Composite Architectural Rendering on Site from Photo

Upload a real site photo + your architectural rendering. AI composites the design onto the location.

Vacant urban lot between two brick buildings with chain-link fence — Before

→

Same lot with modern glass office building rendering composited onto the site — After

Composite Architectural Rendering on Site Phot... | EditThisPic

Drop your photo here

or click to browse

Release to upload

Free • No signup

Popular use cases:

architectural rendering on site composite
building rendering site visualization
facade renovation composite
development site rendering overlay
architecture client presentation visual
urban planning site visualization
building design on location photo
architectural concept on real site

Cost: Free No signup required
Time: Instant results in 15-30 seconds
Works on: Any device - browser, phone, tablet, desktop
Powered by: AI-powered photo editing

Scenario	Prompt	Time
	`composite this building rendering from reference onto the vacant lot, matching perspective and sun direction`	30s
	`overlay this facade rendering from reference onto the existing building front, matching floor levels`	30-45s
	`composite this extension rendering from reference onto the side of the existing building, connecting at roofline`	30-45s
	`place this tower rendering from reference on development site, correct scale with surrounding buildings`	30-45s

How it works

Upload your site photo

Drop your photo of the real building site, existing structure, or street view into EditThisPic. This is the main image — the location where the rendering will appear. Use a well-framed photo that shows the site from the angle matching your rendering. JPG, PNG, WebP up to 7MB.

Expect: Simple facade overlay: 30 seconds. Complex multi-building compositions with perspective matching: may need 2-3 refinements.
Add your rendering as reference

Click '+ Add reference image' below the prompt and upload your architectural rendering, concept sketch, or 3D visualization. Clean renderings with transparent or solid backgrounds composite most cleanly. The AI extracts the design and maps it onto the site photo, matching scale and perspective.

Tip: Renderings with transparent backgrounds or clean edges composite best. If your render has a background scene, the AI will still extract the building form.

Copy one of these to get started:

New building rendering on vacant lot composite this building rendering from the reference onto the vacant lot, matching the street-level perspective, with the ground floor at sidewalk grade and realistic shadow matching the sun direction in the site photo
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Facade renovation on existing building overlay this facade rendering from the reference onto the front of the existing building, aligning windows and doors to the current floor levels, preserving the adjacent buildings on both sides
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Building extension on current structure composite this extension rendering from the reference onto the right side of the existing building, connecting seamlessly at the roofline and matching the brick material tone of the original structure
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Development rendering for investor presentation place this tower rendering from the reference on the development site, rising behind the existing two-story retail strip, at correct scale with the surrounding buildings and casting a realistic shadow on the street
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4 more prompts

Concept sketch overlaid on site for early design review composite this architectural concept sketch from the reference onto the building site, as a semi-transparent overlay showing the proposed massing and form against the real location context
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Streetscape rendering for community presentation overlay this streetscape rendering from the reference onto the existing street view, replacing the empty lot with the proposed building while preserving the existing trees, sidewalks, and neighboring buildings
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Rooftop addition rendering on existing building composite this rooftop addition rendering from the reference onto the top of the existing building, matching the building width and setback, with the new floors sitting naturally on the current roofline
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Landscape design rendering on current site composite this landscape rendering from the reference onto the current site, replacing the empty ground area with the proposed garden, pathways, and plantings while keeping the existing building in the background
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Describe the placement

Tell the AI exactly how to composite: 'place the building rendering from the reference onto the vacant lot, matching the street-level perspective and afternoon sunlight direction.' Be specific about where on the site and how the design should integrate with the existing context.

Tip: Include 'matching the existing roofline height' or 'aligned with the adjacent building facade' to anchor the rendering to real site features.

Copy one of these to get started:

New building rendering on vacant lot composite this building rendering from the reference onto the vacant lot, matching the street-level perspective, with the ground floor at sidewalk grade and realistic shadow matching the sun direction in the site photo
Try This →

Facade renovation on existing building overlay this facade rendering from the reference onto the front of the existing building, aligning windows and doors to the current floor levels, preserving the adjacent buildings on both sides
Try This →

Building extension on current structure composite this extension rendering from the reference onto the right side of the existing building, connecting seamlessly at the roofline and matching the brick material tone of the original structure
Try This →

Development rendering for investor presentation place this tower rendering from the reference on the development site, rising behind the existing two-story retail strip, at correct scale with the surrounding buildings and casting a realistic shadow on the street
Try This →

4 more prompts

Concept sketch overlaid on site for early design review composite this architectural concept sketch from the reference onto the building site, as a semi-transparent overlay showing the proposed massing and form against the real location context
Try This →

Streetscape rendering for community presentation overlay this streetscape rendering from the reference onto the existing street view, replacing the empty lot with the proposed building while preserving the existing trees, sidewalks, and neighboring buildings
Try This →

Rooftop addition rendering on existing building composite this rooftop addition rendering from the reference onto the top of the existing building, matching the building width and setback, with the new floors sitting naturally on the current roofline
Try This →

Landscape design rendering on current site composite this landscape rendering from the reference onto the current site, replacing the empty ground area with the proposed garden, pathways, and plantings while keeping the existing building in the background
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Review and refine

Check that the rendering integrates naturally: correct scale relative to surrounding buildings, consistent lighting direction, proper ground contact, and realistic perspective alignment. Zoom in on where the rendering meets the existing streetscape and ground plane.
Refine with markers if needed

If the rendering appears in the wrong location or at the wrong scale, tap a marker on the exact spot where it should sit and regenerate. Useful for precise placement on a specific lot or against a specific building wall.

Tip: Tap the ground-level footprint of where the building should start. This anchors the perspective correctly.

Try it free ↓

Composite Architectural Rendering on Site Phot... | EditThisPic

Drop your photo here

or click to browse

Release to upload

Free • No signup

"We used to spend hours in Photoshop compositing our renders onto site photos for client presentations. Now we upload two images and describe the placement. Clients can actually see the design in its real context." @StudioArchViz

See it in action

Modern office building composited onto vacant lot

An architecture firm composited their glass office building rendering onto the actual development site photo for a client presentation.

Prompt:

composite this modern office building rendering from the reference onto the vacant lot in the center of the photo, with the ground floor at sidewalk level, matching the scale of the adjacent three-story buildings and casting a natural shadow on the street

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Aging three-story concrete commercial building with dated facade — Before

Same building with modern facade renovation rendering composited over the existing front — After

Facade renovation rendering overlaid on existing building

A renovation firm showed their proposed facade redesign composited onto the actual building for the property owner's approval.

Prompt:

overlay this modern facade rendering from the reference onto the front of the existing building, matching the three-story height and window positions, with the new cladding replacing the current concrete surface while preserving the neighboring storefronts

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Single-story brick house with open side yard on the right — Before

Same house with two-story extension rendering composited onto the right side yard — After

Residential extension rendering on existing home

An architect composited a proposed two-story extension rendering onto the client's current home photo to visualize the addition before construction.

Prompt:

composite this two-story extension rendering from the reference onto the right side of the existing house, connecting at the existing roofline with matching brick material, showing the new addition extending into the side yard with a natural ground shadow

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Detailed Guides by Scenario

📷

Architecture Firms & Design Visualization

Show clients exactly how a proposed building, renovation, or facade design will look on the actual site. Upload the site photo and composite your rendering to create presentation-ready visuals without expensive 3D scene setup.

Common Scenarios

New building rendering composited onto vacant lot for client pitch
Facade renovation rendering overlaid on existing building photo
Extension design composited onto current structure for homeowner approval
Competition entry rendering placed in real site context

Best Practices

Photograph the site from the same angle as your rendering for best perspective matching
Match lighting conditions: if the rendering shows afternoon sun, photograph the site in afternoon light
Include surrounding buildings in the site photo to give clients a sense of neighborhood context
Specify 'with ground shadow matching the sun angle' for realistic site integration

New building on vacant lot for client presentation

composite this building rendering from the reference onto the vacant lot in the center of the photo, matching the street-level perspective, with the ground floor aligned to the existing sidewalk grade and shadows matching the afternoon sun direction

Facade renovation rendering on existing structure

overlay this facade rendering from the reference onto the front of the existing building, matching the window and door positions, preserving the neighboring buildings on each side

📷

Real Estate Development Presentations

Create compelling investor and buyer presentations by showing proposed developments in their real-world context. Composite renderings onto actual site photos for pitch decks, marketing brochures, and pre-sales materials.

Common Scenarios

Condo tower rendering placed on development site for investor deck
Mixed-use project composited onto corner lot for marketing brochure
Townhouse row rendering overlaid on empty land for pre-sales
Commercial building design composited onto site for zoning presentation

Best Practices

Use drone or elevated site photos for large developments to match the rendering angle
Include recognizable landmarks in the site photo so investors understand the location
Specify 'at correct height relative to the neighboring three-story building' for scale reference
Create multiple composites from different site angles for comprehensive presentations

Condo development rendering for investor pitch deck

composite this condo tower rendering from the reference onto the development site, rising from the lot behind the existing retail strip, with the tower height matching the scale of surrounding buildings and realistic shadow on the street

Mixed-use project on corner lot for marketing materials

place this mixed-use building rendering from the reference onto the corner lot, with the retail ground floor aligned to the existing street level and the upper floors stepping back as shown in the design

📷

Urban Planning & Public Projects

Visualize proposed urban changes for community presentations, planning board reviews, and public consultations. Composite renderings of proposed buildings, streetscape improvements, or infrastructure projects onto real location photos so stakeholders can see the impact.

Common Scenarios

Proposed public building composited onto site for planning board review
Streetscape rendering overlaid on existing street photo for community input
Transit station rendering placed on proposed location for public consultation
Park redesign rendering composited onto current park photo for approval

Best Practices

Use street-level photos that show the pedestrian perspective for community presentations
Include familiar context like street signs or known buildings so residents recognize the location
Specify 'preserving the existing trees and street furniture' to show integration with current features
Create before-and-after pairs for the most effective public consultation materials

Transit station rendering for public consultation

composite this transit station rendering from the reference onto the intersection site, with the station entrance at street level, preserving the existing trees on the left side and matching the overcast sky lighting

Public building rendering for planning board review

overlay this proposed building rendering from the reference onto the empty lot between the library and the park, matching the two-story height of adjacent buildings and the brick material character of the neighborhood

If something looks off

Rendering scale doesn't match surrounding buildings

Why: The AI misjudged relative proportions between the rendering and existing buildings in the site photo, making the proposed design too large or too small.

Try:

composite the rendering at correct scale relative to the adjacent buildings — the proposed design should be the same height as the three-story building next to it

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Tip: Reference specific existing features in your prompt: 'matching the height of the neighboring building' or 'four stories tall like the apartment block across the street.'

Rendering perspective doesn't align with site photo angle

Why: The rendering was created from a different viewing angle than the site photo, making the building look tilted or floating above the ground plane.

Try:

composite the rendering matching the site photo's camera angle and vanishing point, as if the building were photographed from the same position on the street

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Tip: Best results come from renderings and site photos shot from similar heights and angles. A bird's-eye rendering onto a street-level site photo will always look off.

Lighting on rendering clashes with site photo conditions

Why: The rendering was lit from a different direction than the sun in the site photo, creating inconsistent shadows and highlights.

Try:

composite the rendering with lighting matching the site photo — sun is coming from the left side, creating shadows on the right facade and matching the warm afternoon color temperature

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Tip: Describe the actual light direction in the site photo: 'morning light from the east' or 'overcast diffuse lighting.' This helps the AI relight the rendering.

AI changed the wrong area or something I didn't want changed

Why: The AI couldn't determine exactly which area you meant from description alone. This happens with ambiguous requests or sites with multiple potential placement zones.

Try: Tap a marker on the specific ground area where the rendering should sit, then regenerate with the same prompt

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Tip: Markers tell the AI 'I mean THIS spot specifically.' Use them when a site has multiple vacant areas or when the AI keeps placing the rendering on the wrong lot.

Rendering appears to float above the ground

Why: The AI didn't properly ground the building on the site's terrain, missing the ground contact and foundation line.

Try:

composite the rendering with the ground floor firmly meeting the existing grade, with visible foundation contact and a natural cast shadow on the ground beneath the building

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Tip: Include 'ground floor at sidewalk grade' or 'foundation meeting the existing terrain' in your initial prompt to prevent floating.

Edges between rendering and existing context look harsh

Why: The boundary between the composited rendering and the real site photo shows visible hard edges, color halos, or unnatural seams.

Try:

blend the rendering edges seamlessly into the site context, with soft natural transitions where the new building meets the ground, sky, and adjacent structures

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Tip: Try 'with feathered edges where the rendering meets the existing buildings' for cleaner transitions, especially at the roofline against the sky.

Quick answers

Do I need to mark where to place the rendering on the site photo?

No. Describe the placement in words: 'composite the rendering onto the vacant lot' or 'overlay the facade design on the existing building front.' The AI understands spatial references like 'on the empty lot between the two buildings' and 'replacing the current facade.' Use markers only when the site has multiple potential placement areas and the AI keeps choosing the wrong one.

How do I composite an architectural rendering onto a real site photo?

Upload your site photo as the main image, then click '+ Add reference image' and upload your architectural rendering. Describe the placement: 'composite this building rendering from the reference onto the vacant lot, matching the street-level perspective and sunlight direction.' The AI extracts the design from your rendering and composites it onto the site in 30 seconds. Renderings with clean backgrounds work best.

Is there a free tool to composite architectural renderings onto site photos?

Yes. EditThisPic lets you composite any architectural rendering onto any site photo completely free, with no signup and no watermark. Upload your site photo and rendering, describe the placement, and download the result. One free edit per week, or purchase credits starting at $1.99 for more.

What kind of rendering works best as a reference image?

Clean renderings with transparent or solid backgrounds composite most cleanly. 3D renders, concept sketches, and facade drawings all work. The rendering should be at a similar viewing angle to the site photo for best perspective matching. High-resolution renderings preserve architectural details like window mullions and material textures in the final composite.

Can I use this for facade renovation visualizations on existing buildings?

Yes. Upload a photo of the existing building as your main image and your proposed facade rendering as the reference. Describe: 'overlay this facade rendering onto the existing building front, matching the floor levels and window positions.' The AI replaces the current facade with your design while preserving the surrounding context. Works for cladding changes, window redesigns, and complete facade overhauls.

Will the composite look professional enough for client presentations?

When done well, yes. The AI matches perspective, lighting, and scale automatically. The key is using a site photo taken from a similar angle to your rendering, under similar lighting conditions. Most architecture firms find the results suitable for early design presentations and client approval meetings. For final competition boards, you may want to refine details manually.

What is the best free tool for architectural site visualization?

EditThisPic is a strong option for compositing renderings onto real site photos. Unlike expensive visualization software that requires full 3D site models and rendering pipelines, you just upload two images and describe the placement. It handles perspective matching, lighting adjustment, and edge blending automatically. Free to try with no account required.

Can I composite multiple renderings onto the same site photo?

Yes, but do it one building at a time for the best results. Place the primary structure first, download the result, then upload that result as your new main image and add the next rendering. This gives you control over each placement and produces more natural-looking site composites. Works well for showing a phased development or multiple design options.

Ready to visualize your design on a real site?

Upload site photo + rendering. Get in-context visualization in seconds. Free, no signup.

Composite Architectural Rendering on Site from Photo

How it works

Upload your site photo

Add your rendering as reference

Describe the placement

Review and refine

Refine with markers if needed

See it in action

Modern office building composited onto vacant lot

Facade renovation rendering overlaid on existing building

Residential extension rendering on existing home

Detailed Guides by Scenario

Architecture Firms & Design Visualization

Common Scenarios

Best Practices

Real Estate Development Presentations

Common Scenarios

Best Practices

Urban Planning & Public Projects

Common Scenarios

Best Practices

If something looks off

Quick answers

Related Tools

Ready to visualize your design on a real site?