Make realistic 3D renderings of PCB designs with SketchUp and Maxwell

[[image:Render_.jpg|600px]]

==Overview==

We started building 3D models of our projects in [http://sketchup.google.com/ Google SketchUp], and rendering real-life images with the [http://www.maxwellrender.com/index.php/maxwell_for_google_sketchup Maxwell Fire engine], and the [http://www.kerkythea.net/joomla/ open source Kerkythea]. The Maxwell Fire engine is really easy to use and is integrated directly into SketchUp so you don't need to open any other application to build real-life images of your models. [[Rendering your 3D models part2|If you want to try the Kekythea instead, check out part2 of this tutorial]].

Our goal with this guide is to help you get started with awesome looking images of your projects for presentation, marketing, and other purposes.

==Downloading and installing the Maxwell Render for Google SketchUp==

You'll need to have a model already build and SketchUp installed to render images of the model. If you haven't already, check out our [http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/Build_3D_models_from_Eagle_files tutorial on how to build 3D models form Cadsoft Eagle board(.brd) files].

If you have SketchUp installed, download and install [http://www.maxwellrender.com/index.php/maxwell_for_google_sketchup/download_buy Maxwell for Google SketchUp] (free version) rendering engine. The scope of this guide is just to get you started, it is not intended as an advanced curse in rendering. As such only the most basic options will be covered.

==Opening the model and activating the Maxwell toolbar==

[[image:Render_toolbar.jpg]]

Open the model in SketchUp that you would like to render. If the Maxwell toolbar isn't activated go to ''View'' -> ''toolbars'' -> ''Maxwell'' and check it. The toolbar should look as in the picture above.
Going from left to right the buttons on the toolbar are.
*''Maxwell Fire'' - Starts rendering the image
*''Browse for an MXM file'' - Search for material files
*''Browse the MCM gallery'' - Opens an MXM gallery (if you have one)
*''MXM Status Report'' - Displays all the materials used in the model
*''Scene Manager'' - Opens a GUI where you setup your model, and adjust the materials, lighting conditions, camera options, etc...
*''Material Picker Tool'' - selects a material in the model
*''Pick DOF, Z-Clip or Z-buffer'' - Pick various points for your camera options
*''Set focal distance'' - Lets you click on the focal distance point you would like for you image
*Last three are manuals and the ''about'' popup

==Editing the materials of the model==

[[image:Render_MetEdit.jpg|600px]]

To edit the materials in your model just click on the ''Scene Manager'' button in the Maxwell toolbar. A GUI will open up. Make sure you are in the ''Materials'' tab (leftmost). Click on the ''Entity/material selection tool''. Your mouse pointer should change its shape into a dropper like tool. Simply click with this any surface of your model whose material you would like to edit.

[[image:Render_MatEdit4.jpg|600px]]

Now that material is loaded into the ''Scene Manger'' GUI. The name of the material is at the top. What we are interested is the ''Character'' tab (leftmost, 3 small sliders in its icon). Here you can change the type of material you would like, for example, plastic, metal, glass, etc...

[[image:Render_.MatEdit3jpg|600px]]

Once you chose a type, you can experiment with various options regarding its roughness or and reflectiveness (Nd). AS you change various options the preview window will change and show you how that material will look in your image.

Repeat the process for all the materials in the model that you feel need to be changed.

==Choosing the render viewpoint==

Once you setup all the materials in the model, swivel (middle mouse click) and move (hand tool) the model into the position you would like to make a rendering of.

==Rendering options==

[[image:Render_renderOptions.jpg]]

Once you are satisfied with your model's positioning click ''Maxwell Fire'' (leftmost) in the Maxwell toolbar. The image will immediately start to render. But there are a few options here you can select that will influence the length and quality of the rendering process. Click ''Stop'' (leftmost button) , and then click ''Settings'' (rightmost button). Here you have the flowing 3 options:
*''SL'' - The number of iterations the engine will make during the render (higher the number, higher the quality, and longer it will take to render, we recommend 15)
*''Threads'' - The number of threads the rendering engine will use on your CPU, we recommend you chose the same number of threads as there are cores in your CPU
*''Max.Res.'' - The resolution of the with of the image, the highest resolution is 800px in width for the free copy

==Rendering the image==

[[image:Render_REndering.jpg|600px]]

Once you made your rendering setting click Done, and click GO (leftmost Button). And that it, all that is left is to wait for the engine to render your image. It takes us on average around 40 minutes to render an 800px image with 16 iterations, on a AMD Phenom II x3 running at 3.6 GHz.

==Saving the image==

[[image:Render_saving.jpg|600px]]

Once your rendering is done, you simply click on the the Save Image button and save your image in the PNG format.

[[Rendering your 3D models part2|In part 2 of this tutorial we will cover rendering with Kekythea]].