Sketchup 2015 has also lost the translucent shadows from png, quite usefull for quick render off perforated metal sheet ! Quite a Shame !

Quite cool.
Is it possible to use it with the SKP2015 ?

Hi,

Just try view/toolbars/walkthrought.

You will be able to access walk fonction.

If you are 'inside' a level, you could also have some help with camera/field of view.

Dave R, those examples you showed are quite good and detailed...

But as far as I know, SketchUp can't easily manage multiple scale view for component, and when it came to rendering big project with many small detail component (eg. architectural view), "layout" is coming with a bunches of lineweight issues, and difficulties to have complex "cutting planes" (eg. multiple plane), false solid model, non-consistent geometry (circles, nurbs ?), etc.

I am using SketchUp nearly every week at work or for fun for 5 years know, and it has been improving a lot... I know there are many trick to do those things I said hard :

• layered components with multiple drawing for each scale...
• Cplane in group for multiple cut plane one same view...
• Plugin to "fill" the cut sections...
• Faster computers able to handled excessively detailed projects...

But I think understand people who simply says : 2D drawing, with correct conventions should be done in other software than SketchUp+Layout.
AutoCAD enable more control of 2D conventional drawing than SketchUp.
CATIA, ArchiCAD, REVIT, Vectowors, Rhino and other are showing the way for 3D to 2D good conversion workflow... but they are far more complex, and SketchUp can't compete without many additional plugins and tricks.

Has neutral has we can be, we should check two points :
how many layers are you able to manage consistently in Sketchup as to define multilayered components for windows, doors, walls, slab, roofs, zones, floors, trees ? All good 3D to 2D soft have automatic system to handle hundred of layers and class objects as to show them easily to the desired scale. Do we have this in Sketchup ?
how many divisions are you using for drawing a circular column when you have to show it smoothly for scale 1/100 to 1/5 ?

Today, my conclusion is :
For preliminary architectural design, for execution of small products to small scale building, Sketchup+Layout are really good...

But for detailing big projects initially "Sketched Up"... I'll pass the way...

Well, is far is I know in Alias 2011, there is the possibility of drawing the same sketch than the shoe in Alias 2012, but it is not a directly in 3D.

This is great tool I am waiting for...

Quite good render, As others said, you'd better add some detail.

An example are the feet of your furniture. There is always in reality some really small distance (less than 1mm) between the foot of an object and the floor, this create a small sharp shadow. You can "trick" it with a sharp edge (3DS) or simply by moving the object just 0.2 mm or 0.5 mm above the floor.

You sould also had some global illumination or some arbitrary light sources, much softer than the principal one, because in real world, the light never come from only one point.

An other point are the junction between legs and deck, you could add somme detail there.

I do not know well the bump, normal and displacement maps, but I've that they are quite powerful, take a look at it, specially for large surface with small detail like the floor.

Depend of whether you are working on big, or small projects, with permanent internet connection or not ?
For all kind of project, with internet connection, you might take look at gantter.
For "small" project without to many predecessor relationship, you could take a look to taskcoach. Quit a good UI.
For bigger project, both offline and online mode, with server ability, you might take a look at ganttproject.

See you.

What kind of issue ?

Thats a good one, I'll try to make some of ine compliant with all this rules, and then see if I need anything else.

As far as I know, you have missed only 2 in the list :

• twinmotion2, which is using some directX11 effects and both GPU and multi-CPU for rendering.
• Clarisse, alpha version, not only a rendering program but something different...

I am missing time to test them on my new laptop, but, who knows.

I have seen that you used keyshot...

As far as I know the only real-time renderer for sketchup are :

• twinmotion, is expensive, but it seems to be the one wich best match you description : non-biaised really fast render with large material and objetc library, with the ability to share interactive rendered models : http://www.twinmotion.com/twinmotion2/specifications.html
• [url=http://www.thearender.com/cms/:2eju6aa4]thearender[/url:2eju6aa4], seems to have an interactive rendering preview, it implements various rendering modes and a large choise of materials. They also are looking for GPU implementation, wich can accelerate render time.
• [url=http://www.light-up.co.uk/:2eju6aa4]lightup[/url:2eju6aa4], it has a fast learning curve with an integrated UI and the ability to share interactive rendered models.
• [url=http://www.refractivesoftware.com/features.html:2eju6aa4]octane render[/url:2eju6aa4], with GPU based realtime progressive render (as keyshot), but seem to miss some of the feature you described (light group, batch render,...).

Other have some interactive rendering preview but not necessary realtime render :

• artlantis is one the oldest professionnel renderer with sketchup integration. I don't know if it could use IES light, but for sure, it can use group light and activate them in various views for night or interior render.
• Vray...
• Maxwell...
• other majors...

Render[In] and Shaderlight are still in beta-phase but both have thoses abilities you are looking for.

I am not sure that could help you, but you have to make your choise.

Good work...

Si tu tiens vraiment à la version 7 (je ne crois pas que les bug de la version 8 resteront longtemps...) passe un coup de fil à Abvent. Ils proposent des mise à jour en français.

I will be pleased to test it to generate skm files with bumpmap for podium.

Quite good shoot, but perspective distortion let it quite difficult to observe your slanted walls...

Kerkythea, Pov-ray are the only one I have tried.

Radiance, Sunflow, Luxrender and YafaRay have some in-progress export scripts :
su2Rad
su2sf
su2lux
su2YafaRay

Kerkythea is quite powerfull and easy to learn. The better choice in my point of view.
Pov-Ray itself is still to hard for me, but the exporter is really well-made.
Radiance leak some good UI but is quite usefull for lux simulation.
Sunflow and Luxrender seems promising but I never try them.
Yafaray have already impose is powerfull motor with many blender user.

Choose and try, good work.

Minguinhirigue : I'M HUGE RUINING

You can compose various bounding box part in sketchyphysics to build a convex solid (cone shaped, donuts, etc...).
I think that many game physical engine have the same limitations, try and see... If you really want an acurate modelisation using convex solid, for free, peraphs Blender is ok ? But I never used that...

Really great, I was waiting for it !

If you want to render it with, I don't know if you would be able to see edges.

You'll probably have to tube those lines.

You could use line-to-cylinder of Didier Bur.

To grow plant on frame, the only program I know for is an extrenal one : Ivy generator
But try to restraint the sizes of the Ivy file... many polygons isn't good for Sketchup...

You could effectively use podium or twilight, peraphs render[in] wil also include it...

But as you seem quite good with photoshop, extended lines, with good post-processing should be enought to make a beautifull and dramatic view.

If you are missing radiosity effects, you should juste add some life and glare effect to your windows, and adjust an "artificial ambiant occlusion" with some mask...