Video tutorials - Getting started with SU Podium

This sequence of videos is meant to provide a comprehensive introduction to rendering with SU Podium for SketchUp. The learning track was created with beginners in mind and is the intended starting point for anyone installing SU Podium for the first time.

Beginning users are recommended to watch in the order presented below, though videos numbered 8 and 9 could be considered supplemental.

1. Toolbar overview

7 min 59 sec

2. Basic render setup

11 min 13 sec

3. Intensity/Exposure

5 min 11 sec

4. Sky options

4 min 58 sec

5. HDRI Lighting

11 min 49 sec

6. Material Properties

25 min 35 sec

7. Artificial lights

13 min 13 sec

8. LEM examples

10 min 29 sec

9. Managing artificial lights

9 min 41 sec

10. Preset selection

19 min 34 sec

The videos in this section are detailed project breakdowns where we take an existing SketchUp model and prepare it for rendering with Podium. These are structured less like an introductory lecture, and more like a practical demonstration for someone who already understands the basics.

Bathroom visualization with ProWalker GPU

Modeling a kitchen in SketchUp, setting up lights, materials, and rendering with ProWalker GPU.
1hr 39min (timestamped)

Rustic kitchen visualization

Organizing a model from Chief Architect, then setting up lights and materials for SU Podium.
1hr 20min (timestamped)

Scenic design with SU Podium

Setup a dark environment to simulate a theater, then add basic lighting to the theater set.
25min (timestamped)

Render a winter cabin with ProWalker GPU

Discusses three methods for creating snowy terrain, and render an outdoor winter cabin.
35min (timestamped)

Residential bathroom rendering with Podium

Quick demonstration of lighting and materials for a small bathroom model.
22min (timestamped)

Shorter, stand-alone videos that present useful tips to improve efficiency or solve specific rendering challenges.

Change sun direction with Solar North

4 min 52 sec

Depth of field post-processing tutorial

13 min 30 sec

How to change Podium's default render settings

4 min 31 sec

Control shadow softness (Preset editing)

8 min 56 sec

Delete Podium temporary files (Windows)

5 min 12 sec

Adding basic light bloom in Photoshop

5 min 12 sec

How to use caustics in SU Podium

18 min 10 sec

Inserting lights into instanced components

4 min 47 sec

We are working on filling out this section with some quick solutions to common problems. Your first troubleshooting step should always be the Analyze tool mentioned below. Visit the support page for additional troubleshooting links, or to upload a problematic model for support to look at.

Analyse Model (wrench icon)

6 min 26 sec

Processing senes is slow or crashes

9 min 03 sec

Why don't images show in my renders?

4 min 56 sec

How to fix an exceptionally slow render

17 min 53 sec