First render with HS

A few week ago I had the possibility to test Hyper Shot from Bunkspeed. 
The guys at Bunkspeed call it “the first digital camera for your 3d data” and I have to agree that HyperShot is a great point and shot digital camera for 3d. It is so easy to use and fast that you will be surprised. The quality of the render are amazing and I loved the ambient scene and the illuminations. On their website you can find out a lot of video tutorial. You can also subscribe to free online lessons which I tryed and I have to say they are cool.
I will talk more about this software soon.

Style Builder

I was wondering if somebody of you guys did try the new Style Builder feature of SketchUp Pro 7.
Seems that it is very helpful while creating sketchy edge-styles for your output.

I would like to collect some informations in order to write an extensive post or maybe a tutorial.
Thanks in advance for you help!

External Plants

Testing some plants and textures. The image was rendered with Su Podium and then some post-production was added in Photoshop.

In SU the sky was added in the styles and then in Photoshop the layer was duplicated 2 times and meltded playing with opacity, Curves and color correction.

Also testing some new templates so the blog will look pretty instable. Sorry for that.

Sketchup and comic Tutorial

This is a little tutorial about how to use Sketchup for producing comics. The Google Wharehouse is a huge source of data and you can find anything you need for your comic scenes. I will start searching some buildings I need and some internal ambientations. My little story starts in Portland Oregon, so I downloaded a model of the Train Station and some more buildings.

The idea is to fill all the scene with some buildings, render them with some comic effects before to import them into an application where I will actually create the vignettes and the text balloons (in the next part of the tutorial).

For sure the most difficult part of a comic is the human figures, and I’m not gonna take care of this side on the tutorial. Let me say that the “tables” we are gonna produce with Sketchup can be then sended to a artist who will design the human figures. We are more interested on using SU as an engine for making scenes and backgrounds, as in Video Games industry. 

That’s all for today. Came back for Part 2 where we will start playing with models and preparing them for the usage outside SU.

Fireplace

This was an old Sketchup project. I just taught to re-render it with Podium. I used a custom xml preset for a natural light. I really like the way the matherials and even the simple shapes are rended, like the red wall. 
The floor is maybe too “weet”.

Custom Podium preset

Today I played a little with rendering of an interior scene. I found some inspiration on Podium’s forum where I downloaded a model and a custom preset. Just a little changes and in a few minutes I was able to render this room, filled with what I think is a beautiful external light.

Usually I dont like to buy magazines or Dvd’s as a source for my projects: you can find everithing you need online. But this Dvd is different. I got my copy here at Powell’s in Porltand and I watched it 4 times in a row. Try it

twitter

Just created a Twitter account for sk-rendings. Micro-Blogging is so popular nowadays… I also created a custom background for Twitter that I’m uploading in this post: notice the comic image on the right that will be part of the tutorial I’m writing: Make your own Comic with SketchUp. Stay Tuned.

Podium rendering interiors

Again a rendering test with the wonderful and easy Su Podium plugin for Sketchup. The image above shows a “before-after” interior scene. We applyed some reflections on the wooden floor and on the chair (especially the metal base) just for test the render capabilities. In a few minutes my Mac rendered this image. I didnt show borders, but I’m gonna test some more combinations. I know, reading the tutorial will be easier, but I like to try and try and try.

Tiny Bath rendered with Su Podium

Finally, after almost 2 years we are back. Too many projects to handle and a few resources. But we didnt forget our visitors (keep answering the massive email we keep receiving). We want to thank you all our spammers for the impressive job they keep doing: you are a rockstar!

But let’s go back to Google Sketchup and our plans: tutorials, reviews, rendering gallery. This is what we want to improve in the next months. We are looking forward to add your fabolous projects in this showcase, just send us a line. 

The picture in this post was an old project re-rendered with SU Podium.

See you soon

1) Find a cad or vector application. We founded elefonts (free for windows…. no mac version :-§()
2) create your text. The best way is to make it plain, without extrusion. This will make sketchup job easier
3)export as a dxf
4) Open Su and import the file (take care of options: merge complanars faces)
5) extrude your very first caracter
6) double click on second while keeping the extrude tool selected
7) do it for all your letters
make group and apply colors, then scale it for fitting your sketch
9) take a look at soft edges to make your 3d text smooter
10) add shadows, rendering options, borders and components. Have fun… sketch it

That’s all for today

Tags: Sketchup, tutorial, rendering, apple, elefonts

As you can see, because you were redirected or because you read the news in one of our referrers, sketchup3d.org changed name and url: from now we are Sk-Rendering.com
We are sorry for the change, but this was not due to our intention. We just had to change because the owner of the Trademarked name "Sketchup" asked us to change in order of not generating confusion to their customers. Yes… our SEO was better

We thought to totally close the portal, but after a few days, and after the support of the owner of the trademarked name, we decided to go ahead with our blog. So we will keep blogging about Sketchup and rendering as before, just change our url between your favorites.

That’s all. Thank you

Tags: new sketchup portal, blog sketchup

WE ARE SAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE WEBSITE SKETCHUP3D.ORG WILL CLOSE SOON, DUE TO SOME REASOSN EXTERNAL TO OUR TEAM.
SO WE ARE INVITING YOU TO DOWNLOAD ALL THE MATERIALS, TUTORIALS AND COMPONENTS BEFORE WE WILL CLOSE.

WE WANT TO THANK ALL OUR READERS, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE US AND SUPPORTED US DURING.

WE APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING AGAIN YOUR FAVOURITE NON-COMMERCIAL SU RELATED PORTAL AND RESOURCE.

To all our readers (we know you are a lot: we hit almost 700 unique visitors per day average!!!), we want to communicate that we will add a lot of content soon. We know you want and ask for Sketchup Tutorials, Componets and Materials… We will give you all soon.
We took some of our small time to join a Team that will produce a Comic. They asked us to make backgrounds and ambientations with Sketc-Up and we are working a lot.
As soon as possible we will share our new knowledge and you will find some Sketchup and Comics tutes!
Stay tuned, we will post in a few hours

Tags: Sketchup, Comics, Sketchup Backgounds

Series 7 designed in 1955 by Arne Jacobsen is the flagship of Fritz Hansen’s collection.
This is our second component and it is available for download here: — > sketchup component download

Tags: Sketchup, Sketchup Component, Arne Jacobsen, Fritz Hansen, Series 7, Chair, Sketchup chair, design

This is quite provocatory, isnt-it? Not our intention, actually. Drawthrough is the website and portfolio of the artist Scott Robertson. Browsing that website let us know two things:

1) Scott is a great artist
2) Sketchup is great, cause let you do things that the average guy cannot do with just hands

Take a look at gallery to see how sketches are applyed to products, conceptual, entertainment, environmental, transportation and so on.
There are some cool tutorials too. Mainly they are about 2D rendering with Photoshop. Courses are available as well.
You can find Scott’s draws here –>

Tags: Photoshop, Sketchup, Scott Robertson, 2d design

Sketchup is a great software for fast design and for fast really cool non-realistic rendering. So why to render one when you can render more? Same project’s presentation made with Sketchup, more than one 2D Export, then a bit of work in Photoshop. This tutorial will be online in a few hours and you will be able to make presentation like this. Yes.. ok, better than that one

Tags: Sketchup, Sketchup tutorial, Sketchup and Photoshop, Double render

This is the first Sketchup component from Sketchup3d.org
Cool heater for bathroom. Design by Cordivari, Made in Italy

Download link

Tags: Sketchup components, Cordivari, Sketchup heater, Sketchup bathroom

Here we go. After a lot of requests we are ready for publishing our fisrt Sketchup component for free download.
Here is the preview: a nice Cordivari heater. We designed it for one of our new projects (a big home on the sea) and we thinked was nice to share it with our readers.
The component will be ready for download as soon as possible. Maybe we will make a tutorial too, so you will be able to design your own heater. So stay tuned…

Tags: Heater, Sketchup, Cordivari, Heater design, Component, Sketchup Components

This fast post is just to thank you all. Since we started this blog we have seen our daily visits growing day after day. We want to thank you all for visiting, writing, referring, digging, technorating (well.. a new word!).
We hope you founded it interesting and that you understand that we write in a bad english just because… we are italians
We have a lot of projects, but we will keep saving some time to post for our loved readers.

Sketchup 3d dot org

Tags: sketchup, sketchup blog

Today we will apply the Sketchup3d.org Watercolor Technique, which is a cool effect for your presentation. We will use a technique which is different from the best know "Dennis Technique" that you can find on the sketchup.com website.
Instead of using the eraser tool on the imported layer, we will make more layers above the main one. So we could play with transparency in every single area of the image.
The most important thing to remember is that this is a cool and FAST way to render a project. So, when you late with the deadline, think about it.

1) Open your Sketchup project and take care of visualisation: shadows off, hide axes, show borders. Export as a B&W jpeg (or tiff).

2) Open the file in Photoshop and double click on the background layer to generate a new  layer. Duplicate it and hide lower one. This could be useful in future.

3) Use the select tool to make a selection (in my case the metal part of a Arco Lamp)

4) Create a new layer.

5) Take the brush tool and set a medium brush with the maximum Hardness (really important!). Trasparency about 40%
With the selection still active, start drawing fastly and in more than one time. Dont care if you dont fill all… you will fill it later and you will obtain the watercolor render result. The more you are bad, the better will be the result. This never happens in real life
Play a bit with layer’s opacity if necessary.

Apply this technique to all (or just to some if you prefere) pieces of your project.
To make the effect more strong, at the end merge all visible, duplicate layer and apply a watercolor filter on the top one and marge with Dissolve option. Adjust the lightness and apply some typical dissolvence with the erase tool or with the brush tool.

Here is my final result. I’m sure you can do better. Send us your renders and we will publish them: info at sketchup3d dot org

That’s all for today.

Tags: Sketchup, Photoshop, Watercolor, Render, Tutorial, Design

The new tutorial is almost ready. This time we will learn how to make a cool presentation of a Sketchup model using Photoshop to render it like a watercolor draw.

Tags: Sketchup Tutorial, Photoshop Tutorial, Watermark, Watermark render

We are preparing a new Sketchup Tutorial about 3d Text in SU.
We will use external applications for make the 3d text, then we will see how to manage it inside Sketchup. Unfortunately there are not simple and free Macintosh apps for this manner and we will go back (blahhh) in Windows
The uploaded image was rendered in Sketchup and then a little Photoshop photo manipulation.
Coming soon, stay tuned.

Tags: Sketchup, Tutorial, Sketchup Text, Text Tutorial, Rendering, Photoshop, Apple

Fast watercolor render of one of our design project: the gogo wall lamp.
Designed in Sketchup and rendered in Photoshop. Effect similar to Piranesi.

Tags: Watercolor render, PIranesi, Non realistic render, lamp, design lamp

As designers, we decided to show a bit of our fantasy. So a few days ago we submitted one of our projects (a chair) to the My Chair design competition.
Obviously we designed the chair with the help of sketchup.

As our society has changed we are looking for a chair design that succeeds in communicating the XXI Century personality. This is an open competition to design a chair, sofa, or stool that reflects our time. My chair is a reflection on style, trend, attitude, and culture.

For more information about this competition and results, take a look at luvodesign.com

Obviously we will post again about it only if we win! So don’t ask if we dont tell!

Tags: Design Competition, Design Chair, Sketchup Chair

Today we will create a nice floor texture with PS and we will add it to our Library in SU. Here the steps:

1) Create a new document, 50×50 cm. The resolution is up to you. I don’t like to go bigger than web resolution. Sketchup will be faster with small files. I like to use real dimensions (50cm), but it is not essential. You can manage dimensions later in SU.

2) Choose the Move Tool and make 2 guides at middle (show rulers for help).

3) Create a new layer and use the rectangle select tool to make a selection of the first rectangle (well.. square). Choose a color you like in the color picker and fill it.
I used a red. Do the same for 3th, as in my picture.

4) If you want you can use the second color in the same way. I will keep the white.
Add new layer below the one you created and fill with your color with rectangle select tool.

Let’s add some reality to it
5) Double click in first (red) layer and add Inner shadow (keep settings)
Do the same for second (white) layer.

6) Now merge the two layers and go to filter gallery.
Apply Plastic Warp. Play a bit with the setting to find your way looking the preview.

7) Now you can save your image as you like (tiff, jpeg…). I’ll use jpeg for fast modeling.
It’s time to open Sketchup and add the new material. Keep the dimension you used in PS.
That’s all for today.

Tags: Sketchup Tutorial, texture, materials

Today we tryed a black and white test.
The texture used for walls is made from Bisazza shades 20×20 Stella Alpina Mix 8.
The floor is made with a black and white texture made by us in Photoshop using some effects (we will publish a tutorial soon).

Tags: Black and White Floor, Sketchup, Photoshop

Bisazza texture Gina

Blends: 20×20 mm
Model: Gina 50% 20.80 – 50% AR.06

Texture dimension: 300×300 mm
Download method: "Save image as"

Our textures and materials are completely free. You can download and use them as you prefere.
You could contact us if you need a special texture, material or component.

Tags: Sketchup, Textures, Materials

Fisrt fast render of the small bathroom project. This bath is so small that it’s impossible to show it without to hide some walls! Anyway the features are some Bisazza’s templates for walls and floor, shower made of Italian "Pietra Serena" (Florence) and a suspended toilet (ok… a small contest: make and model?).

Tags: Sketchup, 3d render, bathroom, serena

I was making some internet surfing for Bisazza (yes… for the new Bathroom with Sketchup project) while I found this Mini: I couldn’t rexist to publish it.

Tags: Bmw Mini, Bisazza

Here we go: the first sketch of a small bathroom we are asked to design.
As you can see is really small: shower, sink and toilet. We just designed the components as the architet wanted. Well… with some corrections.
We prepared some Bisazza textures as well. In a few days we will put our first Sketchup Tutorial: how to make a mosaico texture. So stay tuned with Sketchup3d.org
This fast render was made with transparency, sketched borders and then some colouration in Adobe Photoshop CS. Yes… a small (or big, depends) Photoshop session is needed for a nice non-realistic render.

Tags: Sketchup Bathroom, Non-realistic Render

Today we had an appointment and we got our fisrt project. Small… but interesting.
We will help an architet to design a small bathroom. It will be a sort of a test: if we will work well… we will design more stuff for him.
Tomorrow we will start the modelling with Sketchup using the sketch that the architect gave us. The bathroom will be covered with a nice Bisazza mosaico… cool.
We will try to make some textures using Bisazza samples on their website (and maybe we will put in our Sketchup Download section).

In the picture: Bisazza materials by former Designer Alessandro Medini, Groninger Museum.

Tags: Bisazza, Mosaico, Sketchup Bathroom

The guys at FormFonts3D provide on demand professional 3D Models and Texture for Sketchup. But not only this:

Form Fonts is a web-based subscription service that provides professional low-poly 3D models, textures, scripts, and plug-ins for one low monthly fee. Our subscribers have access to our multi-platform database of world-making artifacts for only $11/month.

So for just 11$/month they give you access to a lot of cool material. I founded some classic design furniture, like the Eames Lounge Chair in the pic. But you can find what you espect: Arco Floor Lamp, Tolomeo’s, Panton Chair, Ikea stuff, the wassily…
Take a look.

Tags: Sketchup Materials, Components, Models, Design Furniture

Welcome to our Blog. This is the first post and we are happy to have you here. Thank you.

As you know Sketchup is what we can call “one of the most powerful and easy to learn” software for conceptual stages of design. Not only a 3d software nor a rendering application. The award-winning Sketchup is for everyone, from professional to “weekend designers” for dreaming, designing and communicating in the 3D world.
Last week Google, who owns Sketchup, launched the new era of the software: personal use and professional use. So from now Sketchup comes in 2 flawours and beginners can use it for free.
So who we are and why we are blogging about it?
We are a small Design Agency based in Milan, Italy, who specialized in communication trought new channels: new media in general but internet, 3d design and digital art in particular. We are not just architets or digital designers. We help such people in the digital word of the design. We plan, we project, we model, we render, we make actractive presentations. We help designers and architets in all this stages of a projects. We can say we are “wizards” (as in an software installation process) that can handle every step of a design projects. And all this with our “Made in Italy” way to do.
So welcome with us. We will post our projects, our draws, news about Sketchup, tutorials and you toughts as well.

Tags: Sketchup, 3d modelling, Google