Architectural Elevation: SketchUp Rendering Tutorial

In this tutorial we will learn how to apply digital watercolor visualization on an architectural elevation. All building elevations and construction details are directly exported from SketchUp 3D models. Rendering and layering procedure were done using Adobe Photoshop. Here are the steps:

STEP 1: First, view your house model in parallel mode, go to camera> check ‘Parallel Projection’. Set the style to ‘Shaded with Textures’.

View your model in ‘Parallel Projection’

STEP 2: For the front elevation scene, adjust the camera in front view position, go to ‘Camera’> ‘Standard Views’> click ‘Front’.

 STEP 3: Insert entourage such as 2D skp models. Copy-paste all the selected 2D models to your scene. Adjust the opacity of 2D tree textures; go to ‘Materials’ dialogue box> under ‘Select’ click ‘Sample Paint’> click the texture(s)> under ‘Material Edit’ adjust the opacity with 30-50% value.

 STEP 4: For architectural reference, make a graphic scale model using SketchUp.

Front View, Insert Entourage, Insert Graphic Scale

STEP 5: Once the entire scene was done, export several image passes of the SketchUp model.  Lock down the file size at 4000+ pixels wide. 

Adjust Image Size

Exported Image 1: Modern House

Exported Image 2: Entourage

Exported Image 3: Graphic Scale

Watercolor Texture Image

STEP 6: Open all the exported images and Watercolor texture in Photoshop. For all the layers, set the blend mode to ‘Multiply’. Follow the layering procedure below:

Background: Modern House

Layer 1: Watercolor texture

Layer 2: Entourage

Layer 3: Graphic Scale

Photoshop layering procedure

STEP 7: Remove the excess colors from the overlapping images. First, hide all layers. Next, using the ‘Magic Wand Tool’, select the upper portion of the background image> right click> click ‘Select Inverse’

Apply Magic Wand Tool

STEP 8: Select layer 1 and 2. Make sure the ‘Magic Wand Tool” guidelines is still visible before pressing the delete button.

 Select layer 1 and 2. Remove Excess Colors

STEP 9: Add Text

Add Text

STEP 10: Save your work in JPEG format.

FINAL OUTPUT

Modern House Elevation

Do the same procedure for the remaining elevations (side and rear view). Thank you!