↑ "Lumion releases Lumion View". CG Channel. May 2025. https://www.cgchannel.com/2025/05/lumion-releases-lumion-view/. 
  13. ↑ "Lumion Acquires Niimblr to Unlock Visual-First Collaboration for Architects". EIN Presswire. August 2025. https://www.einpresswire.com/article/841239893/lumion-acquires-niimblr-to-unlock-visual-first-collaboration-for-architects. 
  14. ↑ "Lumion Cloud Review". Nuno Silva. 2025. https://nunosilva.pt/lumion-cloud-review/. 
  15. ↑ "Lumion View for Revit Now Available". KXAN / EIN Presswire. October 2025. https://www.kxan.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/854253526/lumion-view-for-revit-now-available/. 
  16. ↑ "Lumion Expands Visualization Ecosystem with AI-Enhanced 2025 Release and New Tools for Architects". WANE / EIN Presswire. April 2025. https://www.wane.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/807650744/lumion-expands-visualization-ecosystem-with-ai-enhanced-2025-release-and-new-tools-for-architects/. 
  17. ↑ "Lumion Pro 2025 — nieuwe functies en verbeteringen voor architectuurvisualisatie". Studica. April 2025. https://www.studica.com/blog/lumion-pro-2025/. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Act-3D B.V.-Featured - Mad Macs Technology Distributions Limited". https://www.mmhk.com/en/lumion. 
  19. ↑ "Lumion Cloud Review". 2025. https://nunosilva.pt/lumion-cloud-review/. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Lumion 8.3 with LiveSync • sketchUcation • 1". https://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=69405. 
  21. ↑ "Experimental Research in Urban Spatial Cognition by Using Virtual Reality Technology". 2013-11-06. https://www.atiner.gr/papers/ARC2013-0713.pdf. 
  22. ↑ Ioannides, Marinos; Magnenat-Thalmann, Nadia; Papagiannakis, George (2017-04-26) (in en). Mixed Reality and Gamification for Cultural Heritage. Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-49607-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=9tC_DgAAQBAJ&q=%22lumion%22+3d+Act-3D+B.V.+netherlands. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 McKenzie, Theodore (2023-03-15). "Act-3D Has Shipped Lumion 2023" (in en). https://80.lv/articles/act-3d-has-shipped-lumion-2023/. 
  24. ↑ Lily, Yen (2023-06-15). "How does Lumion perform on RTX4090? | Lumion Cloud Rendering" (in en-US). https://irendering.net/how-does-lumion-perform-on-rtx4090/. 
  25. ↑ "Lumion Australia" (in en-AU). https://cad.com.au/software/lumion/. 
  26. ↑ Staff, CGPress (2023-03-17). "Lumion 2023 released" (in en-US). https://cgpress.org/archives/lumion-2023-released.html. 
  27. ↑ Burnes, Andrew (January 30, 2025). "NVIDIA DLSS & GeForce RTX: List Of All Games, Engines And Applications Featuring GeForce RTX-Powered Technology And Features" (in en-us). https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/nvidia-rtx-games-engines-apps/. 
  28. ↑ Corke, Greg (2023-03-16). "Lumion 2023 launches with built-in ray tracing" (in en-GB). https://aecmag.com/visualisation/lumion-2023-launches-with-built-in-ray-tracing/. 
  29. ↑ Alaa, Majed (in en). Using Lumion like a vray pro: Learn Lumion Rendering software from zero to hero.. Majed Alaa. https://books.google.com/books?id=XTjSDwAAQBAJ&dq=lumion&pg=PA3. 
  30. ↑ Cardoso, Ciro (2013) (in en). Getting Started with Lumion 3D. Packt Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84969-949-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=Zz3lnQEACAAJ. 



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