Rendering in SketchUp

508
Part 7: The Photoshop Postproduction Process
Clay Render Overlay
The rendering Clay preset is an excellent way to increase the contrast of light, dark, and 
shadow values to create more depth and realism. Although they require additional rendering 
time, clay renders are quick to generate. Use this method when the render looks flat or does 
not have enough contrast or shadow depth.
1. 
Create a clay (chalk in Shaderlight) render 
of the exact camera view of the rendered 
graphic.
2. 
Insert/import/place the clay render over 
the rendered image in Photoshop.
3. 
Under the Layer options, select Multiply. 
This will cause the darker values of the clay 
render to merge with the image, resulting 
in greater depth and contrast (Fig. 31.22).
4. 
If needed, tone down the clay render by 
lowering the layer opacity.
5. 
Consider masking out parts of the clay 
render that are too dark. This will allow 
you to give depth to specific parts of the 
image (Fig. 31.23).
Fig. 31.23: 
The resulting combined render
Fig. 31.22: 
The Photoshop Layer menu shows the 
Clay Render layer over the Normal Render layer. The 
Layer Effects box (circled) is set to Multiply, causing 
the Clay Render layer to provide more contrast to 
the Normal Render layer.

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509
Chapter 31: Postproduction Effects
Clay Render Hybrid Graphics
This approach combines a clay render with a normal final render. Parts of the final render are 
merged with the black-and-white context of the clay render. The results are images where the 
colored portions of the graphic become the focus of the image while the black-and-white clay 
portions serve as context, backdrops, and setting.
The process is simple: