ChatGPT vs Gemini for ArchViz and 3D - AI Image Generation Comparison
Introduction
Over the past few months, AI image generators have evolved so rapidly that they can now realistically be used in ArchViz, 3D graphics, concept art, and reference creation workflows.
Recently, the updated image generator in ChatGPT Image was released, and it became interesting to compare it with Google Gemini in real-world tasks for 3D artists.
ChatGPT ImageGoogle Gemini
In this article, we will test both models using identical prompts and see:
- which one creates better textures;
- which one handles interiors better;
- how well AI can generate 360 panoramas;
- whether AI can turn a viewport screenshot into a realistic render;
- how convincingly people can be integrated into renders;
- and which model handles lighting changes more effectively.
To make the test as fair as possible:
- identical prompts were used;
- free web versions of ChatGPT and Gemini were tested;
- only the first generated result was used;
- no re-generations or additional attempts.
How will we evaluate
The rating system is as simple as possible:
- 1 point - good result;
- 0.5 points - average result;
- 0 points - the model failed.
If the result turned out to be particularly strong, you can add another +0.5 bonus point.
At the end, let's sum up the overall result.
Creating a Seamless Texture from a Reference
AI texture generation is one of the most useful tasks for 3D artists.
It is especially interesting to see how well the models can create truly seamless textures.
Prompt:
ChatGPT
The texture turned out to be genuinely seamless.
If you look closely at the seams, you can notice slight differences in color tones, but this can easily be fixed in Photoshop within a minute.
The material looks realistic and works well for ArchViz.
Score: 1 point
Gemini
Gemini created a visually more interesting material.
The texture looks more "alive" and in some places even more detailed.
However, there is a serious issue - the texture is not seamless.
The pattern and tones noticeably break at the seams.
For real-world 3D production, this texture would require significant cleanup, so the base score is 0.5.
But because the material itself looks visually strong, I decided to add an extra +0.5 bonus point.
Score: 1 point
Modifying a Texture
Sometimes renders cannot contain original brand names or logos.
The task here was to preserve the colors and typography style while replacing the brand text with something random and fictional.
Prompt:
ChatGPT
Handled the task perfectly.
It generated a believable random brand name, preserved the typography style, and maintained the original colors.
Score: 1 point
Gemini
It seemed to me that the fonts here were chosen more successfully in size, especially the main name of the perfume. There is more text and it is a little confused. The background color is greatly distorted, plus some noise has appeared.
Score: 0.5 points
Generating a Reference from Scratch
The next test was standard concept generation without any references.
Prompt:
ChatGPT
ChatGPT produced a very cinematic result.
Good atmosphere, pleasant light, readable composition.
I especially liked the work with fog and warm lighting.
Score: 1 point
Gemini
Gemini also did a decent job.
The picture looks atmospheric, but in some places the materials and light look a little less realistic.
Also, the composition feels less "archivistic".
Score: 0.5 points
360 Equirectangular Panorama
This was one of the most interesting tests.
In ArchViz projects, 360° HDRIs and panoramas are often used for:
- reflections;
- background environments;
- VR;
- scene lighting.
Let's check how modern AI models can generate equirectangular panoramas.
For testing, we used the free 360 ​​panorama viewer https://simplepanoramaviewer.app/.
Prompt:
Gemini
Surprisingly, Gemini handled the task quite well.
There are almost no visible seams.
However, the top and bottom areas contain the typical AI "stretching" artifacts often seen in generated panoramas.
Still, the result is quite usable.
Score: 1 point
ChatGPT
ChatGPT showed a similar issue with top and bottom distortions.
However, overall the panorama feels cleaner and more realistic.
The lighting quality and studio detailing were especially impressive.
Score: 1.5 points
Turning a Viewport Screenshot into a Realistic Render
This is where things become really interesting.
We take a regular viewport screenshot and ask AI to transform it into a full cinematic ArchViz render.
For the test, a house model from the Re:Novation Challenge by 3dmodels.org was used.
Re:Novation ChallengeImportant!
However, as a tool for generating ideas and atmosphere exploration, it becomes extremely interesting.
Prompt:
Create a rich storytelling atmosphere: rainy evening after sunset, wet ground with realistic reflections, cinematic volumetric fog, warm cozy interior glow contrasting with cold blue exterior environment. Add highly detailed landscaping with grass, trees, bushes, small pathway lights, realistic puddles, parked modern car, subtle human presence for scale.
The scene should feel emotional, atmospheric, and award-winning, with strong composition and depth. Focus on photorealism, believable materials, microdetails, realistic imperfections, and cinematic lighting. Use professional architectural photography style with ultra detailed textures, global illumination, ray tracing, soft shadows, realistic reflections, depth of field, 8K quality, Unreal Engine / Corona Renderer / V-Ray style render.
Mood: melancholic, cozy, cinematic, storytelling, premium ArchViz competition render.
Camera angle: low cinematic perspective, 24mm architectural lens, slightly wide angle, dramatic composition.
Negative prompt: low quality, blurry, cartoon, AI artifacts, oversaturated colors, unrealistic proportions, flat lighting, empty environment, bad textures, distorted architecture, duplicate objects.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT handled the task well but significantly altered the original architecture.
At the same time, it added:
- At the same time, it added:atmosphere;
- cinematic lighting;
- realistic surroundings;
- strong storytelling.
The image genuinely resembles a modern competition-quality ArchViz render.
Score: 1.5 points
Gemini
Gemini preserved the original composition and architecture much better.
Score: 1 point
Generating a Full Interior from a Model Screenshot
For this test, a model preview from Great Catalog was used.
3D Model: Bar Cafe 01Goal
- preserve the original style;
- build a full environment around it;
- create a premium cinematic ArchViz interior.
Prompt:
The room should feature warm dark walnut wood panels, black stone surfaces, vertical wooden slats, matte black metal accents, soft indirect LED lighting integrated into the arches, and ambient cinematic lighting. Add carefully selected luxury furniture: modern leather lounge chairs, designer bar stools with metal frames, elegant dining tables, soft fabric sofas, minimalist coffee tables, decorative floor lamps, contemporary pendant lighting, and subtle luxury decor.
Design the entire environment as a premium wine tasting lounge / luxury hotel bar / private members club with realistic proportions and cohesive interior styling. Include large floor-to-ceiling windows, soft evening exterior light, realistic reflections, subtle imperfections, atmospheric shadows, decorative plants, wine accessories, books, candles, textured rugs, and curated accessories that match the warm elegant palette.
Color palette: warm walnut wood, deep black stone, bronze accents, warm white lighting, dark brown leather, muted beige, charcoal gray, soft earthy tones.
Lighting: cinematic warm ambient lighting, hidden LED strips, realistic bounce light, soft shadows, subtle volumetric atmosphere, professional architectural photography mood.
Materials must look extremely realistic with microdetails, fingerprints, subtle roughness variation, wood grain detail, brushed metal imperfections, fabric texture, realistic glass reflections, and high-end ArchViz quality.
Camera: wide-angle architectural photography, eye-level composition, balanced interior framing, depth and layering, magazine-quality composition.
Style references: luxury hospitality interior, contemporary European design, premium wine bar, modern boutique hotel lounge, award-winning ArchViz render.
Render quality: ultra photorealistic, ray tracing, global illumination, Corona Renderer / V-Ray / Unreal Engine 5 style, 8K detail, realistic exposure, cinematic depth of field.
Negative prompt: empty room, low quality, CGI look, flat lighting, unrealistic materials, oversaturated colors, distorted furniture, bad proportions, noisy render, AI artifacts, cartoon style, duplicate objects.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT captured the style extremely well.
The interior feels:
- cohesive;
- luxurious;
- realistic;
- similar to a real hospitality ArchViz project.
Materials, lighting, and composition are at a very high level.
Score: 1.5 points
Gemini
Gemini generated a good result, but the interior feels less cohesive.
There are some strange details, and the lighting feels less polished.
Score: 1 point
Adding People into an Interior
This is an extremely difficult task for AI.
The model needs to:
- integrate people naturally;
- preserve perspective;
- avoid breaking the interior;
- prevent creepy anatomy or faces.
Prompt:
The people must look photorealistic, cinematic, and naturally integrated into the lighting and perspective of the scene. Match the warm ambient lighting with realistic shadows, reflections, skin tones, and soft highlights. Clothing should fit the premium upscale atmosphere: dark elegant tones, beige, black, brown leather, modern minimal fashion.
Avoid posing people directly toward the camera. Make them feel candid and natural, like a luxury hotel lounge captured during evening golden hour. Add subtle motion realism, relaxed body language, realistic hand placement, and believable interaction with furniture and objects.
Keep the focus on the interior design while the people enhance scale, atmosphere, storytelling, and realism. Ultra realistic, cinematic architectural photography style, seamless integration, no distorted anatomy, no AI artifacts.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT performed surprisingly well.
The people:
- look natural;
- do not break the composition;
- support the atmosphere.
The scene feels slightly overcrowded, but anatomy issues are minimal.
Score: 1.5 points
Gemini
Gemini also has excellent results:
- preserved the original image better;
- improved the carpet;
- integrated the people into the lighting more naturally.
The scene also feels slightly overloaded, but anatomy issues are minimal.
Score: 1.5 points
Generating a Reference for a 3D Character
Prompt:
ChatGPT
The character looks very clean and production-ready.
Excellent as a modeling reference.
Score: 1.5 points
Gemini
Gemini created a more stylized version.
Interesting visually, but less suitable for a real production pipeline.
Score: 1 point
Generating an Alpha Smoke Texture
Prompt:
ChatGPT
Very strong alpha texture:
- clean background;
- beautiful smoke shape;
- strong contrast.
Score: 1 point
Gemini
Gemini produced a less polished result.
For production, we would have to additionally clean the texture.
Score: 0.5 points
Changing the Lighting of a Finished Render
The final test was one of the most difficult.
We take a finished daytime render and ask AI to:
- convert it into blue hour;
- preserve the architecture;
- change only the lighting and atmosphere.
The original image was taken from a project by Rats On The Roof.
Rats On The Roof
Prompt:
The large contemporary building should glow softly from inside with warm interior lighting visible through the facade openings and glass elements. Add subtle architectural lighting integrated into the building exterior, highlighting the geometric metallic facade with elegant reflections and soft gradients. The metallic surfaces should reflect the deep blue evening sky with realistic glossy reflections and atmospheric mood.
Create a rich cinematic environment with warm pathway lights, subtle ground lighting hidden in the landscaping, soft illuminated windows from surrounding buildings, and realistic ambient city glow. Add volumetric atmosphere, soft fog haze, and slightly wet pavement with subtle reflections to increase realism and mood.
The garden should remain lush and detailed, but with darker evening tones and carefully balanced lighting. Add a few realistic people walking through the park or sitting on the green chairs to create scale and life. Include warm light spilling from nearby interiors and realistic sky gradients transitioning from deep blue to soft orange near the horizon.
Lighting style: cinematic architectural photography, blue hour, warm vs cool contrast, soft shadows, realistic global illumination, atmospheric depth.
Rendering style: ultra photorealistic ArchViz, Corona Renderer / V-Ray / Unreal Engine 5 quality, ray tracing, highly detailed textures, realistic reflections, subtle imperfections, 8K quality, award-winning architectural visualization.
Negative prompt: daylight, flat lighting, overexposed sky, cartoon style, low quality, AI artifacts, distorted geometry, unrealistic reflections, noisy render.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT managed to change the atmosphere, but:
- details were preserved less accurately;
- some geometry became distorted;
- the lighting feels less natural.
Score: 0.5 points
Gemini
Very strong result.
Gemini:
- preserved the architecture;
- carefully changed the lighting;
- added cinematic atmosphere;
- created a believable blue hour scene.
This already feels similar to a real post-production workflow.
Score: 1.5 points
Final Results
| Test | ChatGPT | Gemini |
|---|---|---|
| Seamless texture | 1 | 1 |
| Changing texture | 1 | 0.5 |
| House generation | 1 | 0.5 |
| 360 pano | 1.5 | 1 |
| Screenshot to render | 1.5 | 1 |
| Interior from model | 1.5 | 1 |
| Pasting people | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 3D Character | 1 | 1 |
| Alpha smoke | 1 | 0.5 |
| Change lighting | 1 | 1.5 |
Final Score
ChatGPT - 12 points
Gemini - 9.5 points
Conclusion
Both models have already moved far beyond being "just AI image generators."
Both ChatGPT and Gemini are capable of assisting real 3D artists, especially during:
- idea exploration;
- concepting;
- moodboard creation;
- lighting exploration;
- quick reference generation;
- post-production;
- storytelling.
After all the tests, it became obvious that the models had completely different characters.
Although Gemini scored lower, I think that a couple of regenerations or more accurate prompts would have corrected the result
Which tool do you think deserves more attention, write in the comments.
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