Architectural_Design_with_SketchUp

Architectural Design with SketchUp
7. In my example (see accompanying image), I placed the side texture close to where the
top texture ends so that color and seams line up better. Although this does not give us
a perfect end grain for the boards, it provides us with something that looks similar to
vertical-grain boards—especially if viewed from a distance.
These steps allow you to position most materials in SketchUp. In general, homogenic
materials such as concrete, brick, and metals are easy to apply and straighten using the process
outlined here. If you use non-homogenic materials (where one side looks much different
than another side), it may be necessary to use other methods. Figure 5.77 shows some
of these approaches for the case of a rough-looking old wooden beam.
Figure 5.77: Three different texture-positioning methods in SketchUp (1st image: no end texture, 2nd: sample and paint; 3rd: paint projected
texture; 4th: adding an additional end-grain texture)
The second image shows the same technique that we used previously: The top-surface
texture was sampled and then painted on the end of the beam. As you can see, this method
fails in this case because the end grain of the beam should be visible.
The third image shows an approach whereby the top-surface texture was first converted
to a projected texture (right-click on the surface and select Texture k Projected). Then it
was sampled and applied to the end. As you can see, this simply extrudes the texture at the
end, giving it unnatural-looking stripes. Although this method may work well in other cases,
it fails in this case.
The right image finally shows the only feasible method: adding a separate end-grain texture
to the beam. This gives the wooden beam the most realistic look. Especially with wood
(but also some other materials) it is important to keep a few “end” textures handy. Close-up
renderings benefit greatly from those.
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