Ease of Use Features


Ease of Use

Fully integrated into SketchUp

IRender nXt Toolbar in SketchUp


This means that the IRender settings are stored in the SketchUp model, so you do not have to make changes if you reload the model, or for subsequent renderings of the same model.

Rendering settings and rendering functions are all available from a SketchUp toolbar.


Lighting Presets


The Presets lets you choose predefined settings for the most common lighting situations.

There are a lot of settings to create special lighting effects. The presets make it easier to get a good rendering without having to make all the setting manually.

Standard Presets


Indirect Lighting

Incorporate the effects of reflected light, such as the reflected cove lighting above this suspended ceiling.


Indirect Lighting refers to the IRender nXt feature of processing light reflected from mirrors and other surfaces.

This creates a realistic lighting effect which improves with each successive rendering pass. Indirect should be used with most interiors scenes to soften the lighting effects.



Auto Reflection

Auto Reflection wizard


Auto Reflection makes materials reflective by using a matching word pattern method in the material name. The reflection values for intensity, sharpness, index of refraction, and bump are preset, so reflection values for materials do not have to be individually set.

For example, you can specify that all material names that match the pattern "steel" will be 90% reflective and metallic.

Any assigned materials with names that match the list of patterns, and for which you have not already set specific reflection values, will render with the preset reflection values from Auto Reflection.


(If you do set reflection values for an assigned material, your settings will override the Auto Material settings.)

Rotate View While Rendering

View and Rotate model while rendering.


View rotate.png - The View Rotate rendering toolbar button lets you change the view and zoom after rendering, and re-render without having to change the view in SketchUp, re-extract and re-render the model.

While changing views, the original model from SketchUp is shown with its SketchUp colors and textures.

Change the view as desired and re-render when done.


Section Planes

Section Plane cutout rendering. Front wall is sectioned out, but still used for lighting, shadows and reflections


You can use SketchUp Section Planes to cut sections through your IRender nXt model.

Sun and Shadows

Shadows from lights.


IRender nXt uses sun and shadow settings from SketchUp.

In addition, lamps and lights can be added for additional lighting and shadow effects.


Sample Models and Renderings

Select and start with Sample Models


Additions to the Sample Models and Tutorials dialog include tabs for Rendering Tips, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), Tip of the Day, and a link to popular IRender nXt Videos.


Render directly from SketchUp

Click the green ball for one-step rendering


One click rendering from inside SketchUp and SketchUp Pro.


Resume Rendering

Resume Rendering


Resume Rendering lets you continue a rendering which has been completed - either because the number of passes or rendering time limit has been exceeded, or because you clicked the Stop Rendering button - and add more passes.

IRender nXt is a multi-pass rendering system. The early passes allow you to quickly check settings - such as lighting and materials. With Resume Rendering you can render for just 20 passes or os, see how it looks, and if you like it add more passes, or a time limit, and continue without having to start over.

After rendering, you can either make changes and restart the rendering, or use Resume Rendering to add more passes for better results.


Save Rendered Image Wizard

Save Rendered Image.jpg


Click the Save button on the Toolbar to Save your Rendered Image Revit save image button.png

Image Formats

  • JPEG - with and without comments.
  • PNG files - compressed and no loss of quality.
  • Transparent PNG files - compressed and no loss of quality.
  • Native nXt Image - nXtImage format contains the intensities, depths and materials for use with with the nXt Image Editor .
  • HDRi - saves the rendering image with an intensity channel.
  • EXR - another format with intensity information.
  • See: Save Rendered Image Wizard


See also