KatsBits Community

How to render objects like SketchUp in Blender (https://www.katsbits.com/tutorials/video/render-sketchup.php)

Rendering SketchUp style images in Blender is relatively straightforward (i.e. rendering object in flat white with black wireframe outlines) and means setting a materials "Diffuse" colour to "white", activating "Ambient Occlusion" in "World" properties and crucially, selecting "Edge" in "Render" properties. Then "F12" to render.

For detailed explanation and example file download click here (https://www.katsbits.com/tutorials/video/render-sketchup.php).

Scene lighting set-up
Scene lighting used to render the objects is a relatively simple three-point set-up, using "Lamp" objects as follows; primary lamp placed upper front-right, secondary is placed back-right mid-height, with third placed left-side offset towards the front (all Lamps are above the horizon/ground plain).

Primary lamp brightness is set so it influences the entire scene (generally casts the strongest shadows/shading/illumination), with secondary and tertiary acting as 'fill' lights of lower value to remaining angles and aspects of the scene receive some illumination (prevents/limits flat black shadows/shading).

Each lamp has a relatively large influence so much of the Scene is covered no matter the light source with [1] being the primary and brightest. Lamp object [3] generally acts as a back-light which limits the amount of harsh shadowing that can occur towards the rear of a Scene.

very nice, i especially like the ao mixed with the wire over solid.

True. There's something to be said for the simplicity of this type of render (Blenders internal does provide quite a few options so I'm often slightly bemused by the need to render everything externally). Slightly OT, just putting a sample file together which will be available for appending/inspection for those that need it.

Nicely done! There's a lot to be said for these kinds of renders even if you're not interested in the engineering/architectural angle. Just one thought though. It's good that you can do this with Blender internal but have you tried Freestyle? http://freestyle.sourceforge.net/index.php I think one of the best aspects of blender is the api which lets you embed many different renderers which all work natively and I think choosing the best one for the job is an important part of the render process.

wow, some of those freestyle renders look like they were drawn by a human, and their technical drawing renders are also very impressive. i do also agree with kat, the internal blender renderer is fine for a lot of tasks.