ArielVision
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ArielVision is the only SketchUp rendering plugin you need! ArielVision's seamless SketchUp integration and lighting and material settings make it easy to render photorealistic images, at an affordable price.  Exterior SketchUp model rendered with ArielVision
By offering just the options and settings you need, ArielVision makes it easier to learn to render then it was to learn SketchUp
ArielVision uses a simple dialog to set properties on SketchUp materials, such as reflections, and has a Wizard to create many common lights. Many good renderings can be created with a single button click and no changes to the model at all. |
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Need More?
ArielVision is the perfect combination of high-quality rendering while still being extremely easy to use. ArielVision is a low cost, easy to use rendering package which makes very good results. It is easy to use because it contains only the features you need for good renderings.
If you are looking for a full featured rendering package, with many, many more features, also at an attractive price, check out IRender nXt
IRender nXt costs just a bit more, but has many, many more rendering features. The additional features can make it seem harder to use - because to use special things like fog, depth of field, caustic glass, etc. you have to decide whether to turn them on and you often have to set values which effect them. These features can make even better renderings, but it may take more time to set them up.
How should I decide which renderer purchase?
Features:
If you want to have all the high-end features available - even if you don't use them right away - then you should choose IRender nXt. If you want to create better hi-res images from your SketchUp model, but don't want to have to learn how to use advanced rendering features - like Depth-of-Field, Special Reflection Settings, Special Transparency Settings, etc. - then ArielVision is the right choice for you.
Cost
If you are using SketchUp and rendering as part of your professional offering, and are using it to increase or support your business, then IRender nXt should fit within your budget. If cost is your primary concern, then ArielVision may be the right choice for you.
Sample Models
See: ArielVision Sample Models
Sample Interior
This interior scene was create by downloading a vanity, mirror and shower stall from the 3D Warehouse, right clicking on materials to set reflection and placing ceiling lights in the ceiling. This rendering took less than 1 minute to complete.
Material Settings
One of the things which make ArielVision easy to use is that a single, simple Wizard is used to place ArielVision material and texture settings directly on the SketchUp Materials. Once you set these values they are saved in your SketchUp model and automatically used for all renderings.
Textures, colors and transparency settings are automatically read from the SketchUp model. Additional settings are added to the material in SketchUp to create more realistic renderings
This Dialog is loaded by right clicking on any surface containing the material and setting the amount of reflection. The reflection is automatically applied to all other surfaces which use the same material.
- Reflections - percentage reflection for mirrors, metals, or reflective surfaces.
- Self glow - for signs, monitors or other items which ned additional brightness.
- Self Glow brightens up a material as if it had additional lighting on it.
- See: Self Glow
- Illumination - treats this material as a light source. Set a value from 0 to 200 in watts.
- Transparency - shows and sets the transparency - matching the SketchUp Opacity setting.
- Index of Refraction (IOR) - sets special properties for glass and other transparent materials.
- Use Auto Bump - check to turn on Auto Bump for materials with texture images.
- See: Auto Bump
- Use Blurry Reflection - turns on blur for reflective surfaces. Otherwise reflection is sharp - as for a mirror.
- See: Blurry Reflection
Lights
For Interior Scenes, and nighttime scenes is is easy to add lights.
There are three ways to set lights in ArielVision:
- Point light, spot light, and ceiling lights can be added to the drawing using the Light Wizard. These light components can be created at any size or wattage desired. See: ArielVision Lamp Wizard
- Any material can be set to glow and become a light using the same Material Properties dialog used for reflection. (This turns all surfaces using the same material into lights)
- Any object can be set to glow and be a light bulb by right clicking on it and selecting: Set Object Illumination. This is useful for models which already have a light bulb in the model.
Fully Integrated into SketchUp
All renderings settings - reflection, lights, etc. - are stored in you SketchUp model and the rendering is created with a single click on the ArielVision Toolbar - which starts the rendering. You can return to the model and re-render it without having to define materials and lights or make make other renderings settings - everything is remembered and stored in the model.
Installation
- Downloads - you can download a copy from: Download ArielVision.
- Trial Version - ArielVision should automatically run in trial version, and if you have previously tested our rendering products, you should get a new trial version for ArielVision. See: Trial Version below.
- Forum - Report any problems either on the ArielVision Forum
Quick Overview
How it works
ArielVision gets its rendering information from SketchUp materials. colors, transparency and textures are set normally in SketchUp and used for rendering. Reflection and Glow settings are assigned to materials by right clicking on any surface which already contains the material, and setting the properties. (You do not have to drill into groups and components. ArielVision will automatically find the proper material for you.
ArielVision can render the scene using as many rendering passes as desired. (Rendering passes use additional lighting samples from the sun, sky, and lights to make smoother shadows and more realistic effects. Initially, while you are learning, a limit of 40 passes is used. Later you can increase the number of passes as desired.
You can render at any resolution or render quality desired. Higher resolutions and higher render quality takes more time per pass and more time for the complete rendering. Initially, ArielVision is set to use a medium resolution so you can preview your model quickly and increase the resolution later if desired.
ArielVision uses one of 4 sets of presets for lighting, based on the type of model you are rendering.
ArielVision defines material properties and rendering settings inside of SketchUp and saves them in you SketchUp model. One button click is all that is necessary to create and view the rendering.
There are additional settings for HDRi skies (360 degree, images which enhanced illunination and brightness information stored in the image), and for other background images.
A quick first rendering
1. After installation, load a SketchUp model and select 'Load ArielVision' from the plugins menu.
(I always beg people to start with a small model first to see how the renderer works. But I know you will probably start with your largest model first anyway.)
2. Right click on a material in you model - and select ArielVision Edit Material, (or ArielVision Create Material) to set the reflection and glow properties for the material.
One of the things which make ArielVision easy to use is that a single, simple Wizard is used to place ArielVision material and texture settings directly on the SketchUp Materials. Once you set these values they are saved in your SketchUp model and automatically used for all renderings.
Textures, colors and transparency settings are automatically read from the SketchUp model. Additional settings are added to the material in SketchUp to create more realistic renderings
This Dialog is loaded by right clicking on any surface containing the material and setting the amount of reflection. The reflection is automatically applied to all other surfaces which use the same material.
- Reflections - percentage reflection for mirrors, metals, or reflective surfaces.
- Self glow - for signs, monitors or other items which ned additional brightness.
- Self Glow brightens up a material as if it had additional lighting on it.
- See: Self Glow
- Illumination - treats this material as a light source. Set a value from 0 to 200 in watts.
- Transparency - shows and sets the transparency - matching the SketchUp Opacity setting.
- Index of Refraction (IOR) - sets special properties for glass and other transparent materials.
- Use Auto Bump - check to turn on Auto Bump for materials with texture images.
- See: Auto Bump
- Use Blurry Reflection - turns on blur for reflective surfaces. Otherwise reflection is sharp - as for a mirror.
- See: Blurry Reflection
3. Load the Setup Menu from the ArielVision Toolbar, and select the lighting preset which best matches your model:
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| Preset | Description | Usage |
| High Dynamic | (default) Uses an HDRi sky for reflection and illumination which is very effective for many renderings without using the sun or any exterior lights. This provides a nice lighting effect for viewing individual items. | - exterior scenes or isolated objects when you want to create an interesting, subtle, lighting effect, inst4ead of using the sun or interior lights. |
| Exterior | turns on the sun and the sky, and high ambient lighting. | - exterior scenes when the effects of sunlight are desired. |
| Interior w/sun | turns on the sun and the sky, and lowers the ambient light so interior lights will be effective as well. | - interior scenes with windows and interior lights. If you do not have interior artificial lights, then use Exterior instead. |
| Interior - no sun | turns off the sun and sky, with lowered ambient lighting. | - interior scenes with windows, or scenes with windows when the effect of light coming in through the windows is not desired. |
| HDRi sky | Adds an HDRi sky with sky, clouds and background trees. | - Exterior Scenes with window reflections, or which would benefit form a sky and trees background. |
4. Click the green render button on the toolbar and watch your scene render.
Trial Version
ArielVision has a 30-day trial version.
Summary of Features
| ArielVision Features | |
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Contact Us
email: Render Plus Support Email
Forum: ArielVision Forum