The sure way for design professionals to learn SketchUp modeling and rendering techniques
Rendering In SketchUp provides instructions for creating 3D photoreal graphics for SketchUp models using integrated rendering programs. The book serves as a beginner rendering manual and reference guide to further develop rendering skills. With an emphasis on step-by-step process, SketchUp users learn a universal approach to rendering varied SketchUp projects, including architecture, interiors, and site design models.
The book focuses on tasks and principles at the core of photorealistic rendering, including:
- Rendering process: Learn a step-by-step process focused on workflow within SketchUp's familiar workspace.
- Universal method: Understand how the process can be used to work with a variety of different integrated rendering programs, including Shaderlight, SU Podium and Twilight Render**. These programs are easy to learn and function in SketchUp.
- Textures and materials: Discover how to obtain, apply and edit texture images representing surfaces.
- Component details: Learn how to acquire and organize model details to allow for rich, expressive settings while maintaining computer and SketchUp performance.
- Exterior and simulated lighting: Learn to set exterior lighting with the SketchUp’s Shadow menu or illuminate a scene with simulated lights, lamps, and bulbs.
- Render settings: Use specific settings for various rendering programs to quickly set texture character, image quality, and graphic output.
- Computer specifications: Find out how computers produce renders and the type of computer hardware required to streamline the process.
- Photoshop post-processing: Learn how to further refine rendered images in Photoshop.
- **Free online chapters: The book reviews specific settings for SketchUp and the rendering plug-in Shaderlight. Given the ever-changing nature of technology, free, online accompanying chapters detail settings for additional integrated rendering programs including SU Podium, Twilight Render, and more.
Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments ix
Part 1 Overview and Concepts
Chapter 1: Introduction to Rendering in SketchUp 2
Integrated Rendering Programs 3
Studio Rendering Programs 4
Digital Rendering and Photorealism 5
Using This Book 8
The Software 10
Chapter 2: Contents and Extended Features 14
Companion IRP Chapters 14
Method and Reference Guide 18
Chapter 3: The Rendering Process 23
Create the SketchUp Model 24
The Iterative Rendering Process 28
The Post-Rendering Process 33
Chapter 4: How Rendering Works 35
IRP Render Processing 35
Computer Hardware and Rendering 37
Other Rendering Options 40
Computer Specifications 42
Chapter 5: Learning to Look 45
Rendering as an Art Form 45
Becoming a Student of Light and Color 53
Part 2 Textures
Chapter 6: Textures Overview 56
Textures in SketchUp 58
The Texturing Process 63
General Considerations 65
Texture Image Formats 68
Chapter 7: The Texture Library 69
SketchUp Native Textures 70
Web Sources 70
Choosing and Downloading Textures 72
Saving a Texture Library 76
Searching CG Textures 77
Linking the Texture Library 79
Chapter 8: The SketchUp Texture Tools 81
Macintosh Texture Tools 81
PC Texture Tools 82
The Paint Bucket Tool 83
The Styles Menu 95
The Right-Click Texture Menu 98
Chapter 9: Apply, Assess, and Adjust 109
The Three As 109
Apply 111
Assess and Adjust 121
Texture Tips 141
Chapter 10: Editing Textures in an External Photo Editor 146
Linking an Editor to SketchUp 146
Launching, Editing, and Saving 147
Typical Alterations 150
Part 3 Modeling Detail
Chapter 11: An Overview of Modeling Detail 168
What Is Detail Modeling? 170
Methods 173
Chapter 12: The Detailing Tools 176
The Component Library 176
The Component Browser 178
Using Layers 181
SketchUp Scenes 186
The Camera Tools 188
Chapter 13: Component Details 193
What Is Component Detail? 193
Premade Components and Textures 197
Premade Component Websites 201
Chapter 14: Organizing the Model 219
What Is a Large Model? 220
Layering Strategy 223
Layer Conventions by Model Typology 226
Cleaning Up Layers 231
Controlling Layers with Scenes 234
Toggling Layers 237
Warning! 241
Chapter 15: Camera Scenes, Composition, and Backdrops 242
Camera Scenes 242
Composition 244
Backdrops 251
Chapter 16: Advanced Detailing 261
Texture Modeling 262
Ruby Scripts for Detailing 276
Part 4 Setting Light with Shadows
Chapter 17: The Shadow Menu 290
The SketchUp Shadow Menu 290
Solar North 296
Working with Shadows 297
Troubleshooting Shadows 298
Chapter 18: Composing Light 300
Composing Light Tools 303
Composing Light Strategies 308
Composing the Light 314
Part 5 The Iterative Rendering Process
Chapter 19: A Rendering Overview 320
IRP Universal Features 321
Custom Features 325
Chapter 20: Steps of the Iterative Rendering Process 331
Add Initial Values 332
Draft to Final Render 334
Simulated Light Drafts-to-Final Process 343
Chapter 21: Texture Values 351
IRPs and Texture Values 351
Bump Values 354
Surface Condition and Surface Reflection 358
Transparency 364
Texture Categories 365
Troubleshooting Textures 366
Chapter 22: Image Resolution 368
What Is Resolution? 368
Determining DPI 374
Large Resolutions 374
Chapter 23: Exterior Light 375
First Lighting Steps 375
SketchUp Shadows 376
Image-Based Lighting 376
Exposure/Gamma/Intensity 381
Chapter 24: Simulated Lighting 383
Types of Lighting 385
Placing and Editing Lights 394
Render Times 398
General Simulated Light Strategies 399
Part 6 Shaderlight by ArtVPS
Chapter 25: Introduction to Shaderlight 412
Menu Overview 414
Secondary Menu 415
Special Features 415
Chapter 26: Shaderlight Iterative Rendering Settings 418
The Render Settings Menu 418
Dynamic Preview and Saving 422
Draft-to-Final Settings 424
Chapter 27: Shaderlight Texture Settings 430
Apply Texture Values 430
Texture Value Descriptions 432
Texture Settings Categories 437
Glass and Water Material Values 442
Chapter 28: Shaderlight Exterior Lighting and Backdrops 449
SketchUp Dark Slider 450
Physical Sky 451
HDRI Lighting 452
Background and Backdrops 458
Chapter 29: Shaderlight Simulated Lighting 461
Shaderlight Lighting Options 462
Light Editor 468
Shaderlight Render Settings 469
Quality Settings 470
Lighting Settings 470
Postproduction 478
Chapter 30: Shaderlight Special Features 481
Batch Rendering 481
ReplaceMe 487
Chalk Rendering 490
Part 7 The Photoshop Postproduction Process
Chapter 31: Postproduction Effects 496
Methods 498
Light and Color 500
Effects 511
Chapter 32: Detailed Postproduction 519
Realistic Vegetation 519
Architecture Photo Placement 524
Backgrounds/Backdrops 526
Part 8 Anatomy of a Rendering
Chapter 33: Building the Base Model 536
Chapter Relationships 537
The Base Model 538
Solid Color to Surfaces 539
Base Model Extrusion 541
Solid Colors Swapped with Textures 542
Chapter 34: Building Detail 545
Chapter 35: Interior Detail 552
Interior Base Model 552
Interior Detailing 557
Chapter 36: Site Detail 565
Chapter 37: Scenes 573
Cleaning Up the Layer List 573
Off/On Scenes 574
Specific Control Scenes 575
Camera View Scenes 578
Chapter 38: Setting Light with Shadows 581
Chapter 39: The Iterative Rendering Process for Exterior Scenes 587
Chapter 40: The Iterative Rendering Process for Interior Scenes 605
Chapter 41: Postproduction of Exterior Scene 620
Index 624
About the Author :
DANIEL TAL, RLA, is a licensed landscape architect who has been working in the architecture and site design industry since 1998. He freelances on a range of projects and consults on technology education and software development. As a SketchUp specialist, he conducts workshops and seminars on 3D modeling, consults on SketchUp-related tools, and beta tests future software releases to ensure that new developments meet the needs of professionals. He is also the author of SketchUp for Site Design and on occasion writes articles for Landscape Architecture magazine.
