Open SketchUp, register, and start the 30 day trial to explore templates. Set the default template and choose metric or inches units for your architectural design.

Explore the SketchUp interface on Windows, compare with Mac, and learn to use menus, toolbars, default view, measurement box, hints, and extensions to accelerate modeling.

Master the select tool to pick faces and edges in sketchup, including double-clicking a face; use left-to-right or right-to-left box selection and the spacebar to switch tools.

Master the rectangle tool in SketchUp by clicking to start, typing dimensions like 10 by 20 feet, and snapping to planes for accurate 3-d placement, using shortcuts to speed workflow.

Learn to create wall thickness in SketchUp with the offset tool by selecting the face and typing the thickness (six, eight, or ten inches), then press enter.

Activate the eraser tool via toolbar or keyboard shortcuts, delete with click-and-drag, use rectangle and line tool shortcuts, and press escape to cancel for faster SketchUp workflow.

Master the SketchUp materials window: access, edit, and apply textures from the default view, adjust size and scale with sample paint, manage materials and purge unused for clean scenes.

Learn how to save in SketchUp, choose different versions, and create copies with Save As or Copy As to preserve the main file and track updates.

Set up camera scenes in SketchUp, switch to parallel projection, create top and front plan views, adjust shadows, update scenes, and export JPEGs for architectural design visuals.

Learn how to use groups in SketchUp to avoid stickiness, move entire objects, and manage nested groups with outline and outliner, with shortcuts to create groups quickly.

Master the move tool in sketchup to move groups, snap along the red, green, and blue axes, and create copies with ctrl and distances; use prospector mode to avoid clipping.

Learn essential SketchUp shortcuts to speed up architectural design, including hiding groups, extreme mode, and quick view changes with F2, F3, F4, and W.

learn to use the rotate tool in SketchUp by selecting a group, picking a base and reference point, then rotate, copy, and array copies to form circular layouts.

Learn to use the SketchUp scale tool to proportionally and precisely resize groups, scale by edges or midpoints, and enter exact dimensions with the keyboard, often alongside push/pull.

Import AutoCAD plans into SketchUp, set correct units and scale, organize layers, and prepare the scene using groups, tags, and the tape measure tool.

Create walls and openings in SketchUp by drafting a plan, raising walls to 10 feet, adding windows with lintels, and stacking floors using groups and copies.

Learn to model floor slabs and a roofing slab in sketchup, using gates, stairs, groups, offsets, and push/pull to build a 3d architectural visualization with sunken slabs, beams, and columns.

Model doors and windows in sketchup by creating rectangles, grouping them into frames and shutters, applying thickness and glass, and using copies for symmetrical placements.

Learn to model balcony doors and railings in SketchUp, applying groups and offsets, set frame and glass thickness, create sliding windows, and prepare a balcony opening for a sunken slab.

Create stairs in SketchUp from a plan, duplicate steps into flights, and group components. Add monolithic stairs with landings, align edges, and clean lines for final renders.

Create a parametric jaali wall partition in SketchUp using curtain wall, loft, and sliceable tools to generate a flexible facade with adjustable thickness and materials.

Create a sliding gate in sketchup using box sections, groups, and precise moves. Outline the site with roads and terrain, then apply materials and use tags to manage components.

Create terrain in SketchUp using Sandbox and Artisan tools to sculpt, stamp, and drape terrain, build grids and roads, and generate undulations for architectural landscapes.

Place laubwerk trees from the plant library, adjust age variants with the attribute editor, and arrange them to frame the scene without intersecting the building.

Explore camera and composition in SketchUp and V-Ray, using 35mm to tilt-shift lenses, two-point perspective, and save-frame techniques to achieve vertical, well-framed architectural renders.

Use the V-Ray frame buffer to compose architectural renders with proportion guides, especially the rule of thirds, and adjust engines, noise, and progressive rendering for interactive feedback.

Apply three-point lighting using key light, secondary lights, and accent lights, with lighting for twilight. Use light mix to adjust shadows and simulate solar north.

Use large trees from the Kiosk Cosmos Library and V-Ray vegetation to cast shadows on the house and road, rotate and scale them to add realism in SketchUp.

Adjust exposure value to brighten or darken renders, understanding how exposure interacts with ISO, aperture, and shutter speed in vray; use 14.5 for exterior scenes and 9–11 for interiors.

Place street lights as secondary lighting to soften shadows in architectural scenes, adjust height and directionality, and manage visibility and color temperature for realistic renders.

Place interior lights with sphere lights, group by instances to simplify light mix, and lock camera orientation for stable renders, then save the lighting setup.

Add accent lighting in SketchUp and V-Ray by applying emissive MSF materials, placing and shaping wall, dome, and sphere lights, adjusting intensity and color, and avoiding overexposure.

Organize and optimize a SketchUp model by removing heavy site geometry, tagging scene elements, using the tag tool, and cleaning up to reduce file size before applying materials and rendering.

Create your own material in the asset editor, starting with a generic metal white, adjusting color, reflection, glossiness, and applying bitmap textures to windows and footpaths.

Import Sketchup files and set up a Vray infinite plane with grass ground, then adjust composition by analyzing site references, curbs, and horizon for a balanced render.

Add Chaos Cosmos and 3D Warehouse models to the scene, adjust lighting and shadows with SketchUp shadows, and position plants and decor to enhance the final render.

Perform final adjustments by aligning textures and sampling materials, then add curtains, furniture, and lighting to refine reflections and background windows during interactive renders.

Execute the final render in SketchUp with V-Ray, add render elements and object IDs, then adjust exposure, curves, and white balance for filmic tone map.

Learn post production workflows in the V-Ray frame buffer, including saving multiple render channels, compositing, and color balance to refine architectural renders.

Perform post production in Photoshop for architectural renders by stacking elements and masking glass to composite images. Apply camera raw adjustments to enhance lighting, reflections, and light trails.

Set up camera and lighting in V-Ray for SketchUp by adjusting sun position, shadows, and frame settings; create morning and evening scenes and test compositions with two-point perspective.

Create a studio in SketchUp by drawing a 10 by 3 meter rectangle and extruding to 3 meters. Offset edges with a plugin, place a camera, and add rectangle lights.

Import 3D warehouse models into SketchUp Studio, sign in and download. Scale to real dimensions with line and scale tools, then set up lighting and interactive render settings.

Learn to organize and customize car materials, apply reflections, refraction, and emissive lighting, tune glass and daylight properties, and adjust studio lights using the sample paint/eyedropper tools.

Learn to import models into studio, run non-interactive renders in sketchup and vray, save projects, and perform post-production adjustments such as exposure and contrast.

Learn to create and manage a VRay library in SketchUp, import and apply materials (glass, metal, grass) to selections, use box projections, and organize materials into exterior and other libraries.

Learn practical final adjustments in SketchUp, including aligning openings, managing groups and components, using push/pull and boolean tools, and preparing materials and scene setup for rendering.

Apply final VRay adjustments in SketchUp by refining materials, landscaping, and lighting for a render-ready scene. Elevate realism with white material setup, plant variations, shadows, sun settings, and scene updates.

Master final adjustments in vray by switching to a dome light, selecting an hdr image, tuning brightness and background, and exploring environment and fog options for a polished render.

Perform final render by switching from interactive to production mode, set high quality at 1920x1080, save two background renders, and prep post-production in Photoshop with exposure, contrast, and color balance.

Explore post-production in Photoshop by loading render elements as layers, and masking them. Boost exposure, brightness, and contrast, then add a sky and motion blur for a dramatic architectural render.

Learn to enhance renders with Photoshop using render elements and linear dodge blending, adjusting opacity for deflection, refraction, reflection, specular, self illumination, and global illumination, while grouping layers for control.

Import tree cutouts into Photoshop, place them in the background, and resize and adjust saturation. Duplicate with shift-drag and group trees for a cohesive street scene.

Load custom brushes from FBI files into Photoshop and paint on a new layer to create background trees and subtle shadows, then lock layers for protection.

Add cutouts of figures and animals in Photoshop, adjust saturation, and create shadows and motion blur to integrate entourage into architectural renderings.

Apply concrete textures to walls in Photoshop, create cracks with copies, refine edges with masks and spot healing, and adjust blending for a realistic rough wall look.

Apply final post-production in Photoshop by consolidating layers, creating a group, and adjusting shadows, highlights, levels, brightness, contrast, vibrance, and a cooling filter, then save as JPEG or PNG.

Take next steps in the bonus lecture for exterior and interior design with SketchUp and V-Ray. Enjoy monthly updates, downloadable resources, and a global student community.

Guide students through creating a 3D exterior render of a simple retro scene in sketchup, using shadow two quakes and megascans to add high-quality models, with plugin installation and exercises.

install vray 5, skatter 2, and other plugins for this workshop; download and install skatter and transmittal, start a 15-day trial, configure licenses, and add sketchup plugins from extension wearos.

Access the exercise files via the door link or Google sheet, download lesson files or a full zip, and compare starter and finished files to track progress.

Master essential SketchUp workflows, including grouping, shortcut customization, view modes like perspective and parallel projection, visibility toggles, copy and move techniques, and axis locking with material application.

Import and place a 3D WearOS model in SketchUp 2021, set units and orientation, enable shadows, and create site features with groups, materials, and basic landscape elements.

Position the camera in SketchUp with edge snapping, switch to perspective mode, and set two-point perspective. Apply the rule of thirds and use a 35 degree field of view.

add autumn trees from Chaos Cosmos in Vray 5 for SketchUp to elevate exterior lighting, compare progress with the history feature and AB horizontal comparison.

Learn to add 3D grass to SketchUp scenes with Skatter 2, import grass assets, set up a host and compositions, and generate grass in an interactive window with density control.

Install Quixel Megascans Bridge and sign in with Epic Games, then connect Megascans to SketchUp via Transmutr, export with custom socket settings, and optimize assets for rendering.

Apply Megascans road textures in SketchUp by loading diffuse albedo and opacity maps, creating a blended leaf detail, and adjusting scale for realistic autumn road scenes.

Resize leaf bump, roughness, and displacement maps in Photoshop, then load and apply them in a Vray blend material to place leaves along the road edge, noting displacement creates geometry.

demonstrates adding pbr materials from the Megascans Aquas collection, loading 2k textures, and applying diffuse, normal, roughness, displacement maps in the asset editor.

Apply building materials in SketchUp with the Textureme plugin, adjusting sandstone and concrete textures, scaling, and creating albedo and bump maps in Photoshop or similar tools.

Edit metals and glass in Vray by adjusting reflections, applying window and door materials, and adding bump and displacement textures for a realistic exterior.

Add interior sphere lights and exterior landscape lamps like bollards and lanterns in sketchup, group and copy lights, adjust heights, and apply invisible lighting options for realistic exterior illumination.

Learn to craft a night render using light mix to control rectangle and street lights, disable sunlight, adjust color temperature, and save lighting presets for a cohesive nighttime scene.

Add entourage from Chaos Cosmos assets to bring life to scenes by placing electric cars, people, and vegetation, then tune lighting, shadows, and environmental fog for a night render.

Convert a day scene to night using the light mix and tune the rectangular light. Reduce noise with a low-intensity invisible light and higher directionality, then compare before/after and render.

apply the camera raw filter and smart objects to enhance final renders, adjust temperature, contrast, and vibrance, add lighting with layered colors and blending modes, then save as jpeg.

Download a simple 3D rose model from SketchUp, bring it into your scene, and use plug-ins to add realism before sharing your work in class or on social media.