V-Ray 6 for SketchUp Brings a Stunning Palm Springs Home to Life

Chaos has recently launched V-Ray 6 for SketchUp, a 3D rendering software that connects SketchUp’s modeling software with V-Ray’s photorealistic rendering plug-in. The result is an incredibly powerful, speedy, and straightforward tool that takes photorealistic renderings and architectural animations to the next level.

In addition, architects who use Enscape with SketchUp can now design in real-time and easily enhance their visualizations with V-Ray. From photorealistic light conditions to materiality and textures, this new software can turn any design into an atmospheric wonder.

V-Ray 6 for SketchUp turned out to be the exact tool that The Archilime Academy, a creative visualization agency, was looking for. The UK-based creative agency collaborated with Koto Design, a leader in prefabricated, energy-neutral structures, to create a compelling visual story that spotlights Koto’s project in Palm Springs, California.

Inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian elements, Koto Design’s dwelling is nestled in the Palm Springs rockscape, creating a serene oasis that harmonizes with its surroundings. The site’s unique and sunny climate was prioritized when designing the dwelling and can be seen through the windows which frame the rocky outdoors and allow light to permeate inside.

The project was brought to life by leveraging V-Ray 6 for SketchUp, along with an NVIDIA RTX graphics card and Lenovo’s P1 mobile workstation. The project began by using Koto Design’s initial SketchUp model to develop the massing structure. From there, The Archilime Academy used V-Ray 6 for SketchUp to add topographic, interior, and exterior elements and create photorealistic details.

For example, V-Ray 6’s new features and SketchUp’s numerous capabilities made it possible to replicate the rocky Palm Springs topography and sunny climate. Tangible textures were added to every surface, from the rocky cliffscape to the interior wooden floors. Such ultra-real details were achieved thanks to V-Ray’s new Enmesh feature, which helps create precise geometric patterns and is ideal when working on elements that involve repetition. The Enmesh feature is memory-efficient and makes designing detailed carpets, fences, and tiles much more simple.

Additionally, The Archilime Academy made use of Chaos Scans’ high-resolution materials for the furnishings, ensuring that they looked as realistic as possible and reacted to light correctly.

Moreover, Koto Design utilized the passage of the sun when creating this Palm Springs oasis. Given how intrinsic of a role the sun played in the design, it was paramount to create realistic light conditions. V-Ray for SketchUp’s new procedural clouds feature allowed Archilime to simulate different weather conditions within their model. Such realistic skies enhanced the Palm Springs video into an atmospheric space that truly emulates the chosen site.

To produce the incredible cliff face found behind the dwelling, The Archilime Academy and Koto Design leveraged Chaos Cosmos’ library of prebuilt rock models and the V-Ray Scatter system to create a lifelike topographic site. Chaos’ expansive material assets and the V-RayScatter tools made replicating the exact rock face a straightforward and speedy process.

Like any project, communication among all parties is key. V-Ray 6 for SketchUp is compatible with Chaos Cloud Collaboration, which allows designers to upload V-Ray renders and share them with team members. At the early stage of the design, The Archilime Academy used SketchUp models and CGI reviews to collaborate with Koto Design and ensure the Palm Springs project was properly depicted on screen.

“Collaboration has been central to this project in Palm Springs” – Dan Stone, Head of Operations, The Archilime Academy.

The possibilities of a conceptual project are made limitless when successful collaboration and powerful technology are leveraged. V-Ray 6 for SketchUp proved to be the perfect architectural rendering tool for The Archilime Academy’s collaboration with Koto Design.

To learn more about the additional possibilities and new features of this renowned software, visit the Chaos website to try it for free for 30 days and discover the next generation of architectural rendering tools.