I need help finding a rendering plugin for Sketchup

[PerryM]

I've played with Sketchup 8.x for 2 months now and have watched at least 200 videos and designed a dozen projects - I love Sketchup Pro.

I thought finding a rendering package/plugin would be easy but after 2 full weeks of searching I can't find one that meets my needs which are:

1. $250 or less for a license for me, I have 3 computers that I use all the time so it must run on all 3

2. I want real time rendering

3. I need artificial lights and the ability to get IES definitions from lighting companies

4. I need to define materials and get most from a database with shininess, reflection, bumps, etc

5. I want walk troughs and to be able to send them to a customer for their review

That's all I want.

I can't find one commercial package that does all the above - am I missing something?

Thanks for any input............

[pilou]

LightUp but it's "post Real Time rendering" (134€ ) (170$ ? )

[PerryM]

@unknownuser said:

LightUp but it's "post Real Time rendering" (134€ ) (170$ ? )

I looked at LightUp and it's missing a material editor.

But thanks....

[Gaieus]

@perrym said:

I looked at LightUp and it's missing a material editor.

No, it does not. How complex material editor do you wish? This is what LightUp has.

If you want an extremely complex and feature rich editor (layered materials, procedurals etc), I would suggest Thea although that is out of the $250 range (with the exporter plugin, it would be around $420 ATM).

[PerryM]

@gaieus said:

@perrym said:

I looked at LightUp and it's missing a material editor.

No, it does not. How complex material editor do you wish? This is what LightUp has.

[attachment=0:eb9akxz9]<!-- ia0 -->LightUp-Material-editor.png<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:eb9akxz9]
If you want an extremely complex and feature rich editor (layered materials, procedurals etc), I would suggest Thea although that is out of the $250 range (with the exporter plugin, it would be around $420 ATM).

Thanks for the heads up.

I just don't see what your picture shows in the demo version I'm running; I only have 4 icons to use on their toolbar, and no way to edit material - I will look more into this.

I appreciate the feedback....

[Gaieus]

With the Tour tool activated, double click on a face with anything else than the default material applied. The dialog should pop up. (Also, read the pdf manual)

[PerryM]

Thanks, I never thought of that.

I see the shading properties but I don't see shininess - maybe it has another name. I model a lot of wood and the varnished wood needs to reflect light. I'll look and read.

I appreciate your help...

[Gaieus]

I am not an expert at these rendering terms myself but I think both specular and Fresnel control shininess here. Specular would be the overall "strength" of shininess and Fresnel would be how much the light is reflected and how much of it is scattered (think of a satin glossy material or a sharply reflective one).