Well I tried the Ivy Plugin and I have to say I'm pleased with the results. I was just wondering if there was a way of modifying the leaf models, that are used in the plugin, so that they are just an outline of a leaf. That way they they might cast a leaf shaped shadow. They are now just square shaped polygons, with a leaf textures, that cast a square shaped shadow. I tried to modify the models within the "textures" folder so the the lines of the polygon followed the leaf texture's outline( simplifying the contours as much as possible) , but it didn't seem to work.

I feel like and idiot, asking you guys this question, cause you guys have helped me so much. My model is now at a stage such that I can make it function in my portfolio as I intended it to. There are enough light patches between the shadows to demonstrate my concept.

PS. TIG, Thank you for all your help. I really appreciate it, and that you cared enough to make an example model. Unfortunately I needed to cast shadows with something much more complicated than a fence. I was using the fence as an example. But, perhaps your plugin may still be helpful for tidying up the vines( not sure yet, gotta see how I may be able to refine the cast shadow more).

Thank you for the advice, mitcorb.

I am checking into those plugins now. I did try using minimal geometry at first. Unfortunately whenever I use textures that have some transparent areas( I think they are created by alpha channels)Sketchup views the whole polygon to which the texture is applied as one object when calculating the shadows. In other words, light doesn't pass through the transparent areas. Otherwise minimal geometry would would be perfect.

Here are more photos. couldn't upload them all at first.

Hello,

Just wanted to post some photos of a model that I am working on for my architectural portfolio for transfer to a four year university.

It's almost completed, but I have one problem. In my design, vines are intended to crawl up and over the trellis creating a canopy over the bench. Sunlight will pass through the vines casting shadows on anyone sitting in the spiritual space. The problem is that I am having trouble curving the vines over the trellis. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas. I have already tried ShapeBender, but the vine model is too complex( at least I believe that was the problem).