lumenrt sketchup 01

1.0 Introduction

SketchUp is an excellent modeler which is really fast and easy to use. Even though it can do animation, with only 1 light source, it's rather difficult to get that special ambience you need for your design. Here's where you can use LumenRT for the photo-realistic quality and physically accurate lighting.

LumenRT 3 is a next generation medium that extends traditional visualization and animation capabilities into the realm of “interactive experiences”. Instead of just watching canned graphics and animations, the client becomes part of the action by navigating and interacting with models and scene elements. With features such as accurate natural lighting, real-time reflections, soft shadows, and motion blur, designs are brought to life with vivid realism and breathtaking artistry.

2.0 Getting Started

If you have successfully installed LumenRT 3, you should have the Plugins menu added into your SketchUp program.

You should also have the LumenRT3Review toolbar. You can also invoke it from the screen menu View > Toolbars > LumenRT3Review if you do not have it.

3.0 Creating/Adding Scenes

Let's open RomanBath2.skp from the folder _Sketchup on the Desktop.

You will notice there are 8 tabs of scenes already created in this model. You can add more scenes if you wish from the screen menu Window > Scenes.

SketchUp with LumenRT 3 SIACAD Pte Ltd of 6

Left-click on the + icon if you wish to add more scenes into the model.

To rename your scene, click on the expand icon

Let's animate the model. Right-click one of the tabs then select Play Animation.

You will notice that the animated model is quite bare. Let's add a cat, human characters and some trees.

4.0 Adding Contents

From the screen menu Window, select Components. Scroll down and select LumenRT then select Animals.

Left-click the Cat_Walking to insert it onto the model.

Left-click the left arrow to return to the previous component category.


Now scroll down and select Characters. Next, scroll down and select Talking. Left-click 2 Men – 1 Woman to insert into the model. Left-click Woman _ Policeman for trial version.

Let's now add some trees. Left-click the left arrow to return to the previous component category.Scroll down and select Plants.

Left-click Acacia-1 to insert into the model.

Let's scroll down for a Palm tree. Left-click the PalmCoconut-1. Left-click Banana-1 for trial version.

Once you have the trees inserted, zoom out to view the overall view.


5.0 Creating LiveCube

We are now ready to export the SketchUp model into LumenRT LiveCube.

Before we export, it is advisable to Purge Unused any unwanted components, materials and layers.

From the Window screen menu, select Model Info. Click on Statistics then Purge Unused. This will remove all unnecessary entities not used in the SketchUp model.

Now, left-click the LumenRT Interface icon

Let's change the Sky to Nice Weather. The Horizon to Mountains and the Quality to Standard (~5 min).

Left-click the Start button to export it into a LiveCube. Click OK when prompted.

When pre-processing is complete, the LiveCube will appear on screen. Click in the window to start moving around and exploring the LiveCube.

Press the left mouse button to walk forward. Move the mouse left and right to look around.

The F1 key displays the help menu and explains each of the navigation keys and navigation modes.


You may also want to try with other Sky Atmospheres and Horizon options. Once you have confirmed the ones that suit you best, you would want to select exporting with Full Lighting (~15 min). Superior (~1 hour) or Extreme (Tough Cases) quality setting is best used for final output.

6.0 Navigation Controls

The Basic Navigation Controls are the first level set of controls. The LumenRT 3 control summarydisplays each of the basic movements such as using the mouse to navigate.

The Extended Navigation Mode Controls allow refined movements and operation according to the four navigation modes:

• Animation Mode• Walk-Thru Mode• Fly-Thru Mode• Orbit Mode

These extended controls are accessed by pressing F1 (More) from the Basic Navigation Controlsdialog.

For Macbook users, the Home button is “fn+control+left arrow”. To access the F keys, you need to hold down the “fn” together with F1, F2, F3, etc.

The completed source LiveCubes are saved in the Documents/e-on software/LumenRT 3 folder. If you have closed your LiveCube and wish to explore your design again, open the folder, ie. RomanBath2_Full Lighting then double-click the LumenRT.exe (for Windows) or LumenRT.app (for Mac) without having to export it again.

If you wish to share the LiveCube with your client, left-click the Publish button then Save As onto your Desktop.

The compressed, self-executing file is very similar to a self-extracting zip file. By simply clicking on the file, ie. RomanBath2_Full Lighting.exe, the LiveCube will run automatically (you need to manually unzip the file on the Mac platform).

Press the Alt+Enter keys simultaneously for full screen view of your LiveCube.

LumenRT also lets you capture screenshots of the LiveCube anytime simply by pressing the F6 key. The screenshots are automatically anti-aliased and saved as Jpeg files in the LiveCube folder.


7.0 Experiment with Other SketchUp Model / LiveCubes

Let's experiment what we have learnt with another file that has more Scenes and full interior space.. Open Tadao_Ando-Church_of_the_Light.skp then repeat Section 5.0 again.

8.0 Conclusion

LumenRT 3 is a revolutionary product for the visualization of architectural projects in real-time 3D with photo-real illumination. Architects no longer have to choose between high-quality images and realtime visualization. You can walk or fly through your designs and experience the true quality of light in fully interactive 3D!

LumenRT 3 is the ideal solution for:• Creating a virtual interactive showroom• Demonstrating and sharing design concepts• Visualizing 3D models in client presentations• Exposing your projects in fully real-time photo-realistic 3D
