Rendering Features - Clay Rendering

Clay Rendering is created by treating all the materials as white, and ignoring textures.

It highlights the quality of the actual model, rather than colors and textures.

This is a "clay rendering" with the addition of lights, highlighting, reflection, and sketchy edge lines.

Rendered with IRender nXt using the Clay Rendering option and the Edge Line overlay option

For more information see: Clay Rendering

Rendering Challenges on SketchUcation

A good way to learn about rendering with SketchUp and to share your own renderings is with the Rendering Challenges on SketchUcation.

Typically someone posts a SketchUp model, or links to a model on the 3D Warehouse and lots of SketchUp users offer their suggestions on how to render it.

Here is one sample - a model of a bathroom which inspired renderings by several users.

Rendered using IRender nXt

Rendered by Gaius

Take a look at the full SketchUcation thread to see more samples:



You can also visit SketchUpRendering.com  or the SketchUp Rendering group on LinkedIn

Tip of the Week - Edge Lines

Use Edge lines for better detail

 

Kitchen rendered with edge lines:

 

(Not a Photo. This is a Photo Realistic rendering created with IRender nXt from a SketchUp model.)

 

Kitchen rendered without edge lines. Details are washed out

 

The Edge Lines feature displays the edges of faces when rendered. This is especially valuable with scenes which contain cabinets or furniture where edge lines are necessary to bring out the detail of the components. If edge lines aren’t used, the details can be washed out due to lighting and material choices.

Studio Rendering Sample

We have a client who is trying to produce Studio Quality renderings of furniture much like this.
(This is a photograph.)



I pointed out that IRender nXt has Studio Rendering defaults that make renderings like this fairly easy.

He produced a quick rendering, and got this result.



I pointed out that the absence if shadow in the floor made me think that the ground plane was not turned on, since the Studio Rendering defaults should automatically cast shadows.

He sent me his model, and I made two quick changes.

I chose the Studio Preset and I made sure that the ground plane was trend on, and sun and sky were turned off.



And I right-clicked in the table top and chose the default reflective material setting.

 

Then I created a quick rendering. (20 passes)



To smooth out the reflections and shadows, I then let the rendering continue for 200 passes.
(With IRender nXt, more and more passes just create a better rendering.)



We both realized that the rendering would look even better if he added bevels to the edges of the wood.

Any advice from other users would be appreciated. You can add comments to our forum:

IRender nXt Forum

Also, we have an article about Studio Rendering here:

Studio Rendering