Photorealistic

This is a sample image saved from SketchUp demonstrating shading, transparency, materials, etc.
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This is the same model run through the IRender renderer demonstrating lights, multiple shadows, reflection, Antialiasing, and soft shadows.

Photorealistic refers to creating images which resemble a photograph.

SketchUp and OpenGL

SketchUp uses an OpenGL renderer to achieve several photorealistic effects:

PhotoRealistic Renderings

High-end Photorealistic Renderers attempt to be more like a photograph by adding:

See Also

SketchUp Plugins for Photorealism