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Modelling from CAD within SketchUp – where do I start?

If you are modeling within SketchUp, you will need to know how to import and align CAD drawings. Whether your own or somebody else’s; well-aligned CAD drawings are the literal foundations upon which you build your SketchUp models.

How to Align CAD

Let us explore how to align CAD in the most efficient way possible. To clarify; the plan is for us to import CAD before tracing over it to create our 3D model. Let’s get started!

Importing…

When initially importing a CAD file (in dwg format), it normally enters the SketchUp workspace as a completely flat group.

CAD imported into SketchUp — Next step; organisation

Organisation…

Something else that you will notice is that all of the CAD layers are visible as tags within SketchUp. We don’t need all of these so we can compress these tags down into one which we’ll rename CAD. I would now recommend creating a tag to be used for the massing of our 3D model.

GIF showing the layers brought in during a CAD import to SketchUp — When importing CAD into SKP, layers are preserved

We also need to ensure that each floor plan and elevation is grouped separately.

CAD plans and elevations are grouped seperately after being imported into SketchUp — Grouping geometry protects it from being warped when manipulating later.

Reposition…

Now that we have organised our drawing, let’s begin positioning the plans and elevations. Take the ground floor and move it over to the origin as shown (also remember to align right angles on the plan with the red and green axis as you can see here)

A ground floor CAD plan within SketchUp which has been moved to the origin for ease of use — Moving the GF Plan to the origin is a great way to ensure that you are modeling using the red and green guides (or axes)

The next step is to align the elevations around the ground floor plan. Pay special attention to things like window and door openings, because we use these features to resolve whether or not we need to flip our elevations.

Align CAD elevations are lined up with the corresponding plans — Move and rotate your elevations to ensure that they are aligned with your plans. Remember to cross-reference to ensure correct alignment!

We can now stand up our elevations by using the rotate tool. A tip from us is to use the direction buttons on your keyboard once the rotate tool is active, as this will better enable you to lock the orientation of your rotation!

Align CAD drawings by rotating elevations in SketchUp — It is best to use the rotate tool to ensure that all elevations are stood up in preparation for modeling later.

Now simply place your first-floor plan over the top of your ground floor plan and lift up to the correct height as shown on the elevations. Repeat this step for each additional floor.

And hey presto you have now successfully aligned your CAD drawings!

Aligned CAD drawings imported into SketchUp from AutoCAD — Next step: start modeling!

For more information on how this is done in practice, check out our Access into SketchUp and Top-Up courses, taught online with the Archilime Academy!

Brought to you by the Archilime Academy

CherryTrees_Scene06_REV01-scaled-e1600269718832-1200x1200.jpg

How do I go about creating a night time CGI?

You may not know it yet, but a dome light is the answer to creating ever-more realistic lighting setups within your CGIs…

Let’s break it down…

In a day-time scene, we have direct sunlight to illuminate our scenes. Direct light also scatters through the atmosphere and illuminates our environment.

A preview CGI from Peter Guthrie. Used to light a 3D scene using a HDRI within a dome light — HDRIs from **PG-Skies.net**. is a great way to illuminate your night scenes.

V-Ray considers both direct and indirect illumination as two separate light sources.

To create a nighttime scene, we require a technique to remove direct sunlight, whilst being able to create a nighttime environment.

To do this, we use something called a Dome Light

A flattened, spherical HDRI from Peter Guthrie. Used to light a 3D scene — A flattened, spherical HDRI from PG-Skies

A Dome light is a type of V-Ray light that surrounds our entire model, forcing light inwards. Images can be loaded into these light sources, which enables the user to simulate real-world environments by using panoramic HDR images.

Learn more about the benefits of a Dome Light on our Access into V-Ray for SketchUp course

I like to think of a Dome Light as a giant snow globe – with our model in the center. We can choose what the sky looks like by swapping in different panoramic images.

What does it mean for you?

Select the highlighted tool to add a Dome light into your scene. Putting this into practice is straightforward. Pick out the Dome light tool from your V-Ray toolbar…

Loading a bitmap image into our Dome Light. — Click on the chequered box to import your HDRI…

Load in your HDRI…

Preview of a scene lit by Dome light using a spherical panoramic, HDRI image — Rotate to ensure that your shadows are pointing in the correct direction!

Hit render! Don’t forget to rotate your dome light to adjust the position of the sun

Over the years we have come across many different sources for HDRIs…

We would like to recommend just two…

A preview of a 3D scene, lit using a Dome Light. The HDRI image used is from PG-Skies. — **PG-Skies** provide rendered previews so that you know what the sky will look like once rendered.

For variety, we highly recommend taking a look at Poliigon. Besides offering free assets; they operate a simple, subscription-type service where, depending on your package, you obtain different amounts of credits every month to spend on HDRIs, textures or models

If you are looking for top-quality HDRIs, look no further than Peter Guthrie’s shop – PG Skies. This in-depth collection of ultra high-quality HDRIs contains skies for all occasions. The handy preview renders show each of these in action, to make picking out your favourite that much easier!

Brought to you by the Archilime Academy

Do you want to hear our most-asked question?

Where do I find high-quality furniture models?

A product CGI that demonstrates the sourcing of a high quality armchair model from Design Connected. — A Product CGI showing high-quality models downloaded from Design Connected.

We get asked this because SketchUp & V-Ray users like yourself are wise to the fact that adding better quality 3D models into your scenes adds realism to your work.

We are in complete agreement – from our experience; there is no other part of the visualisation process that boosts the quality of a CGI more than the usage of high-quality, realistic 3D models…

Check out our work here!

Finding the right source… now that’s another question entirely…

Our favourite source is a website called Design Connected.

A screenshot showing a high-quality 3D model of a bed from Design Connected. — The Kelly Bed, by Poliform. A Design Connected 3D Model.

We have no affiliation with these guys – but we rely heavily on their models. Without a doubt; they are the place to go for high-quality SketchUp models of furniture, lighting, and accessories.

For over 10 years, they have worked with premium brands to provide photorealistic 3D models of their products – so that SketchUp and V-Ray users like us can download and import these into our scenes!

All models are (or can be) made available in SketchUp format, and all textures are correctly applied to each model, meaning it is the closest thing to a plug-and-play technique that exists for our workflow for furnishings

Another source that we use is 3D Sky.

A website screenshot of 3D Sky showing the range of 3D models available to download — A screenshot of 3D Sky showing the range of 3D models available to download

Again, we have no affiliation with this website, however, we have really benefited from the vast 3D collection that they offer.

If models are not available on DesignConnected, we head over to 3DSky, safe in the knowledge that we will find something that we can use.

Rather than the standard SketchUp file-type (.skp) that we are used to; models from 3D Sky tend to be in a different format – a filetype called obj…

In a nutshell, they store the geometry and textural information that makes up a 3D model. Different 3D modelling programs use different file types to save models – however, the .obj file type is the closest thing to an industry-standard in this regard.

Transmutr allows you to convert obj, fbx, 3ds, dae files into SketchUp (skp) files. — Convert various 3D formats into SketchUp files using Transmutr

To import .obj models, we use an extension called Transmutr. The easy-to-navigate interface allows you to convert these into .skp files – for you to then import into your scenes.

This process can be covered on our bespoke Top-Up Courses.

For its value, the 3D Warehouse is an invaluable resource

An image showing a screenshot of a 3d model search using the 3D Warehouse within SketchUp — The 3D Warehouse has been designed around you. Find free 3D models for SketchUp scenes here.

If you are working under a tighter budget, without the capacity to spend much on 3D models – there is no better source than the 3D Warehouse within SketchUp’s interface.

If you own or have owned, SketchUp Pro – there is a very good chance you know about this already.

Use the sliders on the left to control the quality of the models within your search parameters.

Take note… these models are not quality-checked before being uploaded to the warehouse – which means that you can end up with a real mixed bag in terms of quality.

To be safe, we always recommend saving the desired models into their own files, rather than importing straight into your scene – as this protects your master file from any latent errors that may be present within the imported models!

We run over how to make the best use of the 3D Warehouse on our Access into SketchUp online course.

Without over-complicating things…

A CGI demonstrating the quality of furniture 3D models sourced from websites such as design connected, 3d sky and the 3d warehouse — High-quality 3D models bring your CGIs to life. Invest time in sourcing the best quality 3D models available to you.

If you are looking for consistent, high-quality 3D models – we recommend Design Connected.

Variety, on the other hand, is a real strength of 3D Sky.

If you are looking for free models – 3D Warehouse is the source for you.

Still doesn’t answer your question?

Model it yourself!

Join us for our next 3-hour, Bitesize course where you can learn to Model with Photography – follow the link for dates!

Brought to you by the Archilime Academy

Good news – Archilime’s online learning option is here to stay! We know that many of you have really enjoyed, and hugely benefited from, online training at the Academy. We want to reassure you that we are in no hurry to withdraw the courses, as these Zoom classes offer many (perhaps unexpected) advantages. Face-to-face training and in-house training has always been central to the Archilime Academy, and we were initially hesitant to move away from this. We love the camaraderie and rapport that we build in our small groups and doubted that this could be replicated over Zoom – how wrong we were!

Zoom Advantages

We will still be offering the all-important 1-1 training if clients need it, and of course those private business to business coaching courses, but we will certainly have an online presence for the foreseeable future. We think that Zoom rocks, with its interactive features, including being able to annotate each other’s screens and share displays; we’ve found it to be a great way of learning. This makes the impossible possible in the realm of classroom learning, with features that actually hold the advantage over face-to-face group training. The main bonus of Zoom training though, is of course its convenience and the fact that you can participate from the comfort of your own home. This saves on time and costs of travel, in addition to any possible overnight accommodation costs.

A Win-Win Situation!

Many of our delegates were equally pleasantly surprised by how effective it is as a learning tool. A recent delegate, James, said, “you don’t have to go home and try and transition what you’ve learnt on to your own computer because you’ve already been using it for 4 hours so it seamlessly sets you in motion”. The fact that it is pre-recorded is also really useful, and delegates have told us they’ve gone back over the lessons in their own time, which of course you can’t do from in-house training. With the Zoom training also being 25% less expensive than face-to-face courses, we think it wins hands down in these current times that hold certain restrictions for us all, both in terms of finances and logistics.

Chaos Collaboration

Delivering webinars is another new and exciting development for us. Currently in collaboration with Chaos Group, we are in the pretty cool situation of testing the new V-Ray 5 for Sketchup, which is the newest version not yet released: we knew there were some perks to this job! Watch this space as we explore and test other software to present to you in the near future via webinar.

Visit our website: https://archilime.com

Call our studio to discuss your project on: 01364 654267.

Two-part online FREE V-Ray Next for SketchUp master class!

In association with Chaos Group and Trimble SketchUp, Elmtec is hosting a fabulous two-part V-Ray Next for SketchUp master class with Archilime as one of the featured panellists.

V-Ray NEXT for SketchUp webinar

Learn to model 3D topography within SketchUp from CAD. From point-height data to modelling landscaped gardens; in our 3-hour live sessions, we coach a step-by-step ‘how-to’ for improving the quality of your landscaping, as accurately & smoothly as possible. Release your inner Charlie Dimmock on our new Landscaping bite-size course.

Ivan Kozaliev

Learn to model architectural details or furnishings from photographs, using SketchUp. Flexibility is key when modelling in SketchUp. Join us to learn tips and tricks from Ivan Kozaliev, Choas Group’s V-Ray CG specialist, as we take a deep-dive into creating stunning exterior rendering using V-Ray Next for SketchUp. Before joining Chaos Group’s team of CG Specialists, Ivan developed a solid background in architecture, participating in various building design projects up to high-rise buildings and skyscrapers. Ivan’s additional enthusiasm about programming logically brought him to Chaos Group and nowadays you can find him involved heavily in visualisation projects where his architectural knowledge and experience is a combination of his 3D skills and programming logic.

Dan Stone

Dan is quite simply the mastermind behind all the course structure and content design of the Archilime Academy and has almost 10 years of experience within the VIZ industry whilst managing the operational team for Archilime Visualisation. His vast experience coming directly from Archilime Visualisations as Head of Operations has meant that he has coached a creative team for many years ensuring that Archilime’s artists are fluent in the art of 3D production with SketchUp & V-ray. Dan will be explaining the importance of V-Ray for SketchUp has on our company and why we believe it’s worth using as we continue to produce CGI for clients all over the UK.

Schedules (all times BST)

June 3 – Exterior Webinar!

16:00 – Welcome and introduction from Elmtec, Chaos Group, and SketchUp

16:05 – Ivan Kozaliev, V-Ray CG specialist Exterior Masterclass

17:15 – Archilime presentation

17:35 – Q & A Forum, Prize Raffle Giveaway

June 4 – Interior Webinar!

16:00 – Welcome and introduction from Elmtec, Chaos Group, and SketchUp

16:05 – Ivan Kozaliev, V-Ray CG specialist Interior Masterclass

17:15 – Archilime presentation

17:35 – Q & A Forum, Prize Raffle Giveaway

REGISTER FOR JUNE 3RD

REGISTER FOR JUNE 4TH

The Archilime Academy: Bite-size it!
SketchUp Short Courses

For you all at home, we have now designed three excellently crafted SketchUp courses that will make up a perfectly timed, bite-sized course for you to learn new skills! This learning experience could be an excellent way to advance and grow your knowledge within any industry that uses 3D modelling.

Taking a short online course like this could be just the ticket to advance your skillset for when you either go back to college, university, your professional studio or even to look to add to your current armoury.

We want to personally support all those out there struggling with our current affairs, who are needing some much-needed breathing time to unwind and have some fun. Whilst developing your skills at our Academy and meeting new friends in your industry, what better way to do that than join us on a live-online course?

To support you through this period and to make this possible for most, we have decided to promote these courses for just £75.00 for the full 3-hour course. We will also limit the course number to 4 to keep to our core values of offering quality over quantity.

Shaping your Topography

Learn to model 3D topography within SketchUp from CAD. From point-height data to modelling landscaped gardens; in our 3-hour live sessions, we coach a step-by-step ‘how to’ for improving the quality of your landscaping, as accurately & smoothly as possible. Release your inner Charlie Dimmock on our new Landscaping bite-size course.

The Creation of Textures

Learn to wrap your textures around all types of 3D modelling details. Re-sizing, colour grading, repositioning and randomising your imported custom textures are key processes to ensuring your 3D model has the most accurate texture identification available. Texture like a true whizz!

Modelling with Photography

Learn to model architectural details or furnishings from photographs, using SketchUp. Flexibility is key when modelling in SketchUp. Make use of our vast experience by enhancing your modelling capabilities in this concise 3-hour online course. A versatile 3D modeller should be capable of constructing models from any precedent image you receive from your client

Contact us about these courses!

If your keen to find out more, please email academy@archilime.com – We are currently developing our new Archilime Academy website which will be live very soon but for now, we will be keeping an eye out for all your emails. Please title the email with the course topic and we will get back to you ASAP.

When we launched our Academy, we had the vision of making Sketchup skills available to the many, not just the few. Because we believe that many types of business benefit from having basic 3D modelling capabilities in-house.

From initial concepts of complete development schemes, right through to visualisation of ideas for bespoke furniture creations, 3D modelling helps to bring ideas to life. Of course, we’re happy to do modelling for our clients, but sometimes the flexibility and economy of doing it in-house makes it far more appealing to do so, especially in the early stages of a project.

Since its foundation, we’ve provided plenty of training sessions, but our location has made it difficult for some to attend. So, we made a big decision.

We’re moving the Academy to a brilliantly accessible location in Exeter.

Only an hour away from Bristol and within easy reach of many parts of the South West, the Academy will be located within the awesome grounds of our good friends ‘Attention Media’ on Southernhay. The facilities are conducive to enjoyable and effective learning, maximising the results of the two-day course.

The Academy still boasts the core benefit of training by practitioners, to practitioners. Training that is not just abstract theory but the sharing of practical experience and real-life know-how. It’s also a perfect way to network with other professionals within your field.

And now it’s viable for many more to attend the course.

We’ll be sharing more on the new opening, but in the meantime, contact us to find out about our upcoming sessions and the dates for the first ones being run in the new location.

For jsut £480.00 +VAT you could book yourself a seat on our ‘Access into SketchUp’. For multiple bookings of 4 seats or over, contact our studio to qualify for up to a 20% group discount.

Call our studio on 01364 643 241 for more details.

Accessibility for All

Did you know the highly-rated Academy that delivers much sought after courses such as the ‘Access into SketchUp’ course is now based in Exeter? This is great news for the South West, as we are now located in an area that is easily accessible from many locations. Based in Southernhay, Exeter, within the wonderful office space of Attention Media and surrounded by cool eateries, top branded shops and other high-end businesses such as Burrington Estates, Strutt & Parker and Expedite: The Archilime Academy is in good company.

Well-Connected

The Academy is just an hour and a half by train or car from Bristol or Bath (82 miles), 20 minutes by train or 30 minutes by car from Honiton (22 miles) and 50 minutes from Plymouth(44 miles). Therefore, we are fortunate enough to be on the doorstep of a number of locations from which people can reach us in no time at all. Exmouth is only about 20 minutes by car (15 miles) or 50 by train, and further down South into Cornwall we are only 55 minutes from Saltash by (47 miles) car or an hour and 20 minutes by train. Both the train and bus stations are just minutes away.

Sleep-Easy

Finding a place to rest your head after a stimulating day on your Archilime Academy course will not be a problem in Southernhay, Exeter. Right on the doorstep of the course premises, are a range of hotels to suit every budget. Treat yourself to the fabulous Hotel Du Vin from £85 a night (dubbed a “contemporary wonderland” by Alistair Sawday) or relax at the Mercure from £67. For those on a budget, you can’t go wrong with the comfortable Premier Inn for a good night’s sleep, from just £43 a night.

An Academy like no other!

So, what are you waiting for? Being the only Visualisation company in Devon offering specific SketchUp Pro Coaching that has been designed for industry experts like ourselves, and is delivered by us, we feel that The Archilime Academy is pretty unique in what it offers. For just £480.00 + VAT you could book yourself a seat on our ‘Access into Sketchup’. For multiple bookings of 4 seats or over, contact our studio to qualify for up to a 20% group discount.

Call our studio on 01364 643 241 for more details.

Sources:?
www.hotelduvin.com
https://mercure.accorhotels.com/gb/city/hotels-exeter-v1277.shtml
www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/devon/exeter/exeter-city-centre.html?cid=GLBC_EXESOU
archilime.com/archilime-academy/