I also encountered this problem and try to solve it. One option is to use distribution objects depending of distance to camera with Function editor, that they were not in the background. The second option to use bump-displacement.

Thanks for news, are good that not only in fairy tales on Cornucopia are interested, only there still it is not enough people...

You can select once all plant-components in the scene, made in SketchUp, then in the material editor (Basic mode) check and mark "Use color map" them by double-clicking in one window (invert mask, if necessary), then on the context menu RMB or in Edit menu select "Replace by (keep proportions)" with Alpha Plane, then in the menu "Orientation" enter 90 degrees (Pitch). Then the only piece mark that it is Billboard, Adjust plane proportions and Keep vertical should marked too, it is possible in a single window, not closing after each point.

It turns very quickly, I also use a lot of plants in my work

Try this grass-objects .vob

3 test grasses

It is better to activate in the same tab Force regular alignment of instances

@earthmover said:

...I can vouch that these plants and trees are really good quality and good resolution.

Yes, I think so did the plants imported from the RLA in SketchUp, instead of being a model skp pull it, because in the program RLA whole model glue together and not under command, renders the possibility is not very good, although the plants are really good ...

Examples:

It looks like a program for homemakers by the level of graphics...
Yes still nearly 70 pounds

Not always so long, I do not know what it depends, but very quickly get renders with native SU textures, without bamps or displacements, which is still not visible in big sceens ...
forgot to say, default spectral atmosphere, global ambiens light, no clouds

This obj. exporter in the SU6 not working, I probably only 7 ...
Also in SU is much easier to blow up and glue smaller components and groups that make up the model to export, because Vue they fall into many separate objects, which can be confusing ... and still have to glue them, but much more difficult in Vue, especially if the same material used in different structures.
You can of course weld in Vue full model by materials, but then you can't edit or use a different design elements in other projects ...

Two video about obj. export into Vue
http://www.screencast.com/users/chippwalters/folders/Default/media/44c2b531-ce55-4f11-bb4d-c1730940803f
http://www.screencast.com/users/chippwalters/folders/Default/media/08d7329d-deb0-40d4-b494-c6347e0787b2

As we have said, before to get acquainted with a beautiful woman, you think that there's always the guys who are dreaming to get rid of her:)
Also, and render engines, it is desirable to know not only advertisements but also their problems, before thoroughly explore .. .

@edson said:

to speak of a best render engine is like referring to the best beer, the best football club, the most beautiful woman...

This talk should be, I think, as difficult to one person tested all renders engines, as well as to try all sorts of beer, or get acquainted with all the beautiful women:)

I also really like Vue, and not only for the beautiful surroundings, trees and stones, there are very convenient and friendly done, sometimes difficult of course, but very encouraged by the limitless possibilities!
In Vue little modeling tools so that it can be safely attributed to the renders engines, in which the truth instead of photography background, we can create it is almost real...

But Hypershot voted as the most intensively developing, modern and fast

@solo said:

... anyone got ideas?

Beautiful plants!
Maybe even, as in Vue to try, the trunks and thick branches - polygons(cylinders), and thin branches with leaves and flowers, or individual leaves to herbaceous plants of .png with transparency?

Convert components into groups, Vue does not understand them, though one can import, but if you use the DeepExploration, remove hierarchy of the selected components. 3ds obj reads well, I opened a file 80 MB and 2 million polygons.

Thanks big for the detailed answer, Solo, I will try to bypass this problem somehow. Though all the same does not converge, put pictures:

Vue simple polygons splits up not for two, and on many triangles, them in 40 it turns out times more (see arrows)....

I too import in Vue through 3ds - flood fills without distortions, groups are saved, all is very convenient, only the file size turns out very big (8 million polygons for example...) Though the SU lowpoly modeler and in it the scene turns fast. Help please, Solo, in what a problem and how to reduce polygons number?

In vain you so... Already wrote that Vue does not understand the skp components, which should be explode up or transformed into groups, therefore use 3ds...

Thanks big, Mr S for the laid out correspondence and the long-awaited unit, and Bob Bennett certainly .
It is the real Christmas gift! I wished to write itself, but it is bad with English
We will try now?

Excellent idea!
And Mr S will share a plug-in with companions in SketchAp and Modo at this forum

Also what? There is no possibility to receive this plug-in separately from the registered program? Far Luxes will not leave with such greedy policy....