Rendering in SketchUp: From Modeling to Presentation for Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Design

Rendering in SketchUp: From Modeling to Presentation for Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Design

Released March 2013
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470642191

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Book description

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

  1. Acknowledgments
  2. Part 1: Overview and Concepts
    1. Chapter 1: Introduction to Rendering in SketchUp
      1. Integrated Rendering Programs
      2. Studio Rendering Programs
      3. Digital Rendering and Photorealism
      4. Using This Book
      5. The Software
    2. Chapter 2: Contents and Extended Features
      1. Companion IRP Chapters
      2. Method and Reference Guide
    3. Chapter 3: The Rendering Process
      1. Create the SketchUp Model
      2. The Iterative Rendering Process
      3. The Post-Rendering Process
    4. Chapter 4: How Rendering Works
      1. IRP Render Processing
      2. Computer Hardware and Rendering
      3. Other Rendering Options
      4. Computer Specifications
    5. Chapter 5: Learning to Look
      1. Rendering as an Art Form
      2. Becoming a Student of Light and Color
  3. Part 2: Textures
    1. Chapter 6: Textures Overview
      1. Textures in SketchUp
      2. The Texturing Process
      3. General Considerations
      4. Texture Image Formats
    2. Chapter 7: The Texture Library
      1. SketchUp Native Textures
      2. Web Sources
      3. Choosing and Downloading Textures
      4. Saving a Texture Library
      5. Searching CG Textures
      6. Linking the Texture Library
    3. Chapter 8: The SketchUp Texture Tools
      1. Macintosh Texture Tools
      2. PC Texture Tools
      3. The Paint Bucket Tool
      4. The Styles Menu
      5. The Right-Click Texture Menu
    4. Chapter 9: Apply, Assess, and Adjust
      1. The Three As
      2. Apply
      3. Assess and Adjust
      4. Texture Tips
    5. Chapter 10: Editing Textures in an External Photo Editor
      1. Linking an Editor to SketchUp
      2. Launching, Editing, and Saving
      3. Typical Alterations
  4. Part 3: Modeling Detail
    1. Chapter 11: An Overview of Modeling Detail
      1. What Is Detail Modeling?
      2. Methods
    2. Chapter 12: The Detailing Tools
      1. The Component Library
      2. The Component Browser
      3. Using Layers
      4. SketchUp Scenes
      5. The Camera Tools
    3. Chapter 13: Component Details
      1. What Is Component Detail?
      2. Premade Components and Textures
      3. Premade Component Websites
    4. Chapter 14: Organizing the Model
      1. What Is a Large Model?
      2. Layering Strategy
      3. Layer Conventions by Model Typology
      4. Cleaning Up Layers
      5. Controlling Layers with Scenes
      6. Toggling Layers
      7. Warning!
    5. Chapter 15: Camera Scenes, Composition, and Backdrops
      1. Camera Scenes
      2. Composition
      3. Backdrops
    6. Chapter 16: Advanced Detailing
      1. Texture Modeling
      2. Ruby Scripts for Detailing
  5. Part 4: Setting Light with Shadows
    1. Chapter 17: The Shadow Menu
      1. The SketchUp Shadow Menu
      2. Solar North
      3. Working with Shadows
      4. Troubleshooting Shadows
    2. Chapter 18: Composing Light
      1. Composing Light Tools
      2. Composing Light Strategies
      3. Composing the Light
  6. Part 5: The Iterative Rendering Process
    1. Chapter 19: A Rendering Overview
      1. IRP Universal Features
      2. Custom Features
    2. Chapter 20: Steps of the Iterative Rendering Process
      1. Add Initial Values
      2. Draft to Final Render
      3. Simulated Light Drafts-to-Final Process
    3. Chapter 21: Texture Values
      1. IRPs and Texture Values
      2. Bump Values
      3. Surface Condition and Surface Reflection
      4. Transparency
      5. Texture Categories
      6. Troubleshooting Textures
    4. Chapter 22: Image Resolution
      1. What Is Resolution?
      2. Determining DPI
      3. Large Resolutions
    5. Chapter 23: Exterior Light
      1. First Lighting Steps
      2. SketchUp Shadows
      3. Image-Based Lighting
      4. Exposure/Gamma/Intensity
    6. Chapter 24: Simulated Lighting
      1. Types of Lighting
      2. Placing and Editing Lights
      3. Render Times
      4. General Simulated Light Strategies
  7. Part 6: Shaderlight by ArtVPS
    1. Chapter 25: Introduction to Shaderlight
      1. Menu Overview
      2. Secondary Menu
      3. Special Features
    2. Chapter 26: Shaderlight Iterative Rendering Settings
      1. The Render Settings Menu
      2. Dynamic Preview and Saving
      3. Draft-to-Final Settings
    3. Chapter 27: Shaderlight Texture Settings
      1. Apply Texture Values
      2. Texture Value Descriptions
      3. Texture Settings Categories
      4. Glass and Water Material Values
    4. Chapter 28: Shaderlight Exterior Lighting and Backdrops
      1. SketchUp Dark Slider
      2. Physical Sky
      3. HDRI Lighting
      4. Background and Backdrops
    5. Chapter 29: Shaderlight Simulated Lighting
      1. Shaderlight Lighting Options
      2. Light Editor
      3. Shaderlight Render Settings
      4. Quality Settings
      5. Lighting Settings
      6. Postproduction
    6. Chapter 30: Shaderlight Special Features
      1. Batch Rendering
      2. ReplaceMe
      3. Chalk Rendering
  8. Part 7: The Photoshop Postproduction Process
    1. Chapter 31: Postproduction Effects
      1. Methods
      2. Light and Color
      3. Effects
    2. Chapter 32: Detailed Postproduction
      1. Realistic Vegetation
      2. Architecture Photo Placement
      3. Backgrounds/Backdrops
  9. Part 8: Anatomy of a Rendering
    1. Chapter 33: Building the Base Model
      1. Chapter Relationships
      2. The Base Model
      3. Solid Color to Surfaces
      4. Base Model Extrusion
      5. Solid Colors Swapped with Textures
    2. Chapter 34: Building Detail
    3. Chapter 35: Interior Detail
      1. Interior Base Model
      2. Interior Detailing
    4. Chapter 36: Site Detail
    5. Chapter 37: Scenes
      1. Cleaning Up the Layer List
      2. Off/On Scenes
      3. Specific Control Scenes
      4. Camera View Scenes
    6. Chapter 38: Setting Light with Shadows
    7. Chapter 39: The Iterative Rendering Process for Exterior Scenes
    8. Chapter 40: The Iterative Rendering Process for Interior Scenes
    9. Chapter 41: Postproduction of Exterior Scene
  10. Index

Product information

  • Title: Rendering in SketchUp: From Modeling to Presentation for Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Design
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: March 2013
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470642191