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Replies

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  Kieran Ray November 23, 2009 at 11:36pm

  Are you part of the sketchup group? If not there is one on here.
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  David Beasley Garden Design November 24, 2009 at 7:52am

  Hi Kerry
  
  I too have just scratched the surface re: rendering and currently use Kerkythea as it is compatible with SketchUp and FREE.
  
  I may be proved wrong, but LJN may not be the best place for this post!
  
  I suggest placing this post on the Sketchucation 'Corner Bar' Forum, they are a very freindly/knowledgable group of chaps on all things 3D and rendered and will sort out your dilema.
  
  They may be more biased towards SketchUp though :-)
  
  p.s. why don't you post this on The Garden Network and Land8Lounge too!
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  The Perfumed Garden November 24, 2009 at 11:15am

  Kerry
  
  Have a word with either Tamsin Slatter or Sarah Ainsworth.
  
  Simon
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  Jackson's Landscape Design November 24, 2009 at 5:39pm

  Many thanks for your replies, I will seek the advice from Tamsin, I'm waiting to be approved in the Vectorworks group in the LinkedIn forum so it wont be long until I'm working longer hours.
  
  Stuart check out this basic Sketchup image of a living room with the addition of the Vray render tool. http://www.vray.com/vray_gallery/media/featured/vray_for_sketchup.png
  
  And this image is an absolute stunner in my eyes. http://vray.us/images/vray_for_sketchup6/vray_for_sketchup_6_2.jpg
  
  Can you see why Im very keen to purchase the correct package?
  
  I do have the Vue 6 xStream render package but I'm not so sure with it as yet, I admit the graphics are brilliant but I just dont like the 4 screen images of different elevations, doesn't float my boat, however I'll keep the software as you never know
  
  
  Best, Kerry
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  David Beasley Garden Design November 24, 2009 at 6:03pm

  Not professional enough!
  
  Look who's swearing now. SketchUp is the 3D graphics package of the moment and the industry standard in Architecture, Landscape Design and others.
  
  It is free/cheap and easy to learn/master (if you've ever had a go at using AutoCAD in 3D mode, you'd know what I was talking about).
  
  It is owned by Google (who aren't stupid and know when they are on to a winner), it has an enormous online community, its perfect for populating Google Earth with nice 3D buildings, its great for making animations, there are loads of amazing ruby scripts created for SketchUp that create instant drawings such as window frame details etc and SketchUp can be easily imported into render engines.
  
  Rendering makes the 'matt' output from SketchUp more 'glossy' and lifelike. It works using a knowledge of physics etc and simulates natural lighting conditions and allows materials to become reflective etc.
  
  Rendered images do look amazing, but take a while to set up and ages to compute.
  
  I think the main problem with the output from programs such as SketchUp is that the online version of the image looks a million times better than the printed output from the average inkjet printer (using photocopier paper). I address this by laminating my drawings to give them a bit of gloss (and protection).
  
  Stuart Marler said:

  What does a render tool actually do?
  I use sketchup for my drawings but it doesnt look professional enough and would like to use a different software but not sure which.
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  Colin Elliott November 24, 2009 at 6:05pm

  I wonder if rendering is the way to go....very time consuming. Clients seem to like a quick drawing approach which Sketchup will do nicely....and then there's Piranesi which will do several cool things to your drawing. Are you going to be paid for thiswonderfully rendered drawing, I wonder? Not in my experience!
  Colin
  www.gardendesignacademy.com
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  Jackson's Landscape Design November 24, 2009 at 6:11pm

  What is not professional enough David ?
  
  If your producing 3D images using Sketchup and you feel the printing lets you down then you'd better start writing to Santa for a quality printer to complment your vision
  
  best Kerry
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  David Beasley Garden Design November 24, 2009 at 6:41pm

  Hi Kerry
  
  Not professional enough at the head of my comment was aimed at Stuart's comment (re: SketchUp, swearing and TGN etc) not your subsequent comment!
  
  My printer's pretty good actually. An EPSOM 1160 A3 ink jet. It cost me about £230 in 2001 and I don't think they make them anymore because the ink is nice and cheap now.
  
  
  Kerry Jackson said:

  What is not professional enough David ?
  
  If your producing 3D images using Sketchup and you feel the printing lets you down then you'd better start writing to Santa for a quality printer to complment your vision
  
  best Kerry
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  Jackson's Landscape Design November 24, 2009 at 7:26pm

  Hi John
  
  No I dont have the 2010 edition, I have Vectorworks 2009 Landmark, of which I received little change from a substantial payment.
  
  This link may give you some ideas on the product. http://www.nemetschek.net/landmark/index.php
  
  
  I too have vista and believe that for an easy to use, 3D design program Sketchup is the tool, I started with Sketchup 5 and have since upgraded each time to Sketchup 7.1 pro
  
  Hope this helps,
  
  Infact why not have a thought about buying the Sketchup 5 from me and pay me to show you how to use the program to a level as to where your're confident to sell your vision . I guarantee I wont be as expensive as the vectorwork tutorials.
  
  
  Cool, just been accepted in to the Vectorworks group, in LinkedIn
  
  
  
  Best Kerry
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  Jackson's Landscape Design November 24, 2009 at 8:48pm

  I too share the same opinion regarding Vectorworks,
  
  Good luck with your choice John
  
  Best Kerrie or Kerry or Cerie or Kerri
  
  Or even Kerry, John you may call me Tracey or Wendy if you wish :)
  
  This is the trouble of having a girls name.. why could'nt I have been called Fred or Norman or even Albert...........lol