For architects rendering output is needed, but sketchup output might be also worthy. I want my trees to project shadows, so I can study the project.

There is also the fact that cast shadows from a 2d face me component, isn't compatible with renderers and sometimes you get thin flat shadows as shadows don't face sun. In my proposed solution the 2nd model can be a fairly rough 3d which casts 3d shadows that work.

You can check a bit more about it here:

http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40%26amp;t=64471%26amp;p=591460%26amp;hilit=2.5d+components#p591460