Render Window

inspired_art_86a3f09735

Is there a way to render in the same window as the preview, as opposed to a new window?

markusmatern

Switch to the render mode you want. For Iray wait some time till the image clears.

Use the menu File → Save Last Draw

You may have to disable user interface elements for some renderers.

Richard Haseltine

The Spot Render tool will use the current Viewport by default (can be changed in Tool Settings)

ShelLuser

In addition to the above: there's also Filament, I love that option...  It's basically an "iRay-like" (not the same!) render engine which manages to combine higher details without the long render times.

In your viewport simple change the default "texture shaded" into "Filament", lemme...

 

See my 'filament' screenshot (attachment), seems I can't include images in my post.

But do you see what I mean?

Now, if you do go this way then your first impressions will be bad because you'll be greeted with overexposure. That seems to be the default and so far I haven't been able to figure out how I could set up default settings. Anyway.... the second thing you need to do (if you want to go this route) is to add an "Filament Draw Options Node" (as you can see I added this to my toolbar, you can also find this under the 'Create' menu.).

I usually add the node using my toolbar, then I edit the details using the Parameters tab, as shown above. Doesn't seem possible to save presets (other than maybe a scene sub-set which I think is overkill) so I always customize this for every scene in which I use Filament.

In my opinion this is by far the best way to "render in the viewport". The best part is that your figures can still be posed and customized as you deem fit, real time. And although this isn't iRay quality it most definitely gives you a very good impression of how things are going to look. When my focus is iRay I always rely on Filament first, and then eventually hit the render button and see how things look for real.

And sometimes I also think Filament is good enough and just render the viewport.

Hope this can help!