Render JewelCAD designs online

Export first, then upload

RenderMyJewels does not read JewelCAD's native JCD format, so start by exporting the design. STL is the export every JewelCAD workflow already uses for printing and casting, which makes it the quickest route. Upload the STL file to your library and a preview is created automatically. Files can be up to 100 MB.

What STL means for your render

STL stores only the shape of the piece. It has no part names, so the whole design arrives as one part and starts as metal. That is ideal for metal-only designs, such as bands, chains, kadas, cufflinks and many pendants. You can choose any of the 98 metal presets, including 22K yellow gold for Indian market pieces.

Stones are part of the same surface in an STL file, so they cannot get their own gem material. If your design has diamonds or coloured stones that should sparkle in the render, check whether your JewelCAD version can export a format that keeps separate objects, such as OBJ or 3DM, and keep the stones as separate objects with clear names like Diamond or Stone. Read the STL format page and the OBJ format page.

Exporting a render-friendly STL

Print STLs are often exported at very high resolution, which makes them heavy. For rendering, a moderate resolution is enough and opens faster in the studio.

1. Export the finished design without casting sprues or supports.
2. Use a resolution that keeps curves smooth without producing an extremely large file.
3. Name the file with the SKU first, for example KD-2210_Bridal Kada.stl, so the SKU is read automatically on upload.
4. Upload a whole folder of exported designs at once if you have many.

From JewelCAD to a customer approval

Manufacturers and retailers often use renders to confirm an order before production:

1. Export the design as STL and upload it.
2. Open it in the studio and choose the alloy the customer ordered.
3. Pick a clean background, such as Pure White, and a soft shadow.
4. Export a front view, a side profile and a top view, or a 360° video.
5. Send the images, or a share link to the 3D model, for approval.

A realistic gold render is far easier for a customer to judge than a grey wax or a CAD screenshot, and changes are made in JewelCAD before any metal is used.

Catalogues for manufacturers

JewelCAD users often produce hundreds of designs a season. Upload the exported files as folders, set the jewelry type for each batch and use collections for each customer or season. Then render every design with the same lighting, background and angles so the catalogue looks consistent. See jewelry catalogue production.

Tips for JewelCAD users

• Keep a render export folder separate from your print export folder, with lighter files for rendering.
• Use the 22K preset for rich Indian and Middle Eastern gold, and white gold or platinum presets for bridal pieces.
• For designs with many stones, ask whoever exports the files for a format with separate objects.
• Add tags such as kada, bridal or temple to find designs quickly later.

Rendering inside JewelCAD compared with RenderMyJewels

JewelCAD focuses on modelling for production, and its own display is meant for checking the design rather than producing sales images. RenderMyJewels adds the sales side: realistic metals, lighting, backgrounds, poses, still export sizes up to 8K, 360° video and AI photoshoots on models, all from the same exported file.