From SketchUp to Lumion: a clean workflow for stunning renders

Lumion can turn a SketchUp model into a photoreal image in minutes — if the model is prepared well. Most rendering problems actually start in SketchUp.

1. Model cleanly

• Keep faces oriented correctly — reversed (blue-grey) faces can render incorrectly.
• Avoid overlapping coplanar faces; they cause flickering ("z-fighting").
• Give glass, frames and walls real thickness.

2. Organise by material

Lumion assigns materials by the SketchUp material name. Use clear, unique names — Glass_Clear, Wood_Oak_Floor, Concrete_Exposed — so you can swap each one for a physically based Lumion material in a single click.

3. Use LiveSync while designing

LiveSync streams changes from SketchUp to Lumion in real time. It's ideal for testing materials and camera angles while the design is still evolving.

4. Light like a photographer

Pick the sun angle first: low sun gives long shadows and warm tones; midday sun gives crisp, neutral light. For interiors, combine the sun with area lights at windows and spotlights for accents.

5. Finish with effects — sparingly

1. Real skies and shadows for realism.
2. A touch of depth of field to draw focus.
3. Subtle colour correction — avoid over-saturating.

Our SketchUp and Lumion courses are designed to be taken together, so your models are render-ready from the start.