SketchUp and Rendering

[daver]

Simon's thread showing his fitted dresser brought up the topic of rendering and concerns about the time it takes to get to a finished image. For woodworkers, these are valid concerns to have. No matter how realistic the image is, when you've finished it you still can't sleep on it or eat dinner at it or store your small clothes in it. Still, these images can have great value if you are using them to communicate with clients. Some cabinetmakers still prefer to make a back-of-the-fag-packet sketch and call it good. Coupled with their own mental image of the project, that might be enough for them to understand what they are going to build. But for the client that is rarely enough to communicate details clearly. And, if you're doing work for clients, it doesn't usually make sense to surprise them with the finished project.

So maybe the photorealistic render of the project requires some time investment on the front end. Maybe, though, that winds up saving you some time later by reducing or even eliminating rework because there is no surprise for the client when you deliver the project. A client who gets what they were expecting is likely to be happy and might pass on their satisfaction to other potential clients. Maybe the little bit of extra effort pays dividends beyond the project. Also consider that the images you present to the client also give an impression of you and your work. Even if you are the best cabinetmaker on the planet, the impression you make with the client will override your skill.

Now, as I said before, the time invested doesn't have to be that great. It's the same as the things you do in the shop. How long do you spend hand cutting dovetails for drawers. If you've been doing it, for awhile I'd guess you are much faster than when you started.

I don't need to do a lot of renders for images for work for clients and when I do, I tend to keep them simple and don't go for fully photo-realistic. It seems to work for the clients.

[Neil_C]

Hi Dave,

Thank you for your post. Every time I see what you have produced with SU, I am in awe.

Cheers,
Neil

[woodsmith]

Thanks for showing us your work, it's inspiring.

[hammertime]

Fantastic drawings. Must keep trying with sketchup and one day......

[promhandicam]

I'd be more than happy to be able to quickly produce drawings like the attic built in which would be more than sufficient for my customers.

This is more my level



which got me the job, but couldn't be mistaken for the actual vanity unit

[woodsmith]

Steve that's a good drawing, I'd be happy with that.

[simuk]

Nice drawings Steve & dave

[promhandicam]

Nice drawings Steve & dave

I'm not sure that putting my name and Dave's in the same sentence when talking about drawing ability is strictly right - unless you are trying to humour me now I'm a mod!

[simuk]

Nice drawings Steve & dave

I'm not sure that putting my name and Dave's in the same sentence when talking about drawing ability is strictly right - unless you are trying to humour me now I'm a mod!