Walkthrough

Solio Workflow Guide

Follow the production path from project setup to a consistent set of render views. Each step shows what to prepare, which features matter, and what to check before moving toward client-ready render output.

Start your first project Contact support
01Project

Start with the client job

Create one project for the client package, then keep every room, layout, direction board, and client-ready render output attached to that project.

Project created with a clear client, service type, and next room action.

Steps to follow

  • Open Projects or Dashboard and choose New project.
  • Name the project after the client or internal package.
  • Add the client name and project type so the workspace is easy to resume later.
What Solio checks
  • Creates the project workspace.
  • Tracks rooms, renders, and recent activity under one job.
  • Keeps the workflow oriented around client work instead of disconnected images.
Features involved
  • Project library
  • Client and service metadata
  • Room count and render count
  • Recent work state

Questions users ask

Can one project contain multiple rooms?

Yes. Add one room at a time so every room has its own structure, layout, Approved room brief, render views, and client-ready render output.

What should I name a project?

Use a client or package name that your studio will recognize later. The guide works best when the job can be resumed without guessing.

Read the related article
Project library
Active client packageVilla Rosso

2 rooms, 4 render views, updated today

Rooms02
Next actionAdd room
02Room

Add the room you are actually designing

Create the room record before any structure, layout, brief, or Intelligent rendering work starts.

Room created and ready for structure setup.

Steps to follow

  • Inside the project, choose Add room.
  • Select the room type and add a practical label when needed.
  • Open the room so structure setup starts from the correct room record.
What Solio checks
  • Creates a room workspace under the project.
  • Routes draft rooms into structure setup.
  • Keeps each room's future layout and render set separate.
Features involved
  • Room type selection
  • Custom room labels
  • Room workflow routing
  • Project room cards

Questions users ask

Why not render directly from the project?

Solio's production path depends on room identity. A render view needs the saved room, locked layout, and Approved room brief to stay consistent.

Can I rename a room later?

Use a room label that helps the studio recognize the space. Renaming is safe when the physical room identity remains the same.

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Project detail
PLAN · LIVING ROOM
Living room

Structure setup starts next.

03Structure

Build and lock the room shell

Describe the physical room before creative direction. Walls, openings, and scale are the foundation for consistent client-ready render output.

Room shell locked and the studio overview is available.

Steps to follow

  • Use the structure builder to define the room footprint.
  • Add the important openings and architectural constraints.
  • Confirm the shell when the room shape is ready.
What Solio checks
  • Stores the locked structure as room state.
  • Uses the structure when preparing layout evidence and render views.
  • Blocks weak render setup caused by unclear geometry.
Features involved
  • Structure builder
  • Room dimensions
  • Openings and fixed features
  • Shell lock checkpoint

Questions users ask

Do I need perfect measurements?

Use the best available room dimensions and fixed features. Structure confidence matters because Intelligent rendering reads the saved room state before final views.

Can I skip structure setup?

No. Solio needs a saved room shell before layout, direction board, and render angle work can be trusted.

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Structure builder
Shell dimensions ready to lock
04Layout

Place furniture and lock the layout

Set the furniture plan before creating a Direction Board. The locked layout becomes evidence for the Approved room brief and render views.

Locked layout with prepared layout evidence.

Steps to follow

  • Create or open a layout from the studio overview.
  • Place the key furniture and keep scale intentional.
  • Lock the layout when the arrangement is ready for design direction.
What Solio checks
  • Saves draft furniture placement while you work.
  • Prepares layout evidence when you lock the layout.
  • Unlocks Direction Board creation for that layout.
Features involved
  • Layout variants
  • Furniture placement
  • Draft and locked states
  • Layout evidence

Questions users ask

Can I create multiple layouts?

Yes. Use layout variants for different arrangements, then lock the layout that should guide the design board and render set.

Why does a Direction Board require a locked layout?

The board needs stable layout evidence. Without that, the Approved room brief can drift away from the furniture plan.

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Layout variant
Prepared layout evidence
05Direction Board

Turn the layout into design direction

Create a Direction Board from the locked layout, then refine room sections with references, materials, palette intent, and constraints.

All active sections are refined and confirmed.

Steps to follow

  • Choose Create direction board from a locked layout.
  • Review the room sections Solio prepares.
  • Add references and notes, then mark each section done when the intent is right.
What Solio checks
  • Reads the saved room and layout.
  • Organizes design direction into editable sections.
  • Refines references into product-safe room understanding.
Features involved
  • Section rail
  • Reference uploader
  • Highlight and supporting sections
  • Refine and Done actions

Questions users ask

What kind of references should I add?

Use references for materiality, palette, lighting, furniture language, and client constraints. The goal is guidance, not copying a single image.

What if a section is not relevant?

Remove or leave out sections that do not help the room. The final brief should include only the direction needed for client-ready render output.

Read the related article
SectionsDesign BriefRenders
MaterialsComplete
LightingComplete
FurnitureReady
References guide the room language
06Design Brief

Approve the final room understanding

Create and approve the final understanding before rendering. This is the Approved room brief that keeps the render set consistent.

Design board approved and render workspace unlocked.

Steps to follow

  • Create the Design Brief after all active sections are complete.
  • Review the final understanding, visual references, and revision suggestions.
  • Approve the brief when it is ready to guide final renders.
What Solio checks
  • Synthesizes completed sections into one room direction.
  • Locks the approved design direction after approval.
  • Uses the Approved room brief for render view generation.
Features involved
  • Design Brief workspace
  • Brief versions
  • Revision suggestions
  • Approve checkpoint

Questions users ask

Can I render before the brief is approved?

No. Render views are designed to start after the Approved room brief, so credits stay tied to a stable production decision.

What should I check before approval?

Check scale, layout intent, materials, lighting, must-have constraints, must-avoid notes, and whether the brief would support every needed angle.

Read the related article
SectionsDesign BriefRenders
Approved room briefWarm stone, quiet brass, low evening light.

Layout, material intent, references, and constraints are ready for render views.

07Render Angles

Capture and generate the view set

Capture purposeful camera views, then generate each view from the approved room state so the set reads as one room.

Render views captured and generated as versioned final images.

Steps to follow

  • Open the Renders step after approval.
  • Capture a hero view, secondary view, detail view, and any client-specific view.
  • Generate each captured view, then compare it against the saved camera.
What Solio checks
  • Stores each captured camera view.
  • Generates final render versions from the Approved room brief.
  • Shows active render progress and recoverable failures.
Features involved
  • Capture render view
  • Render view strip
  • Generate action
  • Compare with captured view
  • Retry from last saved step

Questions users ask

How many angles should I capture?

Start with a hero view, a secondary room view, and one or two detail views. Add client-specific angles only when they support a decision.

What makes angle sets consistent?

Consistency comes from the same room structure, locked layout, Approved room brief, and render contract guiding every generated view.

Read the related article
HeroSideDetailClient
08Versions and Edits

Refine only what needs correction

Use versions, compare, focused edits, and downloads to refine a Render result that needs correction without losing the approved room direction.

Reviewed image versions ready to download or present.

Steps to follow

  • Switch between versions to compare alternatives.
  • Use a narrow edit direction for material, lighting, or cleanup changes.
  • Attach a reference image only when it clarifies the edit.
What Solio checks
  • Keeps generated versions attached to the render view.
  • Lets you refine edit direction before generating the edit.
  • Keeps view-only edits connected to the original approved direction.
Features involved
  • Version selector
  • Edit image
  • Reference image
  • Refine edit
  • Download render view

Questions users ask

Should I edit the whole room or one view?

Start with the narrowest useful edit. A focused view edit is safer when the Approved room brief is still correct.

When should I download a render?

Download only after the team has reviewed the image against the brief, layout, materials, and same-room identity.

Read the related article
v3v2v1
Edit direction

Warm the wall wash and reduce the table reflection.

Focused edits keep the approved direction intact
09Troubleshooting

Recover from the last stable checkpoint

When something feels off, compare the result to the saved room, locked layout, Approved room brief, and latest stable render version before spending another credit.

Issue routed to the right setup, brief, render, edit, or billing action.

Steps to follow

  • Identify whether the issue is structure, layout, direction, angle, edit, or billing.
  • Return to the earliest checkpoint that owns the issue.
  • Retry recoverable failures or contact support for credit and billing issues.
What Solio checks
  • Shows failed and recoverable workflow states.
  • Keeps prior room, brief, and render versions available for comparison.
  • Protects production work from unnecessary restarts.
Features involved
  • Workflow status
  • Recoverable retry
  • Version history
  • Credit guard messages
  • Support path

Questions users ask

What should I check before spending another credit?

Check the shell, layout, Approved room brief, camera angle, and current version. A Render result that needs correction often points back to one of those checkpoints.

When should I contact support?

Contact support for billing, credit activity, or account access issues. Include the project, room, and what action you were taking.

Read the related article
Recovery path
Check shell
Review layout
Compare brief
Retry render

Reference articles

Keep the deeper notes close

StartCreate your first projectSet up a client project, add a room, and choose the next useful action.Open article LayoutRoom shell and layoutPrepare geometry, openings, furniture placement, and layout confidence.Open article BriefDirection boardUse references, materials, palette, and constraints to guide the room.Open article ReviewApproval workflowApprove the final understanding before spending render credits.Open article RenderRender angle setsGenerate consistent views from the approved room state.Open article RefineEdits, upscales, and exportsRefine outputs without losing the approved design direction.Open article BillingCredits and billingUnderstand monthly credits, one-time packs, expiry, and plan actions.Open article SupportTroubleshootingRecover from unclear room state, failed payments, or a render result that needs correction.Open article

Fast checks

When a result needs attention

For a Render result that needs correction, compare the image with the Approved room brief, locked layout, and captured view. Then choose the smallest useful fix: update structure, revise direction, make a focused edit, retry a recoverable render, or contact support for credits and billing.

Direction boardApproval workflowRender angle setsEdits and upscalesCredits and billingTroubleshooting