Acknowledgments ix
Part 1 Overview and Concepts
Chapter 1: Introduction to Rendering in SketchUp 2
Integrated Rendering Programs 3
Studio Rendering Programs 4
Digital Rendering and Photorealism 5
Using This Book 8
The Software 10
Chapter 2: Contents and Extended Features 14
Companion IRP Chapters 14
Method and Reference Guide 18
Chapter 3: The Rendering Process 23
Create the SketchUp Model 24
The Iterative Rendering Process 28
The Post-Rendering Process 33
Chapter 4: How Rendering Works 35
IRP Render Processing 35
Computer Hardware and Rendering 37
Other Rendering Options 40
Computer Specifications 42
Chapter 5: Learning to Look 45
Rendering as an Art Form 45
Becoming a Student of Light and Color 53
Part 2 Textures
Chapter 6: Textures Overview 56
Textures in SketchUp 58
The Texturing Process 63
General Considerations 65
Texture Image Formats 68
Chapter 7: The Texture Library 69
SketchUp Native Textures 70
Web Sources 70
Choosing and Downloading Textures 72
Saving a Texture Library 76
Searching CG Textures 77
Linking the Texture Library 79
Chapter 8: The SketchUp Texture Tools 81
Macintosh Texture Tools 81
PC Texture Tools 82
The Paint Bucket Tool 83
The Styles Menu 95
The Right-Click Texture Menu 98
Chapter 9: Apply, Assess, and Adjust 109
The Three As 109
Apply 111
Assess and Adjust 121
Texture Tips 141
Chapter 10: Editing Textures in an External Photo Editor 146
Linking an Editor to SketchUp 146
Launching, Editing, and Saving 147
Typical Alterations 150
Part 3 Modeling Detail
Chapter 11: An Overview of Modeling Detail 168
What Is Detail Modeling? 170
Methods 173
Chapter 12: The Detailing Tools 176
The Component Library 176
The Component Browser 178
Using Layers 181
SketchUp Scenes 186
The Camera Tools 188
Chapter 13: Component Details 193
What Is Component Detail? 193
Premade Components and Textures 197
Premade Component Websites 201
Chapter 14: Organizing the Model 219
What Is a Large Model? 220
Layering Strategy 223
Layer Conventions by Model Typology 226
Cleaning Up Layers 231
Controlling Layers with Scenes 234
Toggling Layers 237
Warning! 241
Chapter 15: Camera Scenes, Composition, and Backdrops 242
Camera Scenes 242
Composition 244
Backdrops 251
Chapter 16: Advanced Detailing 261
Texture Modeling 262
Ruby Scripts for Detailing 276
Part 4 Setting Light with Shadows
Chapter 17: The Shadow Menu 290
The SketchUp Shadow Menu 290
Solar North 296
Working with Shadows 297
Troubleshooting Shadows 298
Chapter 18: Composing Light 300
Composing Light Tools 303
Composing Light Strategies 308
Composing the Light 314
Part 5 The Iterative Rendering Process
Chapter 19: A Rendering Overview 320
IRP Universal Features 321
Custom Features 325
Chapter 20: Steps of the Iterative Rendering Process 331
Add Initial Values 332
Draft to Final Render 334
Simulated Light Drafts-to-Final Process 343
Chapter 21: Texture Values 351
IRPs and Texture Values 351
Bump Values 354
Surface Condition and Surface Reflection 358
Transparency 364
Texture Categories 365
Troubleshooting Textures 366
Chapter 22: Image Resolution 368
What Is Resolution? 368
Determining DPI 374
Large Resolutions 374
Chapter 23: Exterior Light 375
First Lighting Steps 375
SketchUp Shadows 376
Image-Based Lighting 376
Exposure/Gamma/Intensity 381
Chapter 24: Simulated Lighting 383
Types of Lighting 385
Placing and Editing Lights 394
Render Times 398
General Simulated Light Strategies 399
Part 6 Shaderlight by ArtVPS
Chapter 25: Introduction to Shaderlight 412
Menu Overview 414
Secondary Menu 415
Special Features 415
Chapter 26: Shaderlight Iterative Rendering Settings 418
The Render Settings Menu 418
Dynamic Preview and Saving 422
Draft-to-Final Settings 424
Chapter 27: Shaderlight Texture Settings 430
Apply Texture Values 430
Texture Value Descriptions 432
Texture Settings Categories 437
Glass and Water Material Values 442
Chapter 28: Shaderlight Exterior Lighting and Backdrops 449
SketchUp Dark Slider 450
Physical Sky 451
HDRI Lighting 452
Background and Backdrops 458
Chapter 29: Shaderlight Simulated Lighting 461
Shaderlight Lighting Options 462
Light Editor 468
Shaderlight Render Settings 469
Quality Settings 470
Lighting Settings 470
Postproduction 478
Chapter 30: Shaderlight Special Features 481
Batch Rendering 481
ReplaceMe 487
Chalk Rendering 490
Part 7 The Photoshop Postproduction Process
Chapter 31: Postproduction Effects 496
Methods 498
Light and Color 500
Effects 511
Chapter 32: Detailed Postproduction 519
Realistic Vegetation 519
Architecture Photo Placement 524
Backgrounds/Backdrops 526
Part 8 Anatomy of a Rendering
Chapter 33: Building the Base Model 536
Chapter Relationships 537
The Base Model 538
Solid Color to Surfaces 539
Base Model Extrusion 541
Solid Colors Swapped with Textures 542
Chapter 34: Building Detail 545
Chapter 35: Interior Detail 552
Interior Base Model 552
Interior Detailing 557
Chapter 36: Site Detail 565
Chapter 37: Scenes 573
Cleaning Up the Layer List 573
Off/On Scenes 574
Specific Control Scenes 575
Camera View Scenes 578
Chapter 38: Setting Light with Shadows 581
Chapter 39: The Iterative Rendering Process for Exterior Scenes 587
Chapter 40: The Iterative Rendering Process for Interior Scenes 605
Chapter 41: Postproduction of Exterior Scene 620
Index 624
