Light Leak...again

[TSPCo]

Two models, same modeling technique, same lights, one leaks one doesn't, both rendered today. Same render settings
The model with the excessive light leaking was created today. No, the light is not coming from the high windows, it did it without those in place, but it is coming from above...somewhere. I raised the perimeter, 'parking area' up halfway, still has light coming from above, or so it appears.

75x150-1_Scene 1flat.jpg (153.21 KiB) Viewed 3311 times

newvannier_Scene 1.jpg (270.63 KiB) Viewed 3311 times

[Fletch]

To avoid light leaks:
Build all surfaces with real-world thickness (walls, floor, ceiling)
Set proper photon shooting and final gathering for your scene.

If your model is built with thickness, then you may need to increase photon shooting and final gather.
Easiest way to do that is to choose a higher quality render settings. If rendering on "Low" try using "Medium", and so on.
If you prefer to keep "Low" setting - try the "01.SunSkyLow" render setting under the Sun-Sky render settings. The final gather and photon shooting is set much higher in those settings, as they presume a fewer number of lights (it assumes 2 lights in the scene, aka the Sun and the Sky).
Or you can create your own render setting:
v2 Pro users can right click any render setting and choose to edit the setting within SketchUp.
Hobby users can open the settings in a program such as Notepad++ to edit them
NOTE: save a copy of the file, don't overwrite your default render settings.
How to Modify Twilight Render Setting

[TSPCo]

Thanks!, still on the fence about Pro although, but I will look into it again.

[Tracker303]

Thanks for the Notepad++ trick, I already have the program and will give it a try, since I ran into similar issues as the TSPCo.

Does the thickness of the floor play a role as well, or should I just "play" with the thickness of the walls and roof of the building?

[Fletch]

To avoid light leaks:
Build all surfaces with real-world thickness (walls, floor, ceiling)...

[Tracker303]

Oh, okay, sorry. I was talking about the base texture of the object as poopsed to the floor of the building that's "built" over the base texture, bu, I'll make sure that all thicknesses are as close to real life as possible anyway, it will make buildings and other decorum elements look more convincing.

[Fletch]

Every great rendering starts with a great model.

[Fletch]

Don't forget the SunSky settings - they were designed to reduce or eliminate light leaks or flares when a scene has very few lights or the light sources are far away, like only sun and sky.

[Fletch]

Another way to eliminate these light leaks is to turn all white surfaces (default face color in SketchUp) to medium (50-70%) grey.