Creating Virtual Concept Models in SketchUp - Google SketchUp Workshop: Modeling, Visualizing, and Illustrating - page 14

Once the boundaries of the space have been defined, it needs to be fitted
out. Since the building was a former military barracks in a garrison town, we
immediately thought of using Vauban as a theme.
Using the name as a keyword for an Internet image search, we easily turned
up many of Vauban's original plans, which we simply had to drag and drop
into SketchUp to create exhibition displays.
At the same time, research on Wikipedia returned a bibliography whose
first paragraph, copied into SketchUp's 3D Text tool, became an integral ele-
ment of one of the wall displays. Also, by using the 3D Text tool to change
the font and the size of the text, we were able to create a convincing title
for the exhibition.
Finally, still adhering to the same theme, Google's 3D Warehouse offers no
end of models of Star (Escarpment) Fortresses (a specialty of Vauban): You
just need to reduce them down to the appropriate scale to compete the
exhibition.
FiG 1.9 Improved model.
Stage 3: Creating an Image
Objectives : Rendering a photorealistic image of the space (lighting,
materials).
Data : 3D model.
Tools : Artlantis.
After fitting out the exhibition space, we then moved on to the rendering
proper. In view of the number of different materials to adjust and the number
of light sources that needed to be placed, we decided on Artlantis, since, in
such a situation, Artlantis is far more flexible and easy to use than Vray.