The original set of trees were provided by our good friends at DynaSCAPE and since you like them so much we’ve created some ourselves and have just uploaded 20 new trees!

As always you can download them FOR FREE from here: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cldetails?mid=767cd944d26799b9f7cb96e21753677

A special thanks need to go out to Mikkel Fredborg from Frecle for allowing us to use tree[d] to create the trees. http://www.frecle.net/

Get Rendering!

Headlining this update is our ‘light fixture library’ – a useful new addition that gives you access to a bunch of models from Visa lighting but with the added bonus that the IES files are already embedded.  So, next time you need to shine some light on your scene, simply import your chosen fixture and hit render – Shaderlight will add render the correct light and shadow detail for that fixture without you doing a thing.

Check out Martin’s latest lighting tutorial video for a quick overview

The changes we’ve made to the software also now mean that you can embed IES files in to your own SketchUp models so that they’re always ready to render in Shaderlight.

As you can see from the above images, we’ve also made some significant improvements to the quality of interior renders particularly when using portal lights.  As well as reducing the amount of noise generated from the light source, you can shine sunlight directly though portals to achieve that dramatic look we’ve all been looking for.

Read about all the new additions in Shaderlight 2.1 on our website and make sure you download the update to try them for yourself!

Hopefully this webinar provides some useful hints for lighting both exterior and interior scenes as well as giving you an insight in to what’s coming with Shaderlight v2.1!

Whilst the new animation feature is great and will transform your SketchUp and Shaderlight presentations, Replace Me is really the thing that you wonder what you ever did without.

What is Replace Me?

The idea for Replace Me was born over lunch in Boulder with our good friend Daniel Tal.  As a landscape architect there were two things he needed to add to his scene to make it feel real – trees and people – but he struggled with the amount of geometry it added to an already complex SketchUp scene and the inevitable slow down that ensued.

When I told the clever team here all about the problem, I knew they’d come up with something to solve it!

How does Replace Me work?

By using a proxy model in your SketchUp scene instead of the full 3d model Replace Me enables you to render detailed models without filling your SketchUp scene with geometry.

You can create your own proxy (using the Replace Me creator from the plug ins menu) or choose one from our Replace Me library on 3d Warehouse.  Simply place it in your SketchUp scene and when you hit render, Replace Me imports the selected 3d model in to Shaderlight and renders it, just like normal!

Replace Me component and Shaderlight render

It’s not just for people and trees – any model can be replaced.

If you’ve not yet had a chance to look, Martin’s put together some great tutorial videos that show you just how Replace Me works and the great results you can achieve without overloading your SketchUp scene.  There’s also a host of information in our online help too.

One thing to remember is that the idea behind Replace Me is to free up SketchUp from large amounts of geometry so you can continue to build your scene without any slow down, your render time in Shaderlight will still be the same.

Keep the feedback and fantastic Replace Me renders coming.  It’s always great to see what you guys are working on.

If you’re already a Shaderlight user you’ll know how hard we strive to deliver the most relevant, intuitive and simple to use rendering technology available for Google SketchUp.  But that’s just half the story, we also work hard to make sure you get a great user experience at all times.  One of our clever testers, Chris, tells us what he likes most about v2.

Version 2 brings a couple of cool features and some bug fixes of course. But what I have enjoyed using most is the new Replace Me tool.

The Replace Me tool, will really help those of you to render large/detailed models without consuming too much time.  The tool is simple to use but it can help you produce some fantastic renders.

It’s certainly made my job a lot more easier so be sure to check out our videos on this exciting new feature as well as trying it for yourself in v2!

Here are a couple of example images showing you just how cool Replace Me is!

SketchUp scene using Replace Me

Shaderlight render with Replace Me

Images courtesy of Daniel Tal.

We’re pleased to announce that there is a new version of Shaderlight for SketchUp available for all users running OS X Lion.

This update is only for users who have upgraded to OS X Lion and does not need to be installed if you are running any other Mac operating system.

Whether you are a paid up customer or still trialling the software simply follow these instructions to download and install the update.

1. Click the image above to download the software
2. Install the file: shaderlightforsketchup_132.dmg

For help with installing Shaderlight for SketchUp, see our online help for Mac

If you do come across any issues or have any questions regarding the OS X Lion update, please contact support@artvps.com

A complete 3d newbie, Aoife has proved to be a natural when it comes to interior design – using inspiration from images she found online she’s managed to model and render some great images with Google SketchUp and Shaderlight Pro.

In her own words, here’s how she did it:

I used Google SketchUp for the first time during my work experience placement at ArtVPS and then rendered my model using Shaderlight. Having never used SketchUp before, I was in need of some guidance and so the video tutorials on Google’ s website proved very useful in covering all aspects of the programme for new users such as myself. However, I did not find it necessary to watch all of the videos and simply selected the ones covering the things I needed help with, these included offsetting and the ‘follow-me’ tool. I also found it worthwhile to watch some of the videos dealing with even the most straightforward tools as they provided handy tips.

I wanted to create an image of a kitchen and was inspired by various other images I found
on the internet. Once I had completed this I decided to extend the model and so added a living room next to it but kept the whole design open plan. Again, I looked at images on the internet for inspiration. If I had more time I would most likely add more rooms to my model, perhaps a dining room or begin building other storeys.

Once I familiarised myself with the basics of SketchUp and drew the model I began rendering using Shaderlight. I had never rendered before, although, I had always assumed it would be a difficult and time-consuming process. Shaderlight demonstrated the opposite and showed that this did not have to be the case.  As I did with SketchUp, I used tutorial videos, found on the ArtVPS website which, were again very useful. The company’s staff were also helpful and very friendly which I appreciated very much.  I attempted using all of Shaderlight’s features and found that even for beginners the software was easy to use once you grasped the basics; in fact I think I was rather surprised at how simple it was. I particularly liked using the material editor as it created such a difference to the final image so quickly and almost effortlessly.

I am pleased with the final result following my first 3D modelling and rendering experience, I believe being able to use both SketchUp and Shaderlight will be very useful in the future. The results which are achievable in such a short amount of time with this software are really quite impressive and I intend to continue using it in order to improve and be able to create more advanced images. In addition to being useful, learning how to use these programmes has been an interesting and enjoyable experience which I would definitely recommend to other s. With regard to advice on how they should get started, I would suggest looking at the same videos which I watched – talking to someone who knows how to use the software is also a very good way of learning.

I think the results say it all – great work Aoife!

Next month we’re hosting our first Q&A session with some of the Shaderlight team.  So if you’ve got a question you’d like to ask register now for free and we’ll see you on July 13th!

The competition challenged Google SketchUp users to model a winter wonderland and render it using Shaderlight. The second prize, award by judges, Mike Lucey at SketchUcation, Chris Dizon from Google SketchUp and Steve Jarratt, editor of 3D World, was a traditional snowy scene featuring a log cabin and was created by young teenager – Abedallah from Christchurch, New Zealand.

Abedallah’s love of architecture and design began at a young age. “I first became interested in architecture when I was in kindergarten and I’d watch my brother working on his high school graphics homework. At school I’d always create more complex structures with building blocks compared to the other children.”

“What I love about architecture is that it is everywhere, surrounding us and there are no limits. I am completely free to do whatever I want, especially with tools like SketchUp and Shaderlight. I love the freedom to innovate, creating something new every time.”

Abedallah is now studying graphic design in high school but has been using SketchUp since he was nine years old. “One of my favourite SketchUp modellers is Surya Murali, she creates such amazing 3D models with lighting and reflections. I read that she used the Shaderlight plug-in so I downloaded it straight away! I love that it’s such a simple tool set and that it integrates with SketchUp so well. It produces stunning results and is packed with features that I now couldn’t live without.”

Always busy working on new designs, Abedallah says his main focus is new homes. “I can’t keep count of how many home designs I have completed. I’ve created a few office buildings, shopping centres, coffee shops, restaurants and a sky scraper or two. At the moment I’ve almost completed a boutique restaurant, there’s just a little work left on the exterior. If I could design any building, it would have to be a tourist attraction or a landmark, simply because of the attention and appreciation it would receive. “

So what does the future hold for such impressive young talent?  “I definitely want to get my masters in architecture and become a registered architect,” says Abedallah. “I’d also like to get into interior design too. My dream is to design and establish my own restaurant, but I’d hire other people to run it while I focus on my architecture.”

You can see more of Abedallah’s work on his Facebook page

Where better to look for the most valuable content than in our own community of those that are already practicing or just starting out in the industry?

We’d love your input!

Over the course of the coming weeks we’d love to hear about your work and about what inspires you.

• What do you love about design and/or architecture? 
• What has recently made an impression on you? 
• What’s your current project?

We’ll be conducting a series of mini-interviews that we’ll then post on this blog, showing off our users’ work.  And we’d love to hear from you!

To participate in one of our quick and fun mini-interviews, just drop us an email on shaderlightnews@artvps.com and we’ll send through the questions. Here’s your chance to become famous within the Shaderlight community .