From SketchUp to D5 in 15 Minutes

In this article, we walk through the workflow step by step. No D5 Render experience required.

Step 1: Prepare your SketchUp model (5 min)

Good news: you don't need to rebuild your model completely. A few quick checks are enough:

1. Check the scale: Set your model to the correct size (a door is 2.10m high).
2. Use layers: Put furniture, trees and people on separate layers/tags.
3. Simple materials: Give your walls, floors and glass a basic color in SketchUp.

Tip: Create 2-3 "scenes" in SketchUp with your key camera viewpoints (exterior, interior, detail). You'll import them perfectly into D5.

Step 2: Install D5 Render & SketchUp connector (2 min)

Download D5 Render and install the free SketchUp LiveSync plugin.

How does it work?

1. Open your SketchUp model
2. Click "Connect to D5" (or similar button)
3. D5 opens automatically with exactly the same model: scale, position and materials intact

Your SketchUp stays open and updates live while you work in D5. Change a wall in SketchUp? You see it immediately in D5.

Step 3: Make your scene photorealistic (6 min)

D5 Render works on the "what you see is what you get" principle (WYSIWYG): every change is visible immediately. With a few simple adjustments, your design becomes ultra-realistic.

Set lighting

Choose an HDRI environment from the D5 library:

• "Sunny day" for exteriors
• "Studio softbox" for interiors
• "Golden hour" for landscapes

You immediately see the effect on shadows and reflections.

Upgrade materials

Click on each SketchUp material and choose from 1000+ PBR materials:

🏠 Walls → realistic textured concrete

🪟 Glass → thin glass with framing

🌳 Trees → ready-to-use entourage

Add entourage

Drag scene elements from the asset library:

👥 People for scale

🚗 Cars for context

🌿 Vegetation for landscape

Step 4: Render & present (2 minutes)

The hard work is done and unlike other tools, with D5 Render you don't have to wait hours for your visualizations.

1. Stills: Click your favorite camera point: Full HD or 4K and render in seconds.
2. Animation: Add 3 viewpoints and select "Render Path Animation": your short flythrough is ready.

Result: professional visuals you send directly to your client, without hours of waiting.

Why this D5 Render workflow works perfectly

Whether you're in Paris, Brussels, Antwerp or Amsterdam: SketchUp + D5 Render is language- and region-independent. For every office, this workflow delivers time savings and numerous benefits:

• Architects present faster to contractors
• Interior designers convince clients with realistic materials
• Landscape architects win tenders with contextualized renders

Try it yourself: Download D5 Render and the SketchUp connector now and test this workflow on your own model. In 15 minutes you'll have renders that impress every client.

Start with D5 Render today!

FAQ: SketchUp & D5 Render workflow

Does D5 Render work with my SketchUp version?

Yes, from SketchUp 2019 (including Pro, Studio, Make).

Do I need a powerful PC for SketchUp & D5 Render?

RTX 3060 or higher gives the best experience. Older GPUs work but are less smooth and therefore deliver inferior results.

Can I save my D5 scene and reopen it later?

Yes, D5 saves everything as a project file and maintains the SketchUp link. This way you can easily pick up where you left off.