IRender Ready Components

IRender Ready is a collection on the Trimble 3D Warehouse of object, such as light fixtures, which have lights placed in them so they can be used directly with IRender

• Light Fixtures
• Mirrors
• Trees

To view and download IRender Ready models, visit: IRender Ready Collection on the 3D Warehouse, or use the new IRender Ready Wizard:

See:  IRender Ready Content

New Toolbar Functions

The New versions of IRender nXt have some new toolbar functions which you may want to try out.

Check our Restart Rendering (    ) for faster re-rendering when there are no component changes, and the new IRender Ready Component loader (   ) for downloading or creating lamps and mirrors, or downloading trees.

(Click on any item for documentation)

• IRender Info - start up settings and general information.
• Start Ray Trace - starts a new ray trace of your current model and settings.
•   Restart Rendering - start a new rendering with settings changes only. (Do not extract and reload the geometry.)
• Render Farm (if installed) - start Render Farm for rendering
• nXt Image Editor - Edit nXt Image.
• IRender nXt Options - Render window size, render quality, etc.
• IRender Ready Load a lamp, mirror or tree from the ]]3D Warehouse]] or create a lamp, or a light fixture.
• Material Placement - Select and Edit materials and place them directly into components.
• Create Material - make a new SketchUp material from an .ArMaterial material.
• Image Layer Wizard - position or adjust foreground or background images.
• Create Plant - create a SketchUp component from an AccuRender Plant. The component will automatically render as a Fractal Plant.
• Load Sample models.
• Animation - create movies, or batch images from SketchUp animation pages.
• RPC - load RPC object into SketchUp model.
• Help - load the on-line Help pages.

Rendering How To – Highlights and Reflections make your image shine.

Just as salt and pepper are basic seasonings in the kitchen, highlights and reflections are two of the most basic tools for professional-grade rendering. In this rendering how to we will share some helpful hints to enhance your SketchUp renderings using the IRender nXt highlights and reflection settings. It’s all in the details.

Highlights and Reflections add realism and transform simple SketchUp renderings into eye-catching images. Two important things to remember with Highlights and Reflections when rendering in 3D are: (1) you’ll need to have something to reflect off of; and (2) you’ll have to apply some reflection to the objects in your rendering.

First, focus on lighting.  

With the Dynamic lighting option, you can place your item in a setting, such as a forest with light filtering through the trees. This adjustment determines the scene’s ambient light. Once the lighting is set, it’s just a matter of adding reflection to the items in the picture and making adjustments, keeping in mind their color and surface material, i.e. plastic, metallic, etc.  

Second, dial in the details. 

Don’t stop with just the main focus objects though. Many users overlook the addition of reflection to all the various elements in the rendering. Remember things like table tops and accompanying room accessories. Spending time on these details can make the difference between a boring, flat image and an engaging, realistic one.

Get more rendering how to’s. 

We covered this subject (and more) in our recent webinar, so if you’re interested, please view the Better Visualization Rendering webinar.  Also, check our Common Rendering Questions for more details about working with Highlights and Reflections, and more helpful advice on how to render with SketchUp.

Webinar: Better 3D Visualization Renderings for Client Presentations

Better Visualization Renderings with IRender nXt and Sketchup.

Our recent webinar shared illuminating information on how to use SketchUp and IRender nXt to produce photorealistic renderings from 3D designs. We covered the work flow to create a full set of visualization renderings for client presentations.  

The webinar kicked off with basic instruction on settings, shedding light on the differences between perceived exterior and interior, and daytime vs. night-time lighting. We shared concepts such as using lighting channels to balance those light sources and create dynamic, well-lit scenes.

Powerful 3D renderings include detailed reflection tactics, so we also covered tips on how to improve items keeping sharpness, transparency and caustic surface elements in mind. A little extra effort spent on your 3D renderings can make a world of difference.

We hope we were able to shed some light on how to improve your skills for effective photorealistic client presentations using IRender nXt with SketchUp.  If you missed the webinar, or would like a refresher, we welcome you to watch the webinar online now. The more you learn, the more valued your 3D presentations will be.

Stay tuned for our next webinar with more helpful hints on how to get the most out of IRender nXt.

Check our Common Rendering Questions page for more helpful advice on how to render with SketchUp.

Model for Sample Renderings - Loft with Telescope

Rachel from Shaderlight has placed a model on the 3D Warehouse for us to use to make rendering samples using various rendering products for inclusion in the Sample Renderings section of SketchUpRendering.com:
Loft with Telescope

Render it with your favorite rendering package, send me the results, and I will place them on SketchUpRendering.com. Check out the Sample Renderings section to see what people have done with the previous models. It is OK to change materials, add a background, add lights, and make other rendering settings – but do not add to or change other geometry.

Besides seeing samples of various rendering packages, the SketchUpRendering.com site, where we will post these images, is to show SketchUp users the value of using add-on rendering packages to improve the quality and value of SketchUp models and images for internal or client presentations.

Also, check out these previous Sample Rendering SketchUcation Threads to see what people have done with the previous models: Interior, Water, and Exterior at Night.

Webinar Completed

Our Webinar is complete. It went great. Thanks to everyone else who listened.

The Webinar will be posted here soon so you can listen to it:   Webinar

Webinar for IRender nXt

Creating Better Renderings for Client Presentations
Wednesday, September 5th, 12MM MDT (2PM EDT)

Reserve your webinar seat now
The webinar is free and will last about about 1 hour, including the Q & A session.

The webinar will teach you how to use SketchUp and IRender nXt to produce photorealistic renderings from 3D designs. Learn the work flow for creating a full set of interior and exterior, daytime and night-time renderings of 3D designs for client presentations. We will start with basic rendering settings and lights, then move on to advanced concepts such as using lighting channels to balance light sources and create dynamic, well-lit scenes.

More...