Upgrade to SU Podium V2.6 now

Introducing SU Podium V2.6

SU Podium V2.6 is a significant feature update, adding image-based lighting with HDR backgrounds and incorporating changes to Podium Browser's interface and licensing. SU Podium V2.6 is a paid upgrade and will also includes all future incremental v2.6x updates.

Pricing

The SU Podium V2.6 upgrade includes all Podium Browser paid content.

New Features

HDRI Lighting
HDRI Lighting

Support for image-based lighting via HDRI backgrounds.



Read more below
New Podium Browser interface
Podium Browser

Interface redesign, plus SU Podium and Podium Browser now sold as a single license.


Read more below
Multi-threaded Podium Exporter
Podium Exporter

Processing scenes is now a multi-threaded process using all CPU cores and threads.


Read more below
HDR post-processing support
Post-processing

PIE now supports HDR editing and includes an "Adaptive linear tonemapping" option.


Read more below

  Render settings are now saved with individual SketchUp scenes

One other update is that SU Podium render settings, including preset, background, output size/format, and lighting settings are now saved with individual SketchUp scenes. This greatly facilitates the rendering process for complex models, and makes it much easier to queue render scripts in models that require both interior and exterior settings.

 HDR image-based lighting

  SU Podium now supports image-based lighting

V2.6 includes five HDRI backgrounds in the installation which can be used as an alternative option to the two Podium physical sky simulations.

These backgrounds/skies contain realistic luminance and tonal data captured directly from real-world environments. Image-based lighting is a versatile, realistic approach to natural lighting, and lets the user easily test a number of different lighting scenarios to choose the one that showcases the project in the best light (so to speak).

 Additional HDRIs available in Podium Browser

Only five backgounds are included in the installation to keep file sizes manageable. However, licensed users are entitled to a large library of additional HDRIs that can be added directly from Podium Browser.

 Simple, fast, versatile look development

Trying out a different sky and background is as simple as choosing a different Instagram filter. Your reflections, shadows, and color palette always remain in harmony, because all lighting is driven by the HDRI background. Some scenes rendered with different HDRI backgrounds:

Top: Design by The Ranch Mine // Bottom: Model by Nat Ellis.

Learn more about HDRI lighting in SU Podium 

  Multi-threaded Podium Exporter

We have once again improved speed during the "Processing Scenes" portion of the render process

  • Before SU Podium v2.6 the Podium Exporter only used a single CPU core

    Since most modern workstations have several cores (at a minimum) this means a lot of potential computing resources sat idle while Podium exported your model's geometry and textures to the render engine.

  • The SU Podium v2.6 exporter uses all your CPU cores/threads during the export process

    While this may not reduce your render time significantly for a final image, it is particularly beneficial during the preliminary design phase of complex project, cutting down the time it takes to output multiple iterative test renders. This is especially true with larger SketchUp files.

 Podium Browser redesign and license changes

 Podium Browser redesign

The Podium Browser interface has been updated to make the process of searching through categories and subcategories faster. Click and drag sliders let you scan an entire category quickly, and new sorting options let users view up to a hundred thumbnails at once.

 Podium Browser and SU Podium are now a single license

Starting with V2.6, Podium Browser paid content will be included with the purchase of SU Podium.

That means anyone upgrading to V2.6 will also gain access to the entire Podium Browser library if they do not already own a license. Since many of you already own Podium Browser paid content we are offering two different upgrade prices to compensate; pricing details to be determined.

Note - Because Podium V2.6 is released for SketchUp 2017 (Windows only), 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021. 2022 and above  . Podium Browser will still be sold as a stand-alone extension.

 HDR editing in Podium Image Editor

Podium Image Editor now supports a 32-bit editing workflow for .HDR renders from Podium. HDR images contain a wider dynamic range of lighting information, allowing users to make dramatic changes to the lighting and tonal qualities of a render in post-processing without quality loss or banding.

Adaptive linear tonemapping - A new one-click histogram normalization function for HDR renders in Podium Image Editor. Automatically normalizes luminance values in the image to cover the full dynamic range while enhancing areas of local contrast in an HDR render. Pictured right.

  Ready to upgrade to SU Podium V2.6?

SU Podium V2.6 requires SketchUp 2018, 2019 2020, 2021, 2022 (Win/ Mac) or SketchUp 2017 (Windows only). SketchUp 2017 (Mac) or SketchUp 2016 and earlier users should use V2.5.

Purchase the Upgrade here Download SU Podium V2.6 here

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