New, Free reporting product for SketchUp

We have released (at least for Beta testing), our new product, SpaceDesign Free.

This lets you place attributes on component definitions, and product a simple report.

Go here to try it out: Downloads

Or Here to read more about it.

Its pretty easy to use:

1. Right click on components, and select "Set SpaceDesign Attributes" to define attributes.

2. Click the Report icon on the toolbar to define and create your report.

Let us know what you think...

(Here is the dialog to specify which attributes you want to include in the report)

Web site back up

Sorry - the Render Plus web site was down today. It seems to be working again.

Hot Dog Stand

Its always fun to see what Sketching Ypsi is up to. This time we get a model and rendering inspired by a camping trip.

Take a Look: Sketching Ypsi

Clay Rendering

I've noticed that a lot of people are interested in Clay Rendering. (While we were developing the SuWiki, the Clay Rendering for 3DS tutorial was the most popular tutorial.) Basically Clay Rendering renders everything as if it was white.

We have added a check box to IRender nXt to produce clay renderings without having to play with materials, etc. (And if you render from a hidden line face style, then Clay is the default)

See: Color Render Mode for this and other special coloring examples.

New Homepage Design

We decided to run another crowdSpring contest and design a new banner for the top of the home page. Take a look: Home Page
(Image courtesy: Leigh Brooks, Brooks and Ware Architects LLP)

(And, of course, suggestions and comments are always welcome)

Foreground Masks and Images

You can add Foreground Images to IRender nXt renderings using the Foreground Tab of the Options Dialog

Usage --- There are 3 basic modes:

1. Foreground image - pasted in front of rendering.
2. Logo Watermark on image
3. Pattern masks

Why do we render?

Solo started a thread on SketchUcation to ask why SketchUp users use add-on rendering.

Here are a few comments:

"Communication, pure and simple. " (dale)

"1. As a aid to design.
2. In order to communicate.
3. Because I can, looks good, and it is fun. "(honoluludesktop)

"I render to encourage that "suspension of disbelief" necessary for people to imaginehemselves inside a project." (Ecuadorian)

"I have always longed to produce images that look as though an artist's hand was involved but I have never had the talent.
With SU and a rendering engine I get the chance to step up to that lofty place that I thought was an exclusive domain for real artists only. Now with a good render you can at least fool some of the people, some of the time." (modelhead)

"rendering is a great way to communicate/translate drawings & sketches to clients which is one of its great strengths.
The other, for me, is the wow factor. I've had clients who giggle when they see (semi)photo-real images of their projects." (redot)

"Marketing - both for our firm and our clients, being able to post attractive images of a project = more money" (Brodie)

"Marketing - both for our firm and our clients, being able to post attractive images of a project = more money" (EDMON242004)

"In short: To sell the design.

Rendering is a way of making the design look as good as it possibly can." (Pixero)

Check out the full thread, and add you own comments.