1-800-710-1900
software solutions for landscape professionals

Shaderlight

To purchase Shaderlight contact DynaSCAPE Sales: 1.800.710.1900

  • Overview
  • Features and Specifications
  • How it Works
  • Gallery
Make your 3D models come to life
Google SketchUp allows you to develop your design ideas in 3D, but your models won’t look as real as they can be until you render them. Rendering software can be added to SketchUp to bring your models to life. With Shaderlight you can make amazing rendered images for your presentations that will help your clients visualize your ideas. As they always say, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’.

See the difference Shaderlight makes
You’ll see how Shaderlight transforms your 3D models the moment you start using it. Shaderlight is interactive and it converts your 3D design into beautiful images right before your eyes. You can show how it looks at any time of the day, including night time with full landscape lighting effects.

Rendering software does not have to be hard to use
Rendering has never been as easy as it is now with Shaderlight’s built-in tool bar that lets you bring your images to life in a few simple clicks. It’s fully integrated into SketchUp and they’ve taken the complexity out of rendering so you can focus on creating better images.

SketchUp Screenshot Shaderlight Render – evening Shaderight Render – night time




Shaderlight Features in Detail

Use with Mac or Windows

Shaderlight is available for both Mac and Windows and will run with both Free and Pro versions of SketchUp version 7.1 or 8. For the best results run Shaderlight with the latest version of Google SketchUp. Rendering software relies on your computer’s processor speed and memory.

Recommended System Requirements
The system requirements for Shaderlight for SketchUp will be no more than that required to run SketchUp; however, we recommend at least 4GB RAM and 1.65 GHz dual core processor.  See the full system requirements

Simple interface
Shaderlight’s close integration to Google SketchUp will make you feel right at home. You render directly from your SketchUp toolbar and there’s no need to import your model first.

Interactive rendering
Shaderlight gives you a choice of rendering modes to optimize your workflow. Choose between progressive rendering with auto-updates for interactive feedback, then switch to single shot to render at full quality.

Replace Me
Shaderlight’s fantastic new Replace Me feature lets you render detailed models without filling your SketchUp scene with geometry.  Choose from our library of Replace Me models, or create your own with the Replace Me creator plugin. Click here to see more: http://www.youtube.com/embed/czKJfFVb85U

Night Lighting
It’s easy to create landscape lighting scenes from your models with Shaderlight. Simply add Shaderlight’s light components to your model, or use DS|Sketch3D’s landscape fixture models with the light component built in. It’s now even easier to create real world lighting using Shaderlight-ready light fixtures with embedded IES files to give you the exact light and shadow detail the manufacturer intended.

Real world effects
Add accurate materials and textures to your 3D model with simple presets direct from SketchUp and adjustable settings to get the perfect finish.

Accurate Illumination
Illuminate your scene using the SketchUp's sun, image-based lighting or the Shaderlight physical sky. It's never been simpler to show your 3D model in its real-life setting using image-based lighting or physical sky and your own background image. Professional lighting images and backgrounds are included in Shaderlight Pro.

Scene animation
Create photorealistic animations direct from SketchUp with this brand new feature, available in Shaderlight Pro v2.

Presentation tools
Render plans, elevations and isometric viewpoints, or choose Chalk Render mode to produce form studies for a quick, clear presentation of your design intent.




How Shaderlight Works

Shaderlight is simple to use for the beginner and it has plenty of features and effects for the more advanced user. Its installs a 5 button toolbar in SketchUp, so it feels natural and fits seamlessly with your workflow.

Pick your Scenes
Before running Shaderlight your first step is to decide which angles of your finished model that you feel give the best view of your design ideas. Use SketchUp’s scenes so you can go back to the same angle quickly whenever you need to change something.

Start Shaderlight
Click on the camera icon to start the Shaderlight render process. It’s really that easy. Shaderlight has preset all the correct settings for SketchUp’s materials so you can start rendering without changing anything. You can watch the render develop right in front of your eyes. Save the image when the render is complete, and then select your next scene. No need to close Shaderlight – it’ll start the next render right away. You can make adjustments to your model or to the Shaderlight settings while it’s running!

Shaderlight

Shadows
There are two ways to ensure shadows appear in Shaderlight. If your model is small you can turn shadows on in SketchUp but because SketchUp slows down a lot with shadows on larger models, you are better off choosing the Physical Sky option in Shaderlight settings.

Shadows

Adjust Material Type, Finish and Bump
Shaderlight’s Material Editor lets you adjust the type of material, the finish and the amount of bump (relief) of your textures to make them look more life-like. For example, water textures can be made reflective and show a ripple effect.

Adjust Material Type

Adjust Lighting, Time of Day
Adjust the time of day and time of year with SketchUp’s shadow settings to change how your render looks. You can do this while Shaderlight is running and watch it change.

Adjust Lighting, Time of Day

Landscape Lighting
Shaderlight lets you create realistic night lighting scenes to show clients how their property will look with the landscape lighting you are proposing.

Shaderlight lets you create realistic night lighting

 

Sample Models Rendered by Shaderlight for SketchUp