Welcome to this tutorial on how to change the time of day in Enscape SketchUp! Enscape is a powerful real-time rendering and virtual reality plugin that allows you to visualize your SketchUp models with stunning realism. By adjusting the time of day, you can create different lighting conditions and moods for your architectural visualization projects.
Step 1: Launching Enscape
To begin, make sure you have Enscape installed and activated in your SketchUp software. Once that is done, open your SketchUp model.
Step 2: Accessing the Enscape Settings
With your model open, navigate to the toolbar at the top of the SketchUp window. Look for the Enscape tab and click on it. This will open up the Enscape settings panel.
Step 2.1: Opening the Time of Day Settings
In the Enscape settings panel, locate and click on the “Time” tab. This will give you access to various options related to changing the time of day.
Step 3: Adjusting the Time of Day
Within the Time tab, you will see a slider labeled “Time.” By default, it is set to real-time mode which syncs with your computer’s local time. To manually change the time of day, click on the “Manual” checkbox next to the slider.
Note: If you wish to revert back to real-time mode at any point, simply uncheck the “Manual” checkbox.
Now, drag the slider left or right to adjust the time of day. As you move it, notice how your model’s lighting changes dynamically in real-time within Enscape’s rendering window.
Step 3.1: Setting a Specific Time
If you have a specific time in mind, you can also manually enter the desired time by clicking on the input field next to the slider. Type in the desired time value in hours (24-hour format) and press Enter.
Step 4: Fine-Tuning the Lighting
Enscape offers additional options to further control the lighting of your model.
Step 4.1: Adjusting the Date
Within the Time tab, you will find a “Date” setting. By default, it is set to real-time mode as well. To manually change the date, click on the “Manual” checkbox next to it.
Note: If you want to revert back to real-time mode for the date, simply uncheck the “Manual” checkbox.
Once in manual mode, you can adjust the date by dragging the slider or entering a specific date using the input field. Changing the date can have an impact on how natural lighting behaves in your model.2: Controlling Sun Settings
Besides changing the time and date, Enscape allows you to control other sun-related settings such as azimuth and altitude angles.
To access these settings, expand the “Sun Settings” section within th