SECTION 1 - MODEL
Hello everyone, in this article, I’ll talk about the fundamentals of creating a good render. Our first topic is the model. First of all, 3D models are made up of polygons that connect to form surfaces. These surfaces can sometimes be flat or take on amorphous forms. Once we understand the rules behind these connections, we can create healthy and efficient models. While working on our projects, we often need to use pre-made models. However, these models can sometimes disrupt the organization of our scene specifically our SketchUp viewport. Even if you have a powerful and up-to-date graphics card, SketchUp may not handle excessive or faulty polygons well. I’m sure you’ve all encountered this issue before: you import an object into your scene, and suddenly the viewport starts lagging. Sounds familiar, right?
As a result, such situations in SketchUp can cause frustration and might even make you lose interest in the software. First, we need to accept a fact: SketchUp’s viewport is not as robust as those of other 3D software. (Consider trying the 2024 version!)
SketchUp Import Issues
For example, if you import a 50 MB .3ds object into 3ds Max or Cinema 4D, it loads almost instantly. But importing the same file into SketchUp will take longer. To avoid such issues, you must not skip basic 3d object modeling training, as you might need to fix broken objects later. If you’re planning to use pre-made models, you’re probably familiar with 3D Warehouse, SketchUp’s massive library. However, based on my experience, I can confidently say that half of it is essentially a 3D junkyard. Models often look great on the website, but once you bring them into your scene, you quickly realize they are amateur work. Interestingly, not all the objects you see on 3D Warehouse are originally drawn in SketchUp. Many of them are 3ds Max-based models that have been exported and added to a person’s library. I’ve even come across models originating from SolidWorks, and let me tell you, they had terrible polygon structures.
Thankfully, a filtering feature has recently been added to the site, which helps us find accurate models more easily. This allows you to filter out low-poly objects and quickly locate what you need. However, if you’re immediately adding these models to your scene without any preparation, you’re making a huge mistake.
Editing SketchUp Objects
What I usually do is open a second SketchUp file and import the objects there for inspection. SketchUp operates on a group and component system, and if an object is a single entity (i.e., exploded) and has internal errors within its group, it should not be added directly to your main scene. This is especially true for objects like chairs, tables, or sofas. You need to examine and fix these objects in an empty scene first.
For instance, if selecting the object three times highlights everything, it means you’re in for a challenge. However, with some selection techniques, you can separate the chair legs from the seat and group them properly. Sometimes, luck is on your side, and triple-clicking one part of an object selects it without affecting the rest. In such cases, immediately convert the object into a group or component.
Now, let’s talk about the materials that come with these models. I personally delete all of them because these materials, especially older ones, can cause issues in V-Ray. For instance, some models might still have materials from V-Ray 1.49 or 2.0, which can lead to unexpected problems. After fixing the surfaces, I apply my own materials and add the objects to the main scene. This process continues all the way to the rendering stage.
There are also models available on manufacturers’ websites. These are typically provided in AutoCAD 3D format, which can be imported into SketchUp. However, keep in mind that some of these models are designed for manufacturing purposes and can have an excessive polygon count. Before importing them into SketchUp, you may need to reduce their polygon count. Two tools that can help with this are Transmutr and Universal Importer. Transmutr is a paid plugin, while Universal Importer is free to download and try.
As I mentioned earlier, always edit these models in a blank file and save backups of your main scene. If you can’t find the object you need on 3D Warehouse or the manufacturer’s website, you’ll have to model it yourself. This is why you should never skip basic modeling training—in the end, it’s a skill that will always benefit you.
That’s all I have to share about creating a healthy 3D model for now. In my next article, I’ll dive into materials. I hope you’ve found this helpful. See you next time, and take care!