Rendering in SketchUp

2. 
Copy and paste the track light onto its own layer (Fig. 31.39).
3. 
Go to Filter 
F
Render 
F
Lens Flare.
4. 
Select any one of the flare options; 50 to 300 mm Zoom is recommended.
5. 
Position the flare directly over what would be the source of light for the fixture
(Fig. 31.40).
6. 
Set the flare strength. A common mistake is to make the flare strength strong. This can 
be distracting. A subtle lens flare is useful.
7. 
Repeat this process for each light.
Fig. 31.39: 
One of the fixtures is selected with the Marquee tool and then copied and pasted onto its own layer. 
This will ensure that the Lens Flare filter can be used with accuracy, and, if needed, you can delete the layer with lens 
flare.

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Part 7: The Photoshop Postproduction Process
Fig. 31.40: 
In the Lens Flare menu, the lens flare 
(the X) is placed on the light.

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Chapter 32: Detailed Postproduction
T
his chapter reviews additional postproduction modifications that are more time-inten-
sive than the modifications discussed in Chapter 31. These modifications add realistic 
detail and features to enhance realism and context.
Realistic Vegetation
Making lawns appear real, with strands of grass, is not feasible in SketchUp. Similarly, while 
shrubs and large swaths of ground cover can, in theory, be added, the time required to do it 
can be very prohibitive. Instead, during the postproduction process, you can fit an image of 
realistic grass and vegetation into the open spaces of the rendering to create the illusion of a 
complete landscape.
This method requires that you have specific images available. Collect images of grasses and 
vegetation that match the perspective and angles of the rendering. You can find them online 
using an image search engine or by taking your own photos, which is recommended. Collecting 
multiple lawn images is useful: eye-level, bird’s-eye, close-ups, etc. Having a range of images 
will make it easier to match the camera view of the rendering.
The following steps add vegetation, lawns, and grasses to the original rendering (Fig. 32.5, 
Fig. 32.6, Fig. 32.7, Fig. 32.8, Fig. 32.9).