Render Settings for Sections in SketchUp
🛠️ Method 1: Using Native SketchUp Styles (Basic)
Place a Section Plane (Tools → Section Plane) across your model.
Right-click → Activate Section Cut.
Open Styles Panel (Window → Default Tray → Styles).
Go to Edit → Modeling Settings:
Turn Section Fills ON (to get solid cut areas).
Adjust Section Line Thickness/Color (make cuts bold).
Enable Shadows (View → Shadows).
Add materials & textures for realism.
Save style → apply to scenes.
👉 This works well for simple architectural drawings.
🛠️ Method 2: Using a Renderer (V-Ray / Enscape etc.)
Renderers don’t always show SketchUp section cuts directly — so you need special settings:
For V-Ray (most common)
Place a Section Plane.
Turn it into a V-Ray Clipper:
Right-click section plane → V-Ray Clipper.
Or use V-Ray Toolbar → Clipper icon.
In Asset Editor → Geometry → VRayClipper adjust:
Cut Material → choose a solid color (for cut surfaces).
Enable/Disable Affect Lights & Shadows.
Render → You’ll get a photorealistic section with materials, lights, and shadows.
For Enscape
Activate section plane in SketchUp.
Enscape will respect section cuts automatically.
Add lighting, materials, entourage for realism.
📌 Pro Tips
Use styles for 2D drawings, render engines for realistic views.
Always set up Scenes (top view, perspective section, interior cutaway).
Use shadows to add depth.
For presentation: export both Hidden Line view + Rendered view → overlay in Photoshop for a polished look.
✅ Summary:
In SketchUp itself → use Styles + Section Fill + Shadows.
In V-Ray/Enscape → use V-Ray Clipper / section cuts for realistic renders.
