01 / Sketch to render
Prepare your sketch
The scan or photograph should be easy to read: correct perspective, enough contrast, visible building edges and main openings. Remove editor controls, stray annotations and strong paper shadows. Keep important parts of the composition in view.
A loose sketch leaves the model to invent missing details. That can support early exploration, but a specific design benefits from a clearer silhouette, floor count and perspective lines first.
02 / Sketch to render
Separate what should stay from what you want to explore
Describe what matters: the viewpoint, number of floors, entrance position or overall silhouette. Then specify what you want to explore, such as cladding, lighting mood, season and the character of the surroundings.
A long prompt with conflicting details makes a result harder to judge. Start with one material and one lighting scenario. For the next variation, change just one part of the description and save useful results.
03 / Sketch to render
Review the result before further editing
Compare the image with the sketch at key points: building boundaries, roof direction, corners, entrances and window rhythm. A reference image is a guide, not a mathematical constraint on geometry.
If the overall direction works, move on to local edits. If the building’s massing has changed, revise the source or prompt and explore again instead of trying to conceal a fundamental mismatch with details.