Art of SketchUp: Texture Workflow

San Francisco based Professional designer and conceptual artist, Ken Nguyen has produced some really exciting textured SketchUp models and shows us here his workflow that he uses for these great 3D models. Ken does most of his texturing in Photoshop, using different types of layers, for example diffuse/colors/materials, scratches, dirt, highlights, etc. He then utilizes with the different layer styles to get the results he wants (multiply, overlay, etc.).

Steam-Punk Submarine

This is Ken’s texturing workflow and post-processing for this first 3D model.

Submarine Concept

1. V-Ray for SketchUp raw render output.

Raw Render

2. Textures with Layer blending mode set to Overlay.

Textures - Overlay

3. Shadows with Layer blending mode set to Multiply.
TIP: For this shadow output from SketchUp go to View>Face style>Monochrome; View>Edge style>Uncheck all; Shadow settings dialog, Light 100, Dark 0, Shadows on; Window>Styles>Face settings, set the default color for both Front and Back faces to pure white (RGB 255).

Shadows - Multiply

4. SketchUp lines, Layer blending mode set to Multiply.

TIP: For just lines go to View>Face Style>Hidden line with Shadows off.

SketchUp Lines - Multiply

5. Scratches/dirt with Layer blending mode set to Multiply or Overlay.

Scratches/Dirt - Multiply or Overlay

6. Finish with highlights using Dodge and Burn and combine all layers, that’s it job done!

Highlights

Example Layer Stack (Submarine)

Typical layer stack in texture workflow.

Photoshop Layer Stack

Sepecat Jaguar GR1 Single Seat All-Weather Attack Aircraft

Next model we looked at was this fantastic 3D model of a Sepecat Jaguar GR1.

Sepecat Jaguar GR1

1. Shadow Layer for aircraft.

Shadows

2. V-Ray for SketchUp raw render output.

V-Ray Raw Output

3. Diffuse, colors and materials.

Diffuse, colors, materials

4. Scratches, set Layer blending mode to Overlay or Multiply.

Scratches

5. SketchUp Line output with Layer blending mode set to Multiply.

SketchUp Lines - Multiply

6. Final composite, highlights and Layers merged.

Final Composite

Space Fighter Concept

1. Shadow Layer.

Shadows

2. Raw V-Ray render output.

Raw Render

3. Scratches and Grimmap Layer.

Scratches/Dirt - Multiply or Overlay

4. Highlights.

Highlights

5. SketchUp Lines output with Layer blending mode set to Multiply.

SketchUp Lines - Multiply

6. Final composite image.

Final Composite

BRMD – Combat Reconnaissance Patrol Vehicle

Here’s another quick workflow tutorial by Ken showing more layers than the previous workflow images. Usually most of his renders contain an alpha channel so he can separate the vehicle from the background. You can have the alpha channel, either with the option in V-Ray for Sketchup (or any other rendering engines should have it, too), or create your own in Sketchup my making your model all black and the background white, simple! In this particular texture workflow, Ken has also shown a Decal layer. He uses them for the little details. In the previous workflows he has merged them in the Diffuse/Colors layer.
1. Background with Shadows.