SketchUp: Rendering Using Twilight

Learn how to work with Twilight and Sketchup to prepare and optimize 3D models, materials, lighting, and environments for photo-realistic rendering, post-processing, and animation.

Twilight is a popular rendering plugin for SketchUp. This course explains how to work with Twilight to prepare and optimize 3D models, materials, lighting, and environments for photo-realistic rendering, post-processing, and animation—all within SketchUp. Scott Onstott helps you get started by showing how to clean up geometry and materials, adjust texture mapping, apply Twilight templates, and compose scenes. He then demonstrates how to progressively render with increased realism as you add environmental illumination, interior lighting, special effects, and post-processing tweaks that result in the creation of beautiful imagery.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Using the exercise files

1. Preparing to Render

• Cleaning up geometry
• Cleaning up materials
• Adjusting texture mapping
• Exploring the Twilight user interface
• Applying Twilight templates
• Composing scenes

2. Rendering Objects and Exteriors

• Simulating sunlight and shadow
• Specifying environmental conditions
• Harnessing the Exploration Renderer
• Customizing materials
• Rendering presets and options

3. Rendering Interiors

• Tone-mapping interiors
• Applying post-processing effects
• Creating artificial light sources
• Employing light-emitting materials
• Progressive rendering with sky portals
• Post-processing renderings in Photoshop
• Customizing render presets

4. Special Effects

• Rendering thick edges
• Narrowing focus with depth of field
• Rendering sectional views
• Overlaying style screenshots
• Watermarking renderings

5. Advanced Topics

• Twilight modeling aids
• Using the Twilight Deep Material Editor
• Importing Kerkythea material libraries
• Advanced rendering and compositing
• Batch rendering still images
• Panoramic rendering
• Rendering animation frames
• Creating video from rendered frames

Conclusion

• Next steps