Hello Mike,
if/when you get a chance try out Unicorn Render (unicornrender.com); in my opinion, it's fantastic how well it deals with physical-based lighting conditions and materials. Kindly note though, it's a Windows only standalone rendering software AND requires a good nVidia GPU (any 1000-series, such as a GTX 1070 or better yet 1080, 1080Ti).
Best!
Diego
Dear developers,
a while back I came across this video from Peter Wonka Research, (one of the people i n the team who developed CityEngine, later acquired by ESRI. See here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOYpaJWNPaU
The video follows the processes for an enhanced version of SketchUp's unique tool, Push-Pull, and it's appropriately called, PushPull++. I forgot all about it until I came across it again and was wondering, hoping, if there is anything like it available or even possible. I realize this is a big Ask and Task, but who knows, someone might be interested in taking it on.
Many thanks in advance at least and first off for reading and considering.
Best,
Diego
See here, https://www.facebook.com/Unicorn-Render-116590368822784/
... and trial - albeit USA, NL, FR IT - available through December 3, 2016, see here:
https://www.facebook.com/salvo.barbera2/posts/1330231007010480#
Diego
@pixero said:
Wow, never heard of that company. Is this good or bad news?
Hi Pixero,
actually, Altair had bought solidThinking a while back from an Italian company - FWIW, "sT" is a multi-platform (Mac-Win) NURBS-based modeler. Since the purchase they have indeed ramped up development and released quite a number of new/revamped-feature-rich versions of the main software AWA as a series of plugins...
Best,
Diego
I came across SketchUp from @Last following an article from AEC, reviewing what I quickly understood as a unique software and approach. That was back in 2000, whence thereafter I applied for and received a beta, prior to the actual release of v1.xxx. I've been teaching and working with computation for design disciplines since 1986 and SketchUp offered throughout the years a clear-clean gush of freshness to the disciplines, like few others.
Best,
Diego
Hola Miguel. I use Microsoft's Sculpt Touch Mouse on a Mac Book Pro (running OSX AWA Bootcamp with Windows 7) and am very happy with it. BTW, because it's a Bluetooth device it does not need or use up a USB port, that's especially important in a laptop which often have just a few.
Diego
Hi Pilou
it seems you will have to register, selecting one of the houses...
Cheers,
. Diego .
Hi
depending on the hemisphere, since I'm up North (in Cambridge, MA, USA) I'd have to say "heartwarming" 
Cheers,
. Diego .
Yes and Cabinet Oblique Projection too 
For ref. see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphical_projection
Cheers,
. DIEGO .