PV‑WAVE can render 3D geometric and volumetric data through the use of your graphics hardware using PV‑WAVE 's integration with the Visualization Toolkit (VTK) or through software using rendering algorithms built into PV‑WAVE.

Besides faster 3D graphics, VTK supports techniques such as the ability to rotate and manipulate 3D views in real-time, do real-time displays of volumetric data, and enhanced functionality for static 3D rendering in 24-bit color. The end user can gain insight about their data though interacting, visualizing and analyzing data real time with the VTK utilities.

The advanced rendering routines built into PV‑WAVE use software to display geometric and volumetric data. Three rendering techniques are available including; polygon and volume rendering and ray-tracing techniques. In addition, gridding algorithms and coordinate conversion functions are available to prepare data for rendering.