Revit + Twinmotion & Revit + Lumion: Which Visualisation Tool is Right for You?

Autodesk Revit integrates well with both Epic Games Twinmotion and Lumion, providing real-time visualisation solutions for architectural projects. However, these two applications have distinct features, workflows, and performance impacts. Below is a detailed comparison of Twinmotion & Lumion when used with Revit.

Twinmotion Rendering Image

External Reference: www.twinmotion.com

Lumion Rendering Image

External Reference: www.lumion.com

1. General Comparison

FeatureTwinmotion (Epic Games)Lumion
Ease of UseBeginner-friendly, simple UI, drag-and-drop assetsIntuitive but has a steeper learning curve than Twinmotion
Rendering SpeedFast real-time rendering with Unreal EngineFast real-time rendering, optimized for ease of use
Quality of RendersHigh-quality but slightly stylized, can achieve photorealism with tweakingMore photorealistic, superior lighting and reflections
Asset LibraryLarge built-in asset library, includes Quixel Megascans / SketchfabExtensive library with high-quality models and materials
Animation & EffectsExcellent for animations, including people and weather effectsMore advanced effects, better realism in animations
Integration with RevitDirect Datasmith plugin for Revit – Auto SyncLiveSync for seamless updates with Revit
VR SupportNative VR support for interactive walkthroughsVR support, but not as seamless as Twinmotion
CostFree (for non-commercial use) or paid (Twinmotion subscription license)Subscription-based, higher price point
GPU & CPU UsageOptimized for real-time performance, lower system requirementsMore demanding on hardware, requires powerful GPU

2. Pros and Cons

Twinmotion (Epic Games)

Pros:

  • Easier to learn and use – Ideal for beginners and quick visualizations.
  • Free for personal use – Good entry-level option for designers.
  • Real-time rendering – Uses Unreal Engine for instant results.
  • Excellent VR support – Works well with virtual reality headsets.
  • Fast rendering times – Less intensive on hardware.
  • Seamless Revit integration – Works with Datasmith for smooth transfers.
  • Auto Sync or Export with Datasmith
Revit Ribbon >View Tab > Twinmotion Auto Sync and Export Functionality

Cons:

  • Less realistic renders by default – Requires tweaks for photorealistic quality.
  • Limited material customization – Not as deep as Lumion in some areas.
  • Fewer lighting options – Not as advanced as Lumion’s Global Illumination.

Lumion

Pros:

  • More photorealistic results – Better reflections, shadows, and lighting.
  • Extensive material and asset library – High-quality objects for interiors and exteriors.
  • More advanced effects – Includes volumetric lighting, rain, snow, and wind.
  • Better landscape and terrain editing – Great for large-scale projects.
  • LiveSync or Export for Revit – Real-time updates without re-exporting.
Revit / Lumion Live Sync
Revit / Lumion Export - Collada File (.dae)

Cons:

  • More expensive – Subscription-based, higher cost than Twinmotion.
  • Higher system requirements – Demands a powerful GPU and more RAM.
  • Steeper learning curve – Takes more time to master.

3. Performance and System Requirements

FactorTwinmotionLumion
CPU UsageMediumHigh
GPU UsageMediumHigh (especially for realistic render settings)
RAM Requirements16GB recommended, 32GB for large projectsMinimum 16GB, recommended 32GB+ for large scenes
Storage Space~30GB~80GB+

Twinmotion System Requirements

Twinmotion System Requirements

Lumion System Requirements Benchmark

Lumion System Requirements Benchmark

Which Uses More System Resources?

  • Lumion is more demanding on GPU, CPU, and RAM due to its advanced rendering engine.
  • Twinmotion is lighter and optimized for real-time rendering, making it better for lower-end PCs.

4. Best Use Cases

Project TypeTwinmotionLumion
Small-scale residential projects✅ Faster workflow, good quality✅ Higher quality, better for interiors
Conceptual design & quick presentations✅ Easy to use for quick drafts❌ Longer setup for high realism
High-end marketing visuals❌ Less realistic without tweaks✅ More photorealistic results
VR & interactive walkthroughs✅ Excellent for VR presentations❌ VR can be used with the 360 panoramas

Twinmotion External Landscaping Tools

Landscape Quick Start Guide in Unreal Engine | Unreal Engine 5.5 Documentation | Epic Developer Community

Twinmotion External Landscaping Tools

5. Conclusion: Which One to Choose?

  • For quick visualisations & ease of useTwinmotion
  • For photorealistic renders & high-end projectsLumion
  • For VR & interactive presentationsTwinmotion
  • For large-scale architectural projectsLumion
  • For budget-conscious usersTwinmotion (free for non-commercial use)

Final Verdict

If you need fast, interactive, real-time rendering with VR support, Twinmotion is the better choice.
If you want the best photorealistic results for professional marketing materials, Lumion is the winner.

Can Lumion and Twinmotion both import additional assets?

Custom Asset Import: Twinmotion vs. Lumion

Both Twinmotion and Lumion support custom asset imports, but they handle it differently.

1. Twinmotion – Custom Assets & Formats

Supports importing additional assets such as custom materials, animated characters, furniture, vehicles, and objects.

Custom Asset Import in Twinmotion:

  • File Formats Supported:
    • 3D Models:
      • FBX, SKP (SketchUp), C4D, OBJ, glTF, DAE (Collada)
    • Textures & Materials:
      • PNG, JPG, TGA, TIFF, BMP, MP4 (for animated textures)
    • Animations:
      • FBX (with animation baked in)
    • Quixel Megascans Assets:
      • Direct integration with Epic Games’ Quixel Megascans for high-quality objects and materials.

Saving Assets in the Twinmotion User Library | Twinmotion Documentation | Epic Developer Community

Adding Custom Objects to Twinmotion:

  • Import models via Datasmith, FBX, or SketchUp (SKP).
  • Apply custom materials or textures.
  • Animated objects (such as people and vehicles) require FBX with baked animations.

Pros of Custom Assets in Twinmotion:

Full Quixel Megascans library for ultra-realistic materials and objects.
Can import animated objects (e.g., people walking, rotating fans, TV screens).
Works well with Unreal Engine assets.

Limitations in Twinmotion:

Limited native animation control – Imported animations must be pre-baked in software like Blender or 3ds Max.

2. Lumion – Custom Assets & Formats

Lumion allows importing custom assets, including furniture, materials, vehicles, trees, and animated characters.

Custom Asset Import in Lumion:

  • File Formats Supported:
    • 3D Models:
      • FBX, SKP (SketchUp), OBJ, DAE (Collada), MAX (via 3ds Max export)
    • Textures & Materials:
      • PNG, JPG, TGA, TIFF, MP4 (for animated textures)
    • Animations:
      • FBX (supports object movement, rotation, scaling)
      • Built-in animation effects for custom objects

Adding Custom Objects to Lumion:

  • Import models via FBX, SKP, or OBJ.
  • Apply Lumion’s materials and textures.
  • Animate objects inside Lumion

Pros of Custom Assets in Lumion:

Better support for animated people and objects.
LiveSync ensures seamless updates with Revit, SketchUp, and Rhino.
More control over object placement and environment customization.

Limitations in Lumion:

Requires a powerful PC for high-poly models.
Larger file sizes for imported assets can slow down performance.

3. Which Software is Better for Custom Assets?

FeatureTwinmotionLumion
Supports custom 3D objects (chairs, coffee machines, etc.)✅ Yes✅ Yes
Supports animated people & objects✅ Yes, but needs pre-baked animations in FBX✅ Yes, built-in object animation tools
Custom material imports✅ Yes (PNG, JPG, TGA, etc.)✅ Yes (PNG, JPG, TGA, etc.)
Supports animated textures (e.g., TV screens, water)✅ Yes (MP4, GIF)✅ Yes (MP4, GIF)
Supports pre-made object libraries✅ Yes (Quixel Megascans, Sketchfab, Unreal Marketplace)✅ Yes (Lumion library, 3D Warehouse)
Best for easy asset placement✅ Yes, drag-and-drop✅ Yes, but more manual control

4. Final Verdict: Twinmotion vs. Lumion for Custom Assets

  • For simple custom asset imports (like furniture, materials, and small objects)Both Twinmotion and Lumion work well.
  • For photorealistic materials and Quixel Megascans integrationTwinmotion is better.
  • For animated people, vehicles, and object movementsLumion is better (easier to animate without external software).
  • For pre-baked animations from Blender/3ds MaxBoth can import animated FBX models, but Twinmotion works better with Unreal Engine assets.

👉 Use Twinmotion if you prefer Unreal Engine, Quixel Megascans, and easy-to-use imports.
👉 Use Lumion if you need more control over object animation and terrain editing.

Twinmotion Free vs. Twinmotion Paid – Pros, Cons, and Differences

Twinmotion offers both a free version and a paid version with key differences in licensing, features, and usability. Below is a breakdown of the pros, cons, and differences between the two versions.

1. General Comparison Table

FeatureTwinmotion Free (Education & Personal Use)Twinmotion Paid (Commercial License)
CostFree for personal and educational usePaid – One-time purchase (perpetual license)
Allowed for commercial use?❌ No, only for non-commercial use✅ Yes, can be used for professional projects
Rendering quality✅ Same as paid version✅ Same as free version
File format compatibility✅ Same as paid version✅ Same as free version
Library & assets✅ Full access✅ Full access
VR support✅ Yes✅ Yes
Revit & Datasmith integration✅ Yes✅ Yes
Cloud rendering & team collaboration❌ Not available✅ Available
License restrictionsPersonal/educational use onlyCan be used in commercial projects

2. Twinmotion Free Version

Pros:
Completely free – No cost for personal and educational users.
Full feature set – Includes all Twinmotion tools and assets.
Revit integration – Works with Datasmith, FBX, and other import formats.
VR support – Allows real-time VR walkthroughs.

Cons:
No commercial usage – Cannot be used for paid projects.
No cloud collaboration – Cannot share projects with teams using Twinmotion Cloud.

3. Twinmotion Paid Version

Pros:
Commercial usage – Can be used for client projects and paid work.
Regular updates & support – Full access to Epic Games updates and customer support.
Cloud sharing & collaboration – Access to Twinmotion Cloud for presenting projects online.
Better team collaboration – Suitable for studios and firms using Twinmotion

commercially.

Offline use

Cons:
Costs money – Requires a subscription

Can be installed on multiple computer, but requires seats that are assigned to the different user. Linked to Epic Games Account

4. Which One Should You Use?

  • Use Twinmotion Free if:
    • You are a student, educator, or hobbyist.
    • You need to learn Twinmotion without spending money.
    • You’re working on personal or non-commercial projects.
  • Use Twinmotion Paid if:
    • You are a professional or company needing commercial usage.
    • You want to use Twinmotion Cloud for collaboration.

Final Verdict:

👉 Twinmotion Free is perfect for students, educators, and hobbyists.
👉 Twinmotion Paid is necessary for professional architects, designers, and firms.

Twinmotion: A cutting-edge real-time visualization tool – Twinmotion

Lumion: Industry-Leading 3D Rendering Software | Lumion – Lumion 3D Rendering Software

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