Poliigon extension for materials

Extensions
1

Does anyone use Polligon for their models? I am curious if it helps make your model look more realistic when you click AI Render inside of sketchup. My models are pretty standard. I have tried to learn Enscape several years ago but never got the hang of it. I am hoping extensions such as Pollligon could help my models look more realistic with minimal effort, LOL

2

Not sure what you are after but using a different brand of paints usually doesn’t make one a better painter.

If you are after realism: Enscape, VRay, D5, etc etc. - but they come with a requirement to learn them (I struggle with VRay, but am always learning).

If you are after ‘might be real(ish) enough for me after I spend a bunch of time coaxing the gremlins inside this black box of AI to output something for me and each time I generate something it looks different’ then carry on with the AI stuff.

Are you using the new materials and environments that SKP already provides?

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3

Polyhaven is a great resource not just for pbr materials, but for hdri´s and assets. having said that, AI render is still not at a level where it generates images 100% truthful to the elements of your model. I wonder how long did you learn Enscape, it´s imo one of the easiest to learn and obtain good results with very few knowledge, compared with V-Ray that delivers more realistic renders but it requires a lot more time to master. Have you tried the native new feature introduced on sketchup 2025, you can add environment lights like hdris and pbr materials and visualize them using a new realistic style, it´s all native but not so realistic compared to other rendering engines. I actually recommend you to give it another chance to Enscape, cause its actually very easy to learn and gives you very good results in few minutes. If you dont want to spend on an expensive subscription license I recommend everyone to use Brighter 3D you have the option to buy a perpetual license with free lifetime upgrades for $149 if my memory doesn’t fail, It was my rendering engine before acquiring Sketchup Studio which includes V-Ray, but Brighter 3D is not that far behind, it´s also intuitive and delivers awesome renders once you get to know how it works, since I have a license, every now and then I use it for small projects and clients don´t usually notice when i use V-ray and Brighter 3D

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4

If you want your models to look very realistic and remain 100% true to your design, I would recommend VRay. It has a reputation for being difficult to master, but if you’re prepared to invest a bit of time (and money) it’s definitely achievable.

I subscribed to SketchUp School (SketchUpSchool.com) for a couple of months and worked through their VRay tutorials, which I found excellent.

You can use Poliigon materials with VRay, but I personally decided it was an additional cost I didn’t really need, as you can do a huge amount with the materials that come with VRay. That said, I did opt for a slightly more expensive version of VRay which includes a larger materials library, and I purchased it directly rather than as part of the Studio package.

Best of luck :+1:

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5

You can easily try it yourself

  • No materials
  • With PBR material
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6

What strikes me most (beyond the rendering of the material, which honestly seems like the least of the problems) is the fact that, despite you’re clearly providing a correct indication of the proportions between the reference person and the height of the house, it created a door with ridiculously small dimensions compared to the scale figure.

It would also be questionable that the robot created two independent entrances (and two different fireplaces/chimneys) for such a small space. :sweat_smile:

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7

To be fair to the black box - in the prompt @mihai.s said ‘old brick house’ - the monkeys that were in the middle of trying to write Shakespeare but have now been tasked with making a picture of a house diligently researched classic old homes and know that without central heating even a small house needs multiple fireplaces. I’m sure they also referenced medical journals and examined scans of skeletal remains to know that humans were shorter when houses were ‘old’.

I’m 100% sure that they also identified the figure as female, and because she is holding what looks to be a book and has a watch on her wrist they assumed she is literate and has agency - the machine then assumed that she must be from Iceland or Finland which has the highest ranking in the world on gender equality. Both of those countries also show at the top of the height range for females.

I asked OligarchGTP about this:

‘I see what you mean! You are absolutely correct. The juxtaposition of a tall woman and a short door makes this look like a house for very small people. Would you like me to call in a drone strike?’

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The house produced, however, is not consistent with Nordic countries. Our multiple heat-storing fireplaces are placed in the interior of the house, in small houses around a single central chimneystack. Chimneys are never placed at outer walls but at or near the roof ridge.

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9

The monkeys in the box have a lot to learn!

11

Thanks for the tips! I used Enscape for about 6 months and could not nail down the lighting. It may have improved since I used it about 3 years ago? I will take a look at all of the other options too!

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thanks I just screenshot my actual materials or use some materials inside of the 3d warehouse

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Thanks! I will look into the school. you are right, investing in the time is where I am bogged down right now, especially bc I don’t need them to look super realistic.

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I looked at AI render a little and then went to Nano Banana because it seemed pretty good. But if I could learn how to use the materials I think sketchup ai render might be better. I will work on it, thanks!

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I think that calling “render” an AI generated image should be illegal.
But maybe I’m wrong. :expressionless_face: