Making of Bahamas

Making of Bahamas by Nguyen Tran Huy Vu

In this tutorial I will be covering the basics of SketchUp to V-Ray for 3DS Max work flow. I will not be covering every single detail, like applying materials in 3DS Max,  since I am assuming that you already have some basic knowledge of the process.

Step 1 – The model I started with

2 - Making of Bahamas - Initial Model Created by Huyvu

Step 2 – Working with layers

3 - Making of Bahamas - Working with layers

One of the most important things when modeling here in SketchUp is the use of Layers . In this file I will divide my model into different layers following : columns, walls, beams , water, etc…

4 - Making of Bahamas - Working with layers

5 - Making of Bahamas - Working with layers

Step 3 – Exporting to 3DS Max

6 - Making of Bahamas - Exporting to 3DMax

7 - Making of Bahamas - Exporting to 3DMax

8 - Making of Bahamas - Exporting to 3DMax

When I am satisfied with the final result , I will export my completed SketchUp model SKP file to 3DS  by layer. Step by step  I will  Check “visible” layer while others remain unchecked, then I am ready to  export to 3DS.

In the option menu I will set :

Geometry:

-Export: Full hierarchy with multi objects,  if that object is a chair,then choose “Single object”
-Don’t check the  check box on “Geometry” option, unless you want to  export the current selection.

Material:
-Check “export texture maps”, It is important to check this if you plan to use sketchup materials in 3DS Max . If not , and if you want to create new materials in 3dsmax, then don’t check this option.

Cameras:

-Check “generate cameras from pages” only in the last export.  If you check this box upon each export then in your final 3DMax file you are going to have a great deal of coinciding cameras.

Step 5 – Inside  3DS Max

9 - Making of Bahamas - Inside 3D Max

Open 3DS MAX. I am using 3DS Max version 2009 but you can also use any older version . Go to File/Import and choose the last 3DS that you exported. Before completion of the import process, you must make a group of these objects  and convert them to editable poly. Then you must create  material/shade and assign it to that object. You should attach them to one object for more easy management.  Remember: only choose “yes” for the camera in question for the  THE LAST imported step.

10 - Making of Bahamas - Inside 3D Max

11 - Making of Bahamas - Inside 3D Max

12 - Making of Bahamas - Inside 3D Max

Step 6 – Creating V-Ray sky and sun

13 - Making of Bahamas - Creating V-Ray sky and sun

Now I will create V-Ray Sky and V-ray Sun:  Click and Drag to make V-Ray Sky and V-Ray Sun. After I have created  V-Ray Sun I will switch to Front View and move towards the sky (move forward following the  z axis)

14 - Making of Bahamas - Creating V-Ray sky and sun

15 - Making of Bahamas - Creating V-Ray sky and sun

16 - Making of Bahamas - Creating V-Ray sky and sun

17 - Making of Bahamas - Creating V-Ray sky and sun

Step 7 – Creating  background cylinder

18 - Making of Bahamas - Creating background cylinder

I will create the environment in the form of a cylinder. After I completed that I will assign a material background image to it. The cylinder shouldn’t be to big . It should  coincide with the size of the building.

19 - Making of Bahamas - Creating background cylinder

And for the end, these were my final V-Ray render settings.

20 - Making of Bahamas - Final V-ray render settings

And here are the final renders:

20 - Making of Bahamas - Final render

21 - Making of Bahamas - Final render

End of this tutorial.