Freedom251 › 3D Rendering Software
Raylectron
What Raylectron is
Raylectron is a photorealistic 3D renderer and animation tool for SketchUp on 64-bit Windows. It can operate as a standalone renderer, create scenes with sun, moon, sky, clouds, birds, mountains, planets, stars, textured ground, rocks, grass, and trees, and render SketchUp models or load OBJ files. Its material editor includes controls for shine, reflection, color, texture, emitters, portals, and grass or fur effects. Animation scripts use a customized Pascal version with functions for moving and bouncing objects. A SketchUp toolbar exports models and provides component and texture-positioning tools, including rotation and randomization. Another toolbar button opens an online material database that can be used without Raylectron. The free version has no time limit and keeps other features enabled, but limits output to 1024×768. Raylectron v5 costs 99.95 USD once, including lifetime updates and upgrades.
Who it suits
It suits SketchUp users who need rendering, animation, OBJ loading, or standalone scene creation on Windows. The indefinite free version is useful for lower-resolution rendering.
What it does well
- Standalone rendering with many scene elements
- Loads SketchUp and OBJ models
- Material editor includes reflection and grass effects
- Animation scripting supports movement and bouncing
- Free version has no time limit
What to know first
- Free rendering resolution is limited to 1024×768
- Windows-only platform
- GPU version requires at least 4 GB video memory
- GPU version lacks some CPU features
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Raylectron v5 (CPU & GPU) | one time fee · SketchUp 2013 to 2024, free and pro · Windows XP to Windows 11, 64-bit · all updates and upgrades free for life | $99.95, paid once |
As raylectron.com lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Raylectron combines SketchUp integration, standalone rendering, materials, and scripted animation. The free tier is functional but restricted to 1024×768 output, while the one-time paid plan removes that stated limitation and includes lifetime updates.
Facts from Raylectron's own pages
- Animation
- Animation uses scripts based on a customized version of Pascal, with built-in functions for effects such as object movement and bouncing. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Company and founder
- SoftByte Labs, Inc. says Michael Purkhardt founded the company on July 12, 1993. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1993 · raylectron.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Free use limit
- The free version can be used indefinitely, but rendering resolution is limited to 1024×768; the maker says other features are not disabled. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
- GPU limits
- The GPU version requires a video card with at least 4 GB and about 1500 or more stream processors, and lacks several features available in the CPU version. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- The maker lists its corporate headquarters in Stuartburn, Manitoba, Canada. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Material library
- A SketchUp toolbar button opens an online material database, and the maker says this feature can be used without Raylectron. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Materials and effects
- Its material editor supports shine, reflection, color, texture, emitters, portals, and grass or fur effects. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Model formats
- The maker says Raylectron can render SketchUp models and load OBJ models. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Operating system and host
- The maker lists 64-bit Windows XP and later and SketchUp 2013 and later as requirements. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Raylectron is a photorealistic 3D renderer and animation tool for SketchUp. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
- SketchUp integration
- The SketchUp toolbar exports models to Raylectron and includes tools for components and texture positioning, rotation, and randomization. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Standalone rendering
- Raylectron can run standalone and includes sun, moon, sky, clouds, birds, mountains, planets, stars, ground texturing, and assets such as rocks, grass, and trees. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- Paid customers receive priority technical support, and the maker says free users can also contact technical support. · raylectron.com, 9 Oct 2026
Where Raylectron stands on Freedom251
- 3D Rendering Software#19 of 46