SketchUp for Design

This chapter introduces methods to create photorealistic renderings of SketchUp models and use them for highly polished presentation images. It covers setting up a rendering work flow, giving an overview of rendering methods, and present techniques for setting up the rendering environment, lights, and materials.

Links in this chapter:

• http://www.sketchupartists.org/presentations/sketchup-styles/ – SketchUp Artist’s style collection
• http://www.imsidesign.com/Products/Renditioner/tabid/1756/Default.aspx – Renditioner (UPDATED)
• http://www.indigorenderer.com – Indigo
• http://www.renderplus.com – Render Plus Systems’ IRender nXt
• http://www.light-up.co.uk – LightUp
• http://www.suplugins.com – Podium
• http://www.renderin.com – Render[in]
• http://www.artvps.com – Shaderlight
• http://www.twilightrender.com – Twilight
• http://www.vray.com – VRay
• http://www.3dpaintbrush.com – 3DPaintBrush
• http://www.artlantis.com – Artlantis
• http://www.kerkythea.net/cms/ – Kerkythea (UPDATED)
• http://www.lumenrt.com – Lumen RT
• http://www.maxwellrender.com – Maxwell
• http://www.thearender.com – Thea
• https://www.lightwave3d.com/ – LightWave 3D (UPDATED)
• http://www.e-onsoftware.com – Vue
• http://www.kerkythea.net/cms/index.php/downloads/software – Kerkythea application (UPDATED)
• http://www.kerkythea.net/cms/index.php/downloads/software – Kerkythea SketchUp plugin (UPDATED)
• http://www.kerkythea.net/cms/index.php/downloads/resources – Kerkythea materials and models (UPDATED)
• http://www.kerkythea.net/cms/index.php/downloads/documentation – Kerkythea tutorials (UPDATED)
• http://www.cgtextures.com/ – CG Textures
• http://www.kerkythea.net/cms/index.php/downloads/resources – Kerkythea studios (UPDATED)
• http://ict.debevec.org/~debevec/Probes/ – Light probe collection
• http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?24038-Free-high-res-skymaps – Sky map collection
• http://www.mcmaster.com – McMaster-Carr
• http://www.rip3d.net/web/en.html#/free/downloads – IES Generator 4
• http://www.lightolier.com/home/file-finder.jsp?ftype=ies – Lightolier IES file collection
• http://3dexport.com/cg-textures – Texture collection (UPDATED)
• http://www.bricksntiles.com – Bricks ‘n’ Tiles
• http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/ – Trimble’s 3D Warehouse
• http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/search?uq=0209659327533626787604282&styp=c&scoring=m – GE appliances on 3D Warehouse
• http://www.sketchupartists.org/ – SketchUp Artists

SketchUp models in this chapter:

(The model viewer requires a WebGL-capable browser like Chrome, Firefox or Safari)

The sample room model - You can also download the SketchUp file

The backdrop room model - You can also download the SketchUp file

More SketchUp models are on the 3DWarehouse page.

Talk about your work:

You can discuss rendering with SketchUp on this site in the following group:

Rendering group

Next steps:

• I have a video-overview of many rendering programs on my blog. This gives you some guidance when you are choosing between these.
• Here are some tutorial sites (and YouTube channels) for the various rendering programs:
  • Brighter3D – YouTube
  • Indigo renderer – YouTube
  • iRender nXt – YouTube
  • Kerkythea
  • LightUp – YouTube
  • Maxwell – YouTube
  • Podium – YouTube
  • Raylectron – YouTube
  • Render[in] – YouTube
  • Renditioner – YouTube
  • Shaderlight – YouTube
  • Thea – YouTube
  • Twilight – YouTube
  • VRay – YouTube
• Don’t forget my Freebies page for materials and 360-degree environments.
• Need more IES light files? Try these sites:
  • Lithonia lights
  • ERCO
  • Philips
  • Philips Selecon
• Need more HDR environments? Try these sites:
  • HDRMAPS
  • McNeel Wiki
  • hdri-hub
• Another forum for rendering topics is at http://forums.cgarchitect.com/
• If you don’t own Photoshop, then try out these free image editors:
  • http://www.gimp.org/ – The Gimp is a very capable freely downloadable image editor
  • http://pixlr.com – An online editor (by Autodesk) with similar features and layout as Photoshop
• Some inspiring renderings (not necessarily done with SketchUp):
  • http://www.planktongroup.com/
• Blogs on rendering and presentation:
  • http://www.alexhogrefe.com/

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