This combination remains a favorite for many designers because it represents the "sweet spot" of stability and hardware compatibility before SketchUp moved to newer licensing models and rendering engines shifted to purely GPU-based workflows.
SketchUp 2017 combined with , one of the most useful and widely highlighted features is the
tool. This tool allows users to generate realistic grass, rugs, and fabric textures directly within the SketchUp interface without bloating the model's file size with complex geometry. sketchup 2017 vray 34 upd
Other significant features and updates in this version include: V-Ray Asset Editor
: Introduced as a centralized hub to manage all rendering assets, including materials, lights, and render settings, significantly streamlining the workflow compared to previous versions. V-Ray Swarm This combination remains a favorite for many designers
: A powerful distributed rendering system that allows you to use the computing power of multiple machines on your network to speed up a single render.
: Integrated NVIDIA AI denoising capabilities were added to drastically reduce the time needed to get a "clean," noise-free final image. Interactive Rendering Chaos Group – V-Ray 3
: Improvements to real-time feedback allowed users to see lighting and material changes instantly as they edited their SketchUp model. Improved Material Library
: A more extensive set of pre-configured "vrmat" materials was included, making it easier to achieve photorealism without deep technical knowledge of material nodes. Pro Tips for SketchUp 2017 & V-Ray 3.4 Camera Settings : For realistic results, aim for an Exposure Value (EV) for outdoor scenes and for interiors. Reflection : Never leave a surface with zero reflection
, as no real-world material is perfectly matte. Even a small value like 0.5 with 0.4 glossiness can make a wall look much more natural. Vertical Lines : Always use the Vertical Shift Two-Point Perspective
tool in the V-Ray camera settings to ensure tall buildings or interior walls appear perfectly vertical in your final render. SketchUp Community optimizing your render settings for faster output on your specific hardware? SU 2017 + Vray 3.4 render problem - SketchUp Forums