FAQs

 

Twilight?

Twilight is a plugin for Trimble SketchUp that allows you to render photo-realistic images of your scene, completely within the SketchUp interface.

 

What operating systems does Twilight support?

Currently Twilight supports Windows XP / Vista / Windows 7 & 8.  Twilight Render supports Apple OSX version 10.6 and higher (Intel CPU only).

 

What versions of Sketchup does Twilight support?

Twilight supports SketchUp 6, SketchUp 7, SketchUp 8, both free and Pro.  Versions of SketchUp prior to v6 are not supported.  Twilight supports both Google SketchUp and Trimble SketchUp.  On Mac OSX, the Twilight Render install requires use of the Install Extension feature available only on SketchUp 8.

 

What are the minimum system specs for running Twilight?

Any machine matching the minimum requirements for running SketchUp can render with Twilight.  Just like SketchUp, Twilight Render is a 32bit program that runs just fine in a 64bit environment, while subject to 32bit limitations.

 

Is Twilight the same as Kerkythea?

No, Twilight is not the same as Kerkythea.  Kerkythea is a standalone studio that has been continuously developed for many years.  Twilight is built on the same render engine, Kerkythea Echo 2008, as the current version of Kerkythea, and Twilight has a working relationship with it's developers.  However, the two products are not the same.

However, because of the shared render engine, Twilight is able to use the same material libraries that are available in Kerkythea, and Twilight can export to Kerkythea XML format.

 

What render methods does Twilight support?

Twilight provides biased and unbiased rendering using the following methods:

• Photon Mapping + Final Gathering  - biased render method that automatically supports direct and indirect lighting, and Physical Sun & Sky Directly controlled by SketchUp Sun and Shadow Settings
• Path Tracing, both fixed and progressive - unbiased render method that automatically supports direct and indirect lighting, and Physical Sun & Sky Directly controlled by SketchUp Sun and Shadow Settings, works best with exterior scenes lit only with Sun and Sky
• Bidirectional Path Tracing - unbiased render method that automatically supports direct and indirect lighting, and Physical Sun & Sky Directly controlled by SketchUp Sun and Shadow Settings, works best with interior scenes
• Metropolis Light Transport (MLT) - high-powered, physically advanced unbiased render method that calculates hundreds of light bounces giving you highest quality and accuracy, automatically supports direct and indirect lighting, and Physical Sun & Sky Directly controlled by SketchUp Sun and Shadow Settings, works best with interior scenes, but great for studios and exteriors as well
• MLT/BiPT - combines both unbiased render methods while automatically supporting direct and indirect lighting, and Physical Sun & Sky Directly controlled by SketchUp Sun and Shadow Settings, this render method can solve extremely complex and technical lighting such as splitting of light throu prisms, or lighting a space by only indirect light through as much as a keyhole.
• Many other specialized pass-oriented methods, like Diffuse, Ambient Occlusion, Depth, Alpha Mask, Clay and more.

 

Does Twilight support animation?

Yes, Twilight renders native SketchUp animation as a sequence of images.  This means that other plugins for animation will work seamlessly in Twilight.  It even supports rendering with SketchyPhysics!

 

Does Twilight support Photometric (IES) lights?

Yes, Twilight supports Photometric (IES) lights, both as Light objects and as Light Emitting materials.  Not only will Twilight render your IES lights accurately, it will convert your light's geometry into a 3D representation of the IES data!

 

Does Twilight support Network Rendering?

Currently, Twilight does not make network rendering available.  Network rendering will be available in a future release.

 

Does Twilight support Image Based Lighting?

Yes, Twilight supports Image Based Lighting using both HDR and standard (jpg, png, etc) images.  Environmental lighting is available as spherical and hemispherical images, physical sky, and solid color, among others.

Does Twilight support Light Emitting Surfaces?

Yes, Twilight supports Light Emitting Surfaces using a quickly and easily applied Material Template you can cause any material, even textures conaining .png images with transparency, to become Light Emitting Surfaces... great for getting the most realistic lighting in the most complex situations.  From rendering a TV screen to creating illusions of fire flames.

 

How do I install Twilight

Microsoft Windows

Once you have downloaded the Twilight installer, run it.  Use next to move through the options, accepting the license when prompted.  The installer should locate your installation of SketchUp, but if it doesn't, browse to the SketchUp/Plugins folder and hit 'Ok'.

If this is the first time you are installing Twilight, you may be asked to install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 runtime libraries.  These are the dependencies provided by Microsoft and are required by Twilight.

You may, but are not required to, uninstall any previous version of Twilight using the uninstaller located in theSketchUp/Plugins folder.

 Apple OSX (SketchUp 8)
Once you have downloaded the installer, launch SketchUp.  Open the Preferences window and select Extensions.  At the bottom, click on the Install Extension button.  Select the downloaded .rbz installer and follow the prompts.

SketchUp 7 does not provide the Install Extension feature.  To install Twilight Render, rename the installer as a .zip file.  Extract the contents of the zip file into the SketchUp Plugins folder.

Where is Twilight installed?

On Windows, the Twilight Render installer will attempt to locate your installation of either Google SketchUp 6 or Google SketchUp 7.  Under most circumstances, this will be C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 6 or C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 7 but may be different if you have selected a different location when you installed SketchUp.  Twilight will be installed in the Plugins/Twilight subdirectory.

On OSX, SketchUp will install the .rbz installer to the system plugin folder at /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins.

 

How do I get a license for Twilight?

• Proceed to the online store and follow the directions there to place your purchase order.
• Then, launch SketchUp and open the Twilight Options window.
• Go to the 'About' section.  Click on 'Request License'.
• You will be prompted to save a license request file.  Save, then email that file to licensing [at] TwilightRender [dot] com.
• Make sure you include the email you used when placing your purchase order.  We will respond quickly with a license code.
• If you are using Twilight Render v1.1 or later, your will receive a license code.
  • Reopen SketchUp and open the Twilight Options window.  Go to the 'About' section
  • Click on 'Activate Twilight' and enter your code and email
• If you are using Twilight Render v1.0.19 or ealier, you will receive a license file. 
  
  • Save the file to your computer.
  • Reopen SketchUp, and open the Twilight Options window.  Go to the 'About' section.
  • Click on"Install License" and select your saved license file.
• Your copy of Twilight Render is now installed.

 

Where do I put my license file?

This information is only relevant to v1.0.19 or earlier.  Starting with v1.1, activation is done using a text code.

The easiest way is to open the options window, and select 'About'.  Hit the 'Install License' button, select your newly received twilight.lic file, and hit Ok.  It's a good idea to keep a copy of your license somewhere safe, just in case.

-or-

Locate your installation of Sketchup (by default, something like C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 7).  Open the Plugins/Twilight folder and copy the license file there.

 

Why doesn't my license work anymore?

Twilight Render uses your computer's operating system to identify and validate your license.  If you replace your computer, or install a new operating system, you will need to get a new license.  Just follow the activation procedure above (How do I get a license for Twilight?), include a brief explanation of the event, and we will provide you a new license, free of charge!