How do you use sketchup for architectural presentations?

[ark]

In my work as an architect I mostly use Sketchup to get a hold on the volumes. It's simply the best software for that purpose. Plans and elevations is done in Autocad Architecture (in my case).
For a while I've been watching this community to be updated on the use of Sketchup. And it's remarkeble what you can do, mostly very detailed work for rendering purpose.

But how do you use sketchup for architectural presentations?

Is it for clean renderings, for simple "2D" plans and elevations, perspektiv sketches, volumes for handsketching on tracingpaper or......?

[decipher]

We tend to start by using for volume modelling.. however thats kind of over in a few minutes the software is that fast!

It is almost too easy to keep adding detail, so you have to be very aware of what the final image is to be used for and the impression you want to give. Having said that we produce everything from simple white blocks to very complex interior and exterior renderings that are detailed down to the millimeter in some cases.

It has got to the point where you could quite easily produce an entire planning application from one sketchup model.

[honoluludesktop]

Not sure how to answer your question, but I too work primarily with a 3d vector cad program in order to minimize redrawing for 2d production drawings. I port my 3d vector models into SU to add textures, shadows, animate in order to visualize the design, and produce renders. In a typical presentation, I will have large boards to present, handouts (a printed MS word doc. with illustrations, and written discriptions for the clients to take with them), and when appropriate, simple animations illustrating the project. The boards, and hand outs, include drawings from CAD, SU, and render software. Sometimes I do a vector plot of a plan to tiff, then annotate it. If I have time, I may export that plan into SU, add textures, shadows, etc. then print to tiff, and annotate. I use the one that looks best. Elevations are always better in color, and texture, with shadows and shading, so time permitting, I use SU and render software for this. 3d views are almost always renders of the SU model.

Another way to get color into a presentation is with an illustration program, I do not have much experience with this method, and prefer to go from Cad to SU to post process for texture and color.

[mike1234]

@ark said:

In my work as an architect, I mostly use Sketchup to get a hold on the volumes. It's simply the best software for that purpose. Plans and elevations is done in Autocad Architecture (in my case).
For a while I've been watching this community to be updated on the use of Sketchup. And it's remarkeble what you can do, mostly very detailed work for rendering purpose.

But how do you use sketchup for architectural presentations?

Is it for clean renderings, for simple "2D" plans and elevations, perspektiv sketches, volumes for handsketching on tracingpaper or......?

I mostly use LightWave it provides 3D visualization, free cross-platform render nodes animation tools and much more.