diff --git a/src/com/Communication.ts b/src/com/Communication.ts
index 1f52043a..d832216d 100644
--- a/src/com/Communication.ts
+++ b/src/com/Communication.ts
@@ -120,6 +120,11 @@ export class DIVECommunication {
         let returnValue: Actions[Action]['RETURN'] = false;
 
         switch (action) {
+            case 'START_RENDER': {
+                this.renderer.StartRenderer(this.scene, this.controller.object);
+                returnValue = true;
+                break;
+            }
             case 'GET_ALL_SCENE_DATA': {
                 returnValue = this.getAllSceneData(
                     payload as Actions['GET_ALL_SCENE_DATA']['PAYLOAD'],
diff --git a/src/com/__test__/Communication.test.ts b/src/com/__test__/Communication.test.ts
index 6abe7277..96648588 100644
--- a/src/com/__test__/Communication.test.ts
+++ b/src/com/__test__/Communication.test.ts
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ jest.mock('../../toolbox/select/SelectTool', () => {
 const mockRenderer = {
     render: jest.fn(),
     OnResize: jest.fn(),
+    StartRenderer: jest.fn(),
 } as unknown as DIVERenderer;
 
 const mockScene = {
@@ -288,6 +289,12 @@ describe('dive/communication/DIVECommunication', () => {
         ).not.toThrow();
     });
 
+    it('should perform action START_RENDER', () => {
+        const success = testCom.PerformAction('START_RENDER');
+        expect(mockRenderer.StartRenderer).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+        expect(success).toBe(true);
+    });
+
     it('should perform action ADD_OBJECT', () => {
         const payload = {
             entityType: 'light',
diff --git a/src/com/actions/index.ts b/src/com/actions/index.ts
index d7ce7d96..e8f48201 100644
--- a/src/com/actions/index.ts
+++ b/src/com/actions/index.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import START_RENDER from './renderer/startrender.ts';
 import SET_BACKGROUND from './scene/setbackground.ts';
 import RESET_CAMERA from './camera/resetcamera.ts';
 import SET_CAMERA_LAYER from './camera/setcameralayer.ts';
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ import EXPORT_SCENE from './scene/exportscene.ts';
 import LAUNCH_AR from './scene/launchar.ts';
 
 export interface Actions {
+    START_RENDER: START_RENDER;
     GET_ALL_SCENE_DATA: GET_ALL_SCENE_DATA;
     GET_ALL_OBJECTS: GET_ALL_OBJECTS;
     GET_OBJECTS: GET_OBJECTS;
diff --git a/src/com/actions/renderer/startrender.ts b/src/com/actions/renderer/startrender.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8d06ecfd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/com/actions/renderer/startrender.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+export default interface START_RENDER {
+    DESCRIPTION: 'Starts the render process.';
+    PAYLOAD: undefined;
+    RETURN: boolean;
+}
diff --git a/src/dive.ts b/src/dive.ts
index 871fddc5..7eb66451 100644
--- a/src/dive.ts
+++ b/src/dive.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import pkgjson from '../package.json';
 
 export type DIVESettings = {
     autoResize: boolean;
+    autoStart: boolean;
     displayAxes: boolean;
     renderer: Partial<DIVERendererSettings>;
     perspectiveCamera: Partial<DIVEPerspectiveCameraSettings>;
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ export type DIVESettings = {
 
 export const DIVEDefaultSettings: DIVESettings = {
     autoResize: true,
+    autoStart: true,
     displayAxes: false,
     renderer: DIVERendererDefaultSettings,
     perspectiveCamera: DIVEPerspectiveCameraDefaultSettings,
@@ -266,9 +268,6 @@ export default class DIVE {
             this.addResizeObserver();
         }
 
-        // whene everything is done, start the renderer
-        this.renderer.StartRenderer(this.scene, this.perspectiveCamera);
-
         // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
         (window as any).DIVE = {
             PrintScene: () => {
@@ -307,6 +306,11 @@ export default class DIVE {
                            @@@@@@@                                @@@@@@
 
         `);
+
+        if (this._settings.autoStart) {
+            // when everything is done, start the renderer
+            this.renderer.StartRenderer(this.scene, this.perspectiveCamera);
+        }
     }
 
     public Dispose(): void {
diff --git a/src/toolbox/Toolbox.ts b/src/toolbox/Toolbox.ts
index 2e4a0d84..62f9fbf9 100644
--- a/src/toolbox/Toolbox.ts
+++ b/src/toolbox/Toolbox.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type DIVEOrbitControls from '../controls/OrbitControls.ts';
 import { type DIVEScene } from '../scene/Scene.ts';
 import { type DIVEBaseTool } from './BaseTool.ts';
-import { type DIVESelectTool } from './select/SelectTool.ts';
+import { DIVESelectTool } from './select/SelectTool.ts';
 
 export type ToolType = 'select' | 'none';
 
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@ export default class DIVEToolbox {
     private _selectTool: DIVESelectTool | null;
     public get selectTool(): DIVESelectTool {
         if (!this._selectTool) {
-            const DIVESelectTool = require('./select/SelectTool.ts')
-                .DIVESelectTool as typeof import('./select/SelectTool.ts').DIVESelectTool;
             this._selectTool = new DIVESelectTool(
                 this._scene,
                 this._controller,