IRender nXt with Giza Models

Giza model rendered with IRender nXt

The article explains how to use IRender nXt on Google SketchUp to render office furniture models created with Giza.

Load Giza Model into SketchUp

1. Export you Giza model to DWG Format

2. Imported the DWG into SketchUp. Be sure to set the units to inches, in the Import Options, so the model will be the proper size.

3. Although you are used to using "color by layer" in AutoCAD, and Giza, when the DWG is imported, materials are already created to match the layer materials.

There will be materials for each Giza color - such as Material110 for Giza color 10.
(This will make it much easier to add textures and reflection properties to the materials using IRender nXt.

Add Texture to Material

4. The IRender Material Placer makes it easy to place materials on a surface, without having to open the component for editing.

In this case, I wanted to add a texture to an existing material
A. Select the IRender Paint Brush icon to load the IRender Material Wizard
B. Click the "Pick" wizard to select a material in the drawing (you do not have to explode or open components, it finds the material automatically)
C. Click on the material you want to change. (In this case it is Material10 (made from Giza color 10)
D. Notice that the material is automatically selected in the SketchUp material window as well.

(more steps below image)

Select-material.jpg


Specify texture image.jpg

5. Add a texture to the SketchUp Material

A Click the Edit tab in the SketchUp Material window
B.Click the browse button to select a texture for the material
I should have selected a repeat size - I left it at 1'
All surfaces with Material10 in the model are altered to use the new texture

Multiple-surfaces.jpg

Make Material Reflective

6. Make the material reflective

A. Right click on the material in SketchUp to load the IRender material editor
B. Click the reflective icon on the left to make it reflective.

Make material reflective.jpg

Add Light and Render

9. I placed an IRender Table Lamp on the work surface to light it up and give it something to reflect. 10. I clicked the green button to start the rendering

Worksurface rendering.jpg


See also