When we talk about 3D modeling, we can’t help but mention one of the most widely used free programs that exist today. This is SketchUp, a software that allows you to design and visualize scenarios, commercial premises, furniture, houses and buildings before creating them. It’s fast, agile, and easy to use. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a professional, in SketchUp you will find the necessary tools to develop your projects in 3D.
One of the reasons for SketchUp’s popularity is its support for multiple rendering plugins. This is because the program itself is not designed to process reflections or lighting, i.e., it only displays basic shadows, colors, and textures of materials. In this article, we bring you the best extensions for rendering in SketchUp.
Best Rendering Plugins in SketchUp
V-Ray
This is one of the best plugins for rendering in SketchUp, as it allows you to get high-end photorealistic pieces in real-time. It has a wide catalog of materials and a complete lighting tool, in which you can choose the source, color and intensity of the light to adapt it to your modeling.
It also has an option called “physical camera”, which works as if it were a real camera but without its limitations. You can modify its parameters to create simulations.
On the other hand, you can create atmospheric and volumetric effects to generate depth of field. V-Ray allows you to add textures, shading, and elements that complement your modeling environment, such as people, trees, or props.
V-Ray Annual Price for SketchUp: USD$350.
Annual price of the V-Ray collection (15 products): USD$699.
Brighter 3D
Thanks to its user-friendly interface, Brighter 3D is quickly becoming one of the rendering engines preferred by professionals to use with SketchUp. Brighter 3D allows you to pre-render in seconds to calculate the final image more accurately.
It also has HDRI (High Dynamic Range Image), daytime and artificial lighting functions, as well as tools to modify depth of field, add PBR textures and create realistic materials. In addition, it offers a flight animation option with 360-degree cameras, which lets you create interactive tours.
License price for one computer: USD$149. There is a 7-day free trial.
Thea
Thea allows you to render materials in an advanced way. Among its features you will find:
- Interactive Rendering
- Adaptive Tracking
- Proxycreation
- Cloud and fog presets
- Light editing tools to control its intensity
- Section cuts for the same degree of lighting indoors
- An advanced shadow catcher to give a realistic finish to the backgrounds of your projects
Annual Price: USD$280.
Price for 3 years: USD$675.
YOUR Podium
It runs from SketchUp and has an extensive library of materials. Its main objective is to create good lighting, which is why it throws photorealistic images with realistic reflections, materials and lights, whether natural or artificial, indoor or outdoor. To achieve this, it uses photon mapping.
Price: USD$259. Their upgrades cost between $19 and $59.
IRender nXt
IRender nXt does not have an interface as intuitive as other extensions, but it allows you to create photorealistic images from SketchUp and AutoCAD. The plugin is intended for projects focused on architecture, interior design, landscaping or real estate. It also offers tools such as lighting channels, material style adjustments, automatic reflections, realistic IES lights (files that save default light designs) and the option to render plants as 2D images.
Monthly subscription price: USD$44.
Permanent licenses start at $499. It also has a free trial.
LightUp
It has the Lux tool that reveals the light distribution and allows you to measure the area in your modeling in a timely manner. With LightUp, you can add light sources with a click, render in high resolution, and create AVI files. If you are a beginner, this would be a good option as it allows you to follow tutorials in real-time.
Annual Price: USD$189.
Total license: USD$349. It has a 30-day free trial.
Keyshot
This real-time 3D rendering software syncs seamlessly with SketchUp. Its main advantage is that it optimizes processes, reducing rendering time without sacrificing the quality of the final product. It has an intuitive interface, a catalog of over 750 available materials, and an option to create your own materials. In addition, the plugin has a function of preparing technical design specifications.
If you’re a game designer, Keyshot will be your ideal complement to rendering with its Material Graph feature, which allows you to combine animations with scripts. Engineers can take advantage of the Geometry Editor, which helps create complicated geometric objects to render them in real-time.
Licensing fees start at $995. Add-ons sold separately.
Twilight Render
Twilight covers the entire rendering process, lighting adjustment, as well as environmental and material effects. It also gives you the option to save your projects as templates so you can reuse them.
It has a straightforward interface, perfect for beginners. Although its free plan comes with limited options, it’s great for trying out basic 3D modeling features.
Pro license price: USD$99.
Price of the accessories: $39.
Hobby Plan: free, with limited features.