Daniel Tal - Rendering in Sketchup: From Modeling to Presentation for Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Interior Design

Cover image: Rendering of city, park, and interior by Daniel Tal (modeled in SketchUp, rendered in Shaderlight, postproduction processing in Photoshop)

Cover design: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Copyright 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Tal, Daniel, 1971

Rendering in SketchUp: from modeling to presentation for architecture, landscape architecture and interior design/Daniel Tal.

1 online resource.

Includes index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN 978-1-118-33277-1 (pdf)ISBN 978-1-118-33001-2 (epub) ISBN 978-1-118-33445-4 ( mobi) ISBN 978-0-470-64219-1 (pbk.) (print) 1. Architectural design--Data processing. 2. Landscape architectural drawingData processing. 3. Interior decorationComputer-aided design. 4. SketchUp. I. Title.

NA2728

720.28'4025668dc23

2012028296

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

In my previous book, SketchUp for Site Design, the acknowledgments page was inadvertently omitted, so these acknowledgments are intended as a thank you for both books!

First, to my wife, Jennifer Seidman Tal, who helped cowrite both of these books, I dedicate both these manuscripts to you. Thank you for teaching me how to write and for supporting me through the process.

Dedicated to Jenn Seidman

To my family, Nissim, Ruth, Amanda, Eliza, Josh and Jake, Orly, Dave, Karen and Steve, Shara and Carlo, Sue, Joel and Carl, thank you for your support.

Thank you to John Palmer whose definitions, patience, and deep concepts on the nature of rendering, light, modeling, and life (in general) helped shape this books approach, concepts and, conveyance. John Palmer contributed some of his modeling talent to this book. It would not be the same without him.

A special thank you goes to John Pacyga, who helped review and contribute to the books content and approach. His help was invaluable.

Thanks to Avraham Zhoari, who turned 13 in April 2012 and who is a SketchUp master in his own right. Even at such a young age, he can model with the best of them.

Thank you to my brother, Ryder Cauley, whose teachings, inspiration, and artistic vision grace all the works I have ever done and who was an integral part of bringing this book to life.

Thanks to the SketchUp team for their continued support and friendship: Nancy Trigg, Aidan Chopra, Tyler Millar, Chris Dizon, John Baccus, Chris Kronin, Shara Rice, Tasha Danko, and the rest.

To Michael Brightman, SketchUp and Layout master extraordinairealways remember the REI Starbucks! Thank you to Mark Carvalho for educating and helping me with complex models and organization. Mark, an architect by trade, was one of the six original developers of the SketchUp program when it was @Last. Many of Marks building models are included in this book.

Wheres Waldo? (rendering by John Palmer)

Thank you to my professors at Colorado State University: Merlyn Paulson, Brad Goetz, and Jeff Lakey.

Jeff Lakey deserves a double thank you for his continuing mentorship!

A thank you goes to the team at ArtVPS: Kate Marshal, Martin Cox, Grahm Wiley, Richard Mead, and others.

A thanks goes to David Wayne from SU Podium for the support he provided.

Thank you to Shane Fletcher (and Chris) from Twilight Render for his endless patience and help.

Thanks to Mark Kosmos, who helped start this fun!

To Jared Green and Terry Poltrick from ASLA, you will recognize many of the images in these books as being from the projects we worked on for the sustainable sites animations. Thank you for the opportunity and chance to exercise a creative agenda.

Thanks to the 3D artists who helped contribute to this book (you can see them in Chapter 5): Rashad Al-Ahmadi, Ryan Knope, Aikio Akabe, Kala Letts, Matea Soltec, Anna Cawrse, Victor Perex Amado, Duane Kemp, and Sid Porobic.

Coen Nannick, thank you for your friendship over the years.

Thanks to SketchUcation (Mike Lucy), Smustard (Todd Burch), and the general SketchUp community. Special mention goes to Chris Fulmer for his Ruby Scripts and being a fellow LA promoting 3D.

Building models by Avraham Zhoari, age thirteen

To the unsung Ruby Script writers, I bow down to your efforts, brilliance, and diligence. You make SketchUp functional. To Fredo6, ThomThom, Dale Martens, TIG, tak2hata, Chuck Vali, Jim Foltz, Rick Wilson, C Philips, and more, thank you!

Thanks to my publisher, Margaret at Wiley, for being supportive and never providing anything but solid advice.

Thanks to my friends and colleagues at RNL: Andrew Irvine, Marc Stutzman, Brian Nicholson, Trent Cito, and Scott Anderson.

Thank you to Diego Matho, whose organization and suggestions made both books possible. He is my unsung hero and deserves a huge thank you!

Thank you to Edson Mahfuz for your friendship, support, and advice.

To Mitchel Stangl, thank you for Christmas dinners and the assurance of SketchUp Apocalypse.