D5 Lite Release Notes

This page lists additions, improvements, and fixes for D5 Lite on Windows in SketchUp, Rhino, and Revit, with the newest release batch first. Each plugin has its own Lite version number, separate from the modeling software's version. For example, the September 17, 2026 release includes Lite 1.7.0 for SketchUp and Lite 1.2.0 for Rhino and Revit.

Each version’s new feature guide explains the key features and how to get started. For full workflows and parameter descriptions, see the D5 Lite User Manual.

Lite version and host	Release notes	New feature guide
1.8.0 for SketchUp	View changes	Read guide
1.7.0 for SketchUp	View changes	Read guide
1.2.0 for Rhino	View changes	Read guide
1.2.0 for Revit	View changes	Read guide
1.6.1 for SketchUp	View fixes	—
1.6.0 for SketchUp	View changes	Read guide
1.1.0 for Rhino	View changes	Read guide
1.1.0 for Revit	View changes	Read guide
1.5.0 for SketchUp	View changes	Read guide
1.0.0 for Rhino	View changes	Read guide
1.0.0 for Revit	View changes	Read guide

D5 Lite 1.8.0 for SketchUp

Additions and Improvements

• Added linked models to reference external .skp files as lightweight placeholders in SketchUp.
• Added custom proxy models to display components as lightweight placeholders in SketchUp, keep their full appearance in Lite, and restore the original components when needed.
• Added the Fabric material template with Velvet and Silk.
• Added Highlight Stretch, Highlight Rotation, and Tangent Map controls for Metal materials.
• Improved tone mapping with separate highlight, shadow, and midtone controls.
• Added a first-launch guide with shortcut preferences and Enscape camera controls.
• Added a shortcut panel that can be detached as a floating window.
• Moved FPS to the title bar, with separate switches for FPS display and shortcut hints.
• Added temporary value feedback when adjusting field of view or movement speed.
• Standardized Ctrl + scroll for adjusting field of view (FOV).
• Added a material map context menu to import, copy, paste, delete, or open the map's file location.
• Added viewport frame rate limits of 30, 60, and 120 FPS, or Unlimited.
• Kept detached panels visible when switching between Lite and the modeling software, with independent pinning for the Lite main window.
• Added support for SketchUp 2027.

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where deleting a scene in SketchUp did not remove the corresponding scene from Lite's Scene List.
• Fixed an issue where Lite's field of view and navigation mode could differ from SketchUp after switching scenes or projection modes.
• Fixed an issue where nested group geometry remained visible in D5 Render after the group was hidden using SketchUp tags.

Read the D5 Lite 1.8.0 for SketchUp New Features Guide →

D5 Lite 1.7.0 for SketchUp

Release date: September 17, 2026

Additions and Improvements

• Added CLI for AI Agents (Beta) to let external AI tools adjust Lite scene parameters and render images.
• Added support for importing models, images, materials, and style files into SketchUp through CLI for AI Agents (Beta).
• Added render channels such as sky mask, material ID, and transparency alongside the main image.
• Added Reflection Visibility for lights. Spot Lights show the full beam angle and retain their shape as you widen the beam.
• Expanded the normal strength range from −2 through 2, with manual values from −5 through 5. Native SketchUp PBR materials keep their original normal strength when synced to Lite.
• Improved camera rotation, scene thumbnails, and GPU usage while running in the background.

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where copying scene parameters also copied output settings.
• Fixed an issue where closing the Lite window during rendering left it in an incorrect state.

Read the D5 Lite 1.7.0 for SketchUp New Features Guide →

D5 Lite 1.2.0 for Rhino

Release date: September 17, 2026

Additions and Improvements

• Added CLI for AI Agents (Beta) for external AI tools to adjust Lite scenes and render images; modeling operations are not included.
• Added channel output alongside rendered images.
• Improved camera rotation, scene thumbnails, and GPU usage when both Lite and the modeling software are in the background.

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where Lite could not start when the Windows username contained special characters.
• Fixed a window display issue when dragging between monitors with different DPI settings.

Read the D5 Lite 1.2.0 for Rhino New Features Guide →

D5 Lite 1.2.0 for Revit

Release date: September 17, 2026

Additions and Improvements

• Added CLI for AI Agents (Beta) for external AI tools to adjust Lite scenes and render images; modeling operations are not included.
• Added channel output alongside rendered images.
• Improved camera rotation, scene thumbnails, and GPU usage when both Lite and the modeling software are in the background.
• Added Reflection Visibility to control how visible light sources are in reflections.
• Changed Spot Light controls from cone angle to full beam angle.

Fixes

• Fixed a 90-degree camera sync offset when opening older project files.
• Fixed an issue where Lite could not start when the Windows username contained special characters.
• Fixed a window display issue when dragging between monitors with different DPI settings.

Read the D5 Lite 1.2.0 for Revit New Features Guide →

D5 Lite 1.6.1 for SketchUp

Release date: September 2, 2026

This version contains fixes.

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where Lite could not start when the Windows username contained special characters.
• Fixed an issue where incorrect default material UV values caused saved-file errors.
• Fixed an intermittent startup crash with certain scenes.
• Fixed a window display issue when dragging between monitors with different DPI settings.

D5 Lite 1.6.0 for SketchUp

Release date: August 18, 2026

Additions and Improvements

• Added render view screenshots and panorama output.
• Added copying and pasting of environment and effect parameters between scenes.
• Added the Sheer material template, Sun Radius, Sunlight Temperature, and Light Radius controls.
• Added a culling distance display for terrain grass and improved how closely the rendered grass texture matches its map.
• Added a window pin button and displayed the names of placed assets in the resource list.
• Improved interface responsiveness, texture loading, and process stability, with smoother camera transitions when switching scenes.

Fixes

• Fixed startup issues caused by process errors or conflicts.
• Fixed a crash when loading at very high resolutions.
• Fixed an intermittent ghosting issue in rendered images.
• Fixed an issue where mouse input could pass through panels.
• Fixed startup crashes on systems with multiple GPUs and other intermittent crashes.
• Fixed an issue where layouts and shortcuts could not be saved.
• Fixed environment sync issues.
• Fixed incorrect UV reading when a SketchUp material had no base color map.
• Fixed an issue where UV edits inside SketchUp components did not sync to D5 Render.

Read the D5 Lite 1.6.0 for SketchUp New Features Guide →

D5 Lite 1.1.0 for Rhino

Release date: August 18, 2026

Additions and Improvements

• Added render view screenshots and panorama output.
• Added copying and pasting of environment and effect parameters between scenes.
• Added Sun Radius and Sunlight Temperature controls, with shadow softness adjustments for point lights and spotlights.
• Added file name display for custom HDRIs and a window pin button.
• Improved interface responsiveness, map loading, transitions between scenes, and process stability.
• Added the Sheer material template and improved terrain grass culling distance display and consistency between grass textures and maps.
• Added asset names to the resource list.
• Added syncing of the current HDRI or Geo Sky environment to Lite.
• Added syncing of scene environment and effects to D5 Render.

Fixes

• Fixed startup issues caused by process errors or conflicts, crashes at very high resolutions, startup crashes on systems with multiple GPUs, and other intermittent crashes.
• Fixed intermittent ghosting in rendered images and cases where mouse input could pass through panels.
• Fixed layer visibility sync failures and incorrect display when switching scenes.

Read the D5 Lite 1.1.0 for Rhino New Features Guide →

D5 Lite 1.1.0 for Revit

Release date: August 18, 2026

Additions and Improvements

• Added render view screenshots and panorama output.
• Added copying and pasting of environment and effect parameters between scenes.
• Added Sun Radius and Sunlight Temperature controls, with shadow softness adjustments for point lights and spotlights.
• Added file name display for custom HDRIs and a window pin button.
• Improved interface responsiveness, map loading, transitions between scenes, and process stability.
• Added HDRI presets to the Environment panel.
• Added scene creation, deletion, and renaming in Lite with two-way sync to Revit 3D views.
• Added syncing of environment and effects from non-orthographic view scenes to D5 Render.
• Added a compatibility option for the 90-degree orientation difference in models imported with older versions.

Fixes

• Fixed startup issues caused by process errors or conflicts, crashes at very high resolutions, startup crashes on systems with multiple GPUs, and other intermittent crashes.
• Fixed intermittent ghosting in rendered images and cases where mouse input could pass through panels.
• Fixed ghosting and flicker in orthographic views.

Read the D5 Lite 1.1.0 for Revit New Features Guide →

D5 Lite 1.5.0 for SketchUp

Release date: June 30, 2026

Additions and Improvements

• Added built-in HDRI sky presets for quickly changing the environment.
• Improved light creation and editing with control points and batch editing for lights of the same type.
• Improved light intensity controls, material opacity, camera movement, Enscape scene import, and AI material template recognition.

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where deleted lights were not removed during sync.
• Fixed an issue where SketchUp layer visibility did not match the render.
• Fixed an issue where environment and effect parameters did not load correctly when switching scenes.
• Fixed jitter in the HDRI intensity slider, errors when switching from HDRI to a custom sky, and sky intensity not syncing to D5 Render.
• Fixed camera errors when switching between left and right views in section scenes, and FOV resetting after resizing and restoring the window.
• Fixed a crash when loading very large maps.
• Fixed an issue when switching AI history records.
• Fixed an issue where exporting certain models stalled or caused SketchUp to close unexpectedly.

Read the D5 Lite 1.5.0 for SketchUp New Features Guide →

D5 Lite 1.0.0 for Rhino

Release date: June 30, 2026

Additions and Improvements

• Introduced D5 Lite in Rhino for real-time render previews.
• Added support for native Rhino materials and D5 material templates in the material panel.
• Added native Rhino light reading and camera controls adapted to Rhino.
• Added five built-in HDRI presets: midday, sunny, thin clouds, sunset, and white sky.
• Improved material opacity, camera movement, default light intensity, low-intensity adjustments, and light attenuation radius.
• Added the option to disable AI features in the Enterprise edition.

Read the D5 Lite 1.0.0 for Rhino New Features Guide →

D5 Lite 1.0.0 for Revit

Release date: June 30, 2026

Additions and Improvements

• Introduced D5 Lite in Revit for real-time render previews and a live connection to D5 Render.
• Added support for Revit 2027, camera controls adapted to Revit, and camera-only and full sync modes.
• Added Revit material conversion, with parameters edited in the Revit material browser and rendered in Lite.
• Added Revit light sync and editing.
• Added folder selection for whole-model export, with the host model and linked models exported as separate files.
• Improved material opacity, camera movement, default light intensity, low-intensity adjustments, and light attenuation radius.
• Added the option to disable AI features in the Enterprise edition.

Read the D5 Lite 1.0.0 for Revit New Features Guide →

Install or Update

Open the Lite page in the D5 Launcher, then select the SketchUp, Rhino, or Revit plugin to install or update. See Getting Started for the steps.