here's a 5 min one.
still need to work on the line quality and on the shadow direction to match the shadow that the table leg is casting but on a larger scale that watermark option is indeed the way to go.
i used a higher transparency on the rectangle and removed the "cast shadow" option.

Guess i learned a new thing today

@gaieus said:

Well, I could not figure out where the vanishing points of that hand photo would be. What I suspect (or at least could imagine) is that the photo was taken on a completely white "table" then white was swapped with transparency (thus leaving a semi transparent shadow). But I am a complete PP illiterate myself so I have to confess I am not sure.

Now in SU, you can use a photo like that as a reference (as a watermark) and adjust your shadows and perspective to the photo. Then export an image in hidden line face style at around 2x of the final render (then resize - this is probably how those subtle and a bit grey edges are there), export a render (IF there is any render at all - honestly, I cannot tell) and layering the stuff onto each other, you end up with something like this.

Have you got any specific in mind?

my plan was to snap a pic of an existing location and try to place my model on a given site.
the main idea is to implement models in real surroundings.
maybe there's an easyer way to do that then what i'm trying to do right now.

edit on a second glance the pic looks multilayered:
-hand looks the same
-table-top looks fake
-background (computers etc) can be easily faked in

i'll give it a try and post the result if it sin't embarassing

@gaieus said:

Hi Beck and welcome!

So what exactly is what you are looking for? How to put two images together or how to combine SU line work with a PR rendered version of the model or how to put the shadows of both the hand and the bridge on the same table???

Well i imagined that the picture + hand +its shadow must be one story, and the SU model another one.
i'd like to know how you'd merge the 2 together so that the perspective of the picture matches the one of the model.(both pictures have the same vanishing points so it looks "realistic")
I must admit i am a noob at rendering and photoshoping models into pictures.
also i have no idea what post-processing programs i need
p.s. how can i change the linetype i'm currently working with? (the lines in that model look thinner and "squigglier" than the stock one)

In fewer words: How can i reproduce that ? ^^^

hope i'm not disturbing anyone here, and that i can be pointed in the right direction.

Thanks guys!

Sup guys. i'm new on this forum.
Lemme introduce myself
My name is Mike ,i'm an architecture student aaaand i'm a Sketchup addict )

gonna start my short intro with a quick question: Where can i find a tutorial on this kinda "rendering" ?
(or at least is there a specific keyword i'm looking for so i can use the search bar?)

it's good to be here