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

Realistic Vegetation

Making lawns appear real, with strands of grass, is not feasible in SketchUp. Similarly, while shrubs and large swaths of ground cover can, in theory, be added, the time required to do it can be very prohibitive. Instead, during the postproduction process, you can fit an image of realistic grass and vegetation into the open spaces of the rendering to create the illusion of a complete landscape.

This method requires that you have specific images available. Collect images of grasses and vegetation that match the perspective and angles of the rendering. You can find them online using an image search engine or by taking your own photos, which is recommended. Collecting multiple lawn images is useful: eye-level, bird’s-eye, close-ups, etc. Having a range of images will make it easier to match the camera view of the rendering.

The following steps add vegetation, lawns, and grasses to the original rendering (Fig. 32.5, Fig. 32.6, Fig. 32.7, Fig. 32.8, Fig. 32.9).

1. Insert the desired vegetation image into the rendering in Photoshop. Hide the layer (Fig. 32.1, Fig. 32.2).

2. Select the areas in the render that will include the vegetation. Use Select ⇒ Color Range for the quickest result.

3. Once the area is selected, use the Add Layer Mask option and mask out the area for future use.

4. Turn on the vegetation image and position/scale it over the appropriate location in the render (Fig. 32.3).

5. Activate the Layer Mask.

6. Go to Select ⇒ Modify and choose Expand. ...