Best Rendering Software for SketchUp in 2022

In some cases, even the sharpest eye is not able to distinguish between a real-time photograph and one generated by a computer in some cases. This can be a result of the increasing realism of 3D renderings with every passing year. There is no doubt that these renders will become more and more realistic as time goes by, blurring the lines between the virtual and the real world as the virtual and the real become one.

The most widely used 3D creation and rendering software in the field of architecture and design is Sketchup. It is true that SketchUp lacks some of the rendering features of other design programs, but it makes up for that lack with its easy to use interface for creating 3D designs. Due to this exact reason, there are a variety of other software packages that were developed specifically for the purpose of rendering, some of which are extensions of SketchUp, while others are standalone programs that provide an excellent way to render designs made in SketchUp.

There are some of the best rendering software that you can put into use in the year 2022 which are listed as follows with the inclusion of the system requirements required in order to run these software.

1. Enscape

This software is one of the most recent rendering software for SketchUp. In recent years, Enscape has become a favourite among 3D designers and visualizers. It enhances your designs and streamlines your workflow with the latest version of Enscape, Enscape 3.4.

With its ease of use and impressive feature set, it is considered one of the best rendering plugins for Sketchup. Users of SketchUp can create photorealistic renderings, animations, walkthroughs, fly-bys, and VR presentations using the Enscape for SketchUp plugin, which allows users to create the same type of renderings in real time. Users can create emotionally compelling scenes using atmospheric settings such as clouds, time of day, white mode, and depth of field according to their preferences.

The features that are provided by enscape are as follows:

a. Library for many assets.
b. Different tools for collaboration.
c. Function for exporting files.
d. Walkthrough tools.
e. Presentations with virtual reality.

2. Lumion

Ferry Marcellis created Lumion in 2010 with the aim of producing stylish and friendly software that architects could be confident in, as he was the CEO of Act-3D, the parent company of Lumion. Currently, Lumion 11.5 and Lumion 11.5 Pro are the two most current versions of the software available. Lumion 11.5 and Lumion 11.5 Pro were released on June 1, 2021.

As a result of Lumion's ability to render images, video, and 360 panoramas faster than almost all other third party 3D rendering programs, you are able to fully express your vision as an image, video, or 360 panoramas. The Lumion platform has been designed with ease of use, transparency, and stress-free aspects in mind.

The features that are provided by lumion are as follows:

a. Phasing that is animated.
b. Rain Streaks.
c. The ability to show Volumetic spotlights.
d. View in an orthographic.
e. Strokes of rain.
f. Fire design which is a lot volumetric etc.

3. Vray

The Vray rendering software for SketchUp, which was initially developed by Chaos Group, has become one of the most commonly used rendering software for SketchUp among both students of architecture as well as professionals in the field. Vray has been updated and transformed over the years with five versions released since its initial launch with Vray 6 due for release in the near future.

There are a number of reasons why V-Ray has the ability to combine vector drawing with a 3D image and simply dragging and dropping your layout into place is very easy. Regardless of whether you use a Mac or a PC, it can be used with this program.

As part of Vray's plugin for SketchUp, you are able to set scenes, add materials, and tweak lighting conditions all within the program itself. The plugin works seamlessly with SketchUp, so you will never have to leave the program to do anything.

The features that are provided by lumion are as follows:

a. Rendering in real time.
b. It can render by utilizing both the CPU and GPU or using a hybrid mode.
c. Intellegent 3D assets.
d. Library with lot of materials.
e. Map textures.
f. Real world cameras.
g. Lot of analysis on the lighting system.
h. Light mixing, adaptive sky and lights and light mixing.

To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.

Video Source: inspirationTuts CAD

4. D5 Render

This is a very recent software that was launched and has gained quite the popularituy amongst it’s users in a very short span of time because of the features In June of 2020, D5 Render was released for the public to use.

The D5 Render software is designed to be an immersive and intuitive tool designed to enhance rendering performance across a wide variety of 3D applications such as architecture, interior design, landscape, and many more. You can import models into the program and experience an instant sense of reality throughout the creation process by importing models.

The features that are provided by D5 Render software are as follows:

a. An interactive rendering system that renders in real time.
b. Results are rendered with ultra-high efficiency.
c. Impacts of the environment.
d. PBR materials with new properties.
e. View from the camera.

Best Rendering Software for SketchUp in 2022