Looking for NPR tips for within Sketchup
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I use Sketchup and Layout for my garden design work and I'm a fan of the non-photo realistic, (NPR), "sketchy" style of presentation. There's a lot of superb tutorials on the net, describing how to accomplish NPR styles through various post-production techniques. Because I like to present using Layout and partly because I'm looking for a cost effective, simpler way to achieve these styles on a regular basis, I thought I'd ask the following question:
Have you got any tips for achieving good NPR styles within Sketchup itself ?
I obviously use "sketchy" styles to achieve this already but do you think there's more I can do in changing settings like shadows ? Perhaps I could consider "Photo-shopping" some of the materials I use regularly to make them more NPR in style. I guess using the right fonts in Layout might help or the right dimensioning, pointers, etc. ?
Hopefully you get my drift - I don't mind doing hours of work in advance, knowing every time I then output a design, it has the desired NPR look. This would also obviously have the benefit of retaining the functionality of using actual Sketchup views within Layout.
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I know you asked for techniques within SU, but the best and most consistent method I've found for achieving NPR effects is to use Topaz Simplify. It gives you a wide range of off-the-peg effects and you can tweak the sensitivity any way you like, then save it as a preset. I use it all the time for producing NPR Face-Me people and vegetation. http://www.topazlabs.com/simplify
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Thanks Alan. I've just downloaded a trial version and it looks very good, (similar in some ways to Fotosketcher). The main reason for wanting to develop NPR styles within SU is to save any post editing and perhaps more importantly, to retain the SU / Layout inter-functionality / auto updating / dimensioning, etc.
That said, I'm still keen to learn more NPR techniques outside of SU as well - cheers.
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I don't do much in the way of landscape.....but I do occasionally add some plantings for color.
Recently I have experimented with the opacity settings (leaves/buds/etc.) and found that to give a nice "light" look/feel to the plants. (within a sketchy style)Charlie
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Here's an old old picture of mine. What I thought worked in Sketchup only here was
- Fog (colored)
model reversed for reflection
multiple transparencies in pool
export at high pixels width
NPR plants colors and textures
Added afterwards: warping water line (could do in SU), warping reflection and mist.
- Fog (colored)
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and you might use a watermark to add a sort of mist vignette in Sketchup.
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Thanks so far guys. Experimenting with opacity, fog and watermarks are excellent suggestions and just the sort of thing I'm looking for.
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Just some examples of what I'm doing in Sketchup at the moment, to give you an idea of where I'm heading with the NPR style. It needs to retain a level of detail in the materials, etc, to properly communicate the project to the client.
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And one more....
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The main tip I could give you would be not to use a single style but to export multiple image from a single scene using multiple styles. If you want to push them up a bit more, use a clay render of the same scene, with kerkythea.
Mix all these layers together in Gimp/Photoshop, using layer's opacity and blending modes.
You'll have full control of your image in no time...
I can show you some simple or complex examples on this if you'd like...
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Thanks JQL, I have tried similar techniques when I want to present a single project proposal image but what I'm trying to do here is develop a NPR style within Sketchup itself. That way I can fully utilise the interactive abilities of SU and Layout, which is my main presentation tool for clients.
@jql said:
The main tip I could give you would be not to use a single style but to export multiple image from a single scene using multiple styles. If you want to push them up a bit more, use a clay render of the same scene, with kerkythea.
Mix all these layers together in Gimp/Photoshop, using layer's opacity and blending modes.
You'll have full control of your image in no time...
I can show you some simple or complex examples on this if you'd like...
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I understand. Take a look at style builder then...
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