'Sketch Rendering' is a very useful and popular feature, which is built on standard Photorendering processes within ArchiCAD.
It is possible to visualise a design/model in a non-photorealistic mode, similar to hand-drawn sketches.
Sketch Rendering creates an image (e.g. JPG, TIF etc) that can be
(i) emailed directly to a client,
(ii) included in a PowerPoint presentation
(iii) placed on an ArchiCAD Layout
As with any rendering in ArchiCAD, the more developed/accurate the model, the better the rendering will look.
To setup the Sketch Render to produce an appropriate 'look-and-feel' requires changes to the default settings.
The default settings can look slightly unusual, so understanding the impact of changing the Sketch Render settings allows the user more freedom to tailor/manipulate the render to suit their own preferred sketch style
Sketch Render settings can be modified at the following pulldown menu: Document > Creative Imaging > Photorendering Settings
Using any of the Preset Sketch Styles can yield render results that are not expected or appropriate, typically the sketch lines are too thick or the extensions lines are too imposing.
This is where understanding the sketch settings is extremely important.
- 'Line Style' controls the 'sketch stroke' element, popular choices are "Tech Pencil" or "Felt Tip".
- 'Line Colour' controls what colour are applied, 'Custom' applies a single colour, thus giving a single-colour sketch.
- 'Enhancements' deal with subtle effects to the Sketch render, with 'AntiAliasing' being the most important. This smoothes the edges of the sketch lines.
- The 'Hatch' / 'Sketch' / 'Shadow' settings panels are similar dialogs with similar settings, controlling different elements of the sketch.
- 'Sketch' : Controls the actual edges of the model geometry
- 'Hatch' : When Vectorial Hatching is shown, this panel controls these lines are treated
- 'Shadow' : When Vectorial Sun Shadows are shown, this panel controls these lines/areas are treated.
- 'Thickness' parameter controls the lineweights of the lines – Sketch lines should be kept at least twice the thickness of Hatch lines, to maintain proper emphasis of elements.
- 'Line Overstretch' parameter controls the 'artistic effect' extension of lines – a nice effect is the use of a negative value for Hatch lines.
- 'Line Distortion' parameter controls the 'artistic effect' distortion of lines – typically, Sketch lines are given a very small value of Distortion.
A PDF (found here) shows a number of variations of Sketch Render settings, some are very good, some are not good (and so should be avoided)
The specific settings of each rendered image are shown also, and this display of settings is the key to this tip, allowing you to see where specific parameters control the render.
Further information on Photorendering can be found in the ArchiCAD Help menu, in Contents > Visualization > PhotoRendering.
Further information on Sketch Rendering can be found in the ArchiCAD Help menu, in Contents > User Interface Reference > Dialog Boxes > PhotoRendering Settings > Sketch Rendering Engine and also online at http://www.archicadwiki.com/SketchRender