3D scenes may be rendered a resolution lower than a resolution associated with the resultant image. A graphics application or 3D editor may render the 3D artwork at a lower resolution while the user modifies or manipulates the 3D model from which the artwork is derived. In some embodiments, an image may include multiple image layers, each representing a portion of the overall finished image. Graphics programs generally associate a target resolution with an image. Rendering 3D artwork at high resolutions may take extra time and result in poor performance. Thus, in some embodiments, a graphics program may be configured to render 3D artwork at a lower resolution than the resultant image's target or associated resolution while a user is modifying the 3D model. Subsequently, after the user has completed manipulating the 3D model, the graphics program may render the 3D model again at the image's associated resolution.