FOCUSED Course

7-Day SketchUp Bootcamp for Landscaping, Pools & Patios

Design and present complete outdoor spaces - from grading to pool water to night renders.

105 lessons, 22+ hours

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In this bootcamp, you'll learn how to use the FOCUSED Method™ to design a complete residential outdoor space from scratch in SketchUp and V-Ray - including grading, hardscape, pools, landscaping, and photorealistic renders - in just 7 days.
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Outdoor Spaces Are the Hardest Thing to Sell without a Render.

Clients can picture a living room. They can't picture how the pool will sit relative to the patio, what the lighting will look like at night, or whether the gate opens into the garden or out toward the street. That's why outdoor projects generate more back-and-forth and more change orders than almost anything else.

SketchUp
Modeling

V-Ray
Rendering

LayOut
Documentation

This bootcamp solves that. In 7 days, you'll go from zero to a complete residential landscape design in SketchUp and V-Ray - with grading, a pool, hardscape, vegetation, outdoor living, and photorealistic renders that close the conversation before it starts.

The FOCUSED Method keeps every day of the bootcamp manageable. You work through a real project, step by step, building skills and deliverables at the same time. By Day 7 you have finished renders and a LayOut design pack - and a workflow you can run on every outdoor project going forward.

See the Results

The AI Renders You Will Create

Using the workflow taught in this bootcamp, you will learn how to create photorealistic outdoor renders showing pools, landscaping, hardscape, and lighting at any time of day.

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See the Deliverable

The Design Doc You Will Create

You'll use LayOut to create professional design documentation that impresses clients and closes projects - just like you see below.

Sample design document created with the FOCUSED SketchUp workflow
Download a Sample

Is this for you?

Who Is This Course For?

  • Landscape Designers
  • Landscape Architects
  • Hardscape Designers
  • Pool & Spa Designers
  • Outdoor Living Specialists
  • Deck & Patio Builders
  • Fence & Gate Designers
  • Irrigation Designers
  • Outdoor Lighting Designers
  • Home Builders
  • Property Stagers
  • Golf Course Designers
  • Resort Designers
  • Real Estate Developers

Course
Breakdown

0Days
0Lessons
0Hours

Take a Peek at the

Course Structure

Inside this bootcamp, you'll work through a complete residential outdoor design - day by day - from SketchUp setup through finished V-Ray renders and LayOut documentation.

Module 1 - Day 1 - SketchUp Setup and Core Tools

  • PC/WINDOWS: Installing SketchUp [6:07]
  • PC/WINDOWS: Setting up Your Workspace [2:55]
  • PC/WINDOWS: Setup Keyboard Shortcuts [3:02]
  • MAC: Installing SketchUp [9:56]
  • MAC: Setting up Your Workspace [9:55]
  • MAC: Setup Keyboard Shortcuts [3:56]
  • Core SketchUp - Intro and Cheat Sheet [3:42]
  • Mouse and Navigation [9:16]
  • Using the Keyboard [4:18]
  • The Select Tool [4:33]
  • The Move Tool [14:19]
  • The Line Tool [11:33]
  • The Rectangle Tool [6:35]
  • The Circle Tool [4:47]
  • The Arc Tool [3:30]
  • The Tape Measure Tool [5:35]
  • The Offset Tool [2:59]
  • The Push/Pull Tool [3:56]
  • The Rotate Tool [5:11]
  • The Scale Tool [6:57]
  • The Paint Bucket Tool [4:29]
  • The Flip Tool [3:01]
  • Groups [11:56]
  • Components [7:59]
Day 1 - installing SketchUp and learning the core tools

Module 2 - Day 2 - Organization, 3D Warehouse, and Grading

  • Outliner [7:47]
  • Tags [7:51]
  • Hiding and Unhiding [3:50]
  • Section Cuts [8:36]
  • Scenes [8:45]
  • The Trimble 3D Warehouse [14:19]
  • Materials in SketchUp [11:12]
  • Applying SketchUp Styles [11:20]
  • Component Finder by FlexTools [6:00]
  • Profile Builder [14:18]
  • PC/Windows: Installing V-Ray [6:53]
  • MacOS: Installing V-Ray [8:04]
  • Installing Extensions [2:02]
  • SketchUp Workspace Configuration [14:33]
  • Sandbox Tools [14:58]
  • Advanced Grading & Terrain: Soap Skin Bubble [8:20]
  • Advanced Grading & Terrain: Contours [5:21]
  • Hardscape Grading [26:57]
  • Landscape Grading [11:58]
  • Vegetation Basics in SketchUp [10:11]
Day 2 - model organization, extensions, and exterior grading and terrain tools

Module 3 - Day 3 - Site Setup, Roads, and Hardscape

  • The Best Sources for 3D Vegetation Objects
  • Vegetation Placement Techniques
  • Geolocating Your Model [10:20]
  • Creating Terrain [3:37]
  • Adding a Road [12:26]
  • Placing Your Structure on Terrain [7:54]
  • Adding a Driveway [38:27]
  • Retaining Walls and Steps [25:10]
  • Adding Walkways [40:19]
  • Adding Lighted Piers [10:23]
  • Creating Flower Beds [40:58]
Day 3 - vegetation placement, geolocating, roads, driveways, and retaining walls

Module 4 - Day 4 - Pool, Patio, and V-Ray Fundamentals

  • Building a Pool
  • Pool Decking and Patio
  • Outdoor Barbecue Station [16:28]
  • V-Ray Toolbars and What They Do [5:44]
  • The Asset Editor [21:09]
  • The Frame Buffer [24:58]
  • Chaos Cosmos [17:38]
  • Textures and How To Add Them [13:02]
  • Building a Material Library [15:32]
  • Where to Find the Best Materials [25:22]
  • Rectangle Light [14:49]
  • Sphere Light [4:00]
  • Spot Light [3:58]
  • Dome Light [6:22]
Day 4 - building a pool and patio and learning V-Ray fundamentals

Module 5 - Day 5 - Lighting, Materials, and Rendering

  • HDRI Lighting [14:38]
  • Sunlight and Sky Controls [8:41]
  • Camera Settings [17:39]
  • Render Settings [8:34]
  • Using the Chaos Cloud [17:43]
  • Applying Textures and Materials: Driveway [10:46]
  • Applying Textures and Materials: Walkways and Walls [19:55]
  • Applying Textures and Materials: Grass [54:12]
  • Applying Textures and Materials: Mulch [3:59]
  • Applying Textures and Materials: Pool [6:27]
Day 5 - HDRI lighting, camera settings, and applying materials to the outdoor scene

Module 6 - Day 6 - Vegetation, Furnishings, and Outdoor Living

  • Bushes and Flowers: Front [47:15]
  • Bushes and Flowers: Left Side [25:45]
  • Bushes and Flowers: Right Side [51:50]
  • Bushes and Flowers: Backyard [11:11]
  • Adding Trees [19:33]
  • Potted Plants [4:05]
  • Furniture and Decor [25:35]
  • Adding a Grill and an Outdoor Kitchen [20:20]
Day 6 - planting bushes, adding trees, furniture, and outdoor kitchen elements

Module 7 - Day 7 - Final Renders, LayOut, and Bonus AI Module

  • Adding Gates [4:29]
  • Adding Scenes [8:52]
  • Final Fixes [31:03]
  • Using V-Ray LightGen [11:12]
  • Rendering Your Design [9:19]
  • Batch Rendering on Chaos Cloud [6:18]
  • Post Production Editing [13:55]
  • Templates and Document Setup [15:32]
  • The LayOut Interface [6:11]
  • Pages and Viewports [16:46]
  • Text and Labels [8:06]
  • Measurements and Dimensions [11:45]
  • Scrapbooks [13:44]
  • How to Export in LayOut [4:35]
  • Presenting Your Document [3:45]
  • Creating a Client Design Pack
  • Bonus AI - Using AI to Convert a Render to Video [14:52]
  • Bonus AI - Using AI to Improve Video Quality [11:23]
  • Bonus AI - Creating a Video Compilation [7:24]
  • Bonus AI - Using AI to Add Slow Motion Effect [4:16]
  • Bonus AI - Creating a Video Compilation for Social Media [13:42]
  • Bonus AI - Creating a Timelapse [5:17]
Day 7 - final rendering, LayOut documentation, and AI video creation

You'll also get

3 FREE Bonus Items

Printable course guide with lesson notes Free

200+ Page Printable Course Guide

A printable PDF with lesson notes from every module - perfect for following along and taking your own notes as you go.

Private Facebook group for FOCUSED SketchUp students Free

Private Facebook Group Access

Get support and help from me and fellow students inside the private FOCUSED SketchUp community - lifetime access included.

2-sided printable SketchUp cheat sheet Free

Printable SketchUp Cheat Sheet

My 2-sided SketchUp reference card with every shortcut, tool, and setting you'll use daily - printable and designed for quick lookup.

Everything you need

3 Packs of Downloadable 3D Objects - Absolutely FREE!

Outdoor Furniture Pack

100+ outdoor furniture pieces - loungers, dining sets, fire pits, umbrellas, and more - pre-configured with V-Ray materials and ready to drop into any SketchUp scene.

Outdoor Furniture Pack with 100+ pieces Free

Outdoor Kitchen Pack

Dozens of outdoor kitchen appliances - grills, smokers, pizza ovens, warming drawers, sinks, refrigerators - all with V-Ray materials applied so you can build a complete outdoor kitchen in minutes.

Outdoor Kitchen Pack with dozens of appliances Free

Gate Pack

52 customizable gates across 4 styles - walk-through, driveway, estate, and contemporary - with adjustable widths and heights and matching posts and latches.

Gate Pack with 52 customizable gates in 4 styles Free

Plus

Outdoor V-Ray Material Library

Drag and drop these materials into your project to add high-quality PBR textures to your outdoor models!

Grass - Green/Medium 1

Grass - Green/Medium 1

Grass - Green/Dark 1

Grass - Green/Dark 1

Grass - Green/Medium 2

Grass - Green/Medium 2

Grass - Green/Medium 3

Grass - Green/Medium 3

Mulch – Brown

Mulch – Brown

Mulch – Red

Mulch – Red

Mulch – Black

Mulch – Black

Concrete – Rough

Concrete – Rough

Concrete – Smoke

Concrete – Smoke

Pavers – Mixed Stone

Pavers – Mixed Stone

Brick – White Sandstone

Brick – White Sandstone

Brick – Red 1

Brick – Red 1

Pavers – Gray 1

Pavers – Gray 1

Grass - Green/Medium 3

Grass - Green/Medium 3

Grass - Green/Dark 1

Grass - Green/Dark 1

Stone Cladding 1

Stone Cladding 1

Grass - Green/Medium 3

Grass - Green/Medium 3

Gravel – River Rock

Gravel – River Rock

Mosaic Pool Tile Blue

Mosaic Pool Tile Blue

Mosaic Pool Tile Green

Mosaic Pool Tile Green

Pool Tile Dark Blue

Pool Tile Dark Blue

And Many More!

Enroll Now!

🔥 BONUS AI Module

🔥 BONUS AI Module

Turn your renders into short videos, unboxings, timelapses, and more using the power of AI tools! These lessons will give you the technological edge, impress clients, and have scroll-stopping visuals to grow your business.

Bonus AI Lessons (60 Min)

  • Using AI to Convert a Render to Video [14:52]
  • Using AI to Improve Video Quality [11:23]
  • Creating a Video Compilation [7:24]
  • Using AI to Add Slow Motion Effect [4:16]
  • Creating a Video Compilation for Social Media [13:42]
  • Creating a Timelapse [5:17]
Bonus AI Module lesson thumbnails

Create Scroll Stopping Animations

I'll show you the latest AI tools to create videos like this one, and so much more!

Meet Your Instructor

John Kaplar, founder of FOCUSED SketchUp

John Kaplar

Founder of FOCUSED SketchUp

I'm a 3D Visualization and AI Expert and Founder of FOCUSED SketchUp, where I teach designers how to use SketchUp and AI to create photorealistic images that wow their clients. Alongside my wife Megan, I also co-own our design firm Arched Manor, which is how my obsession with visualization began. I spent months learning SketchUp from scratch and developed a custom process for modeling and a proprietary library of assets that I use to quickly and efficiently create 3D models. I've also spent the last few years immersed in AI rendering tools, building repeatable workflows that turn simple model exports into stunning visuals in minutes. I have a broad knowledge of SketchUp and AI rendering and know exactly what Interior Designers need in order to use them - hence the FOCUSED course name. I have created a training package that strips away the fluff and teaches you SketchUp and AI rendering in the most efficient way possible, which saves time - as a designer myself, I know all too well how valuable your time is and don't want you wasting any of it!

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No Risk Offer

Satisfaction Guarantee

Money back guarantee badge

I am so certain you will love this program that I am offering a Risk-Free 14-Day Money Back Guarantee! After 14 days, if you are not satisfied with the course and decide it's not for you, I will give you a full refund.

All you have to do is contact me within 14 days of purchasing, and I will give you 100% of your money back.

FAQ

Questions, Answered

What topics will be covered in this course?

This bootcamp covers all the core SketchUp and V-Ray concepts. I'll begin by walking you through how to download, install, and configure SketchUp and V-Ray, and how to load my recommended extensions and keyboard shortcut file. I'll then go into teaching the basic tools of SketchUp, including the rectangle tool, scale tool, push/pull tool, and many more. You will then learn organizational skills in SketchUp, including grouping objects and making components. From there, you will learn how to create a residential landscape design from scratch - adding hardscaping, landscaping, a pool, patio, BBQ station, outdoor lighting, etc. You will then learn how to use V-Ray, how to apply materials and textures, and how to create photorealistic renders. You will learn about the Chaos Cloud for offloading your render jobs and how to enhance your renders with Photoshop. Lastly, you will learn LayOut to create documentation, site plans, and design packets.

What will I be able to do after completing this course?

You will be able to use SketchUp and V-Ray to create a residential landscape design from start to finish and be able to create amazing renders that are photorealistic! You will also be able to use LayOut to create client design PDFs and plans that show materials, measurements, placements, and elevations of your designs. You will know where to find the best 3D objects that resemble real-world objects, and know how to create your own if you need to. You will be able to apply materials to 3D objects, how to add trees, bushes, and grass to your models, and add realistic lighting using HDRI maps.

Is this course suitable for beginners or is it more advanced?

This course is for beginners and/or those with some SketchUp experience. I walk you through how to download, install, and configure SketchUp and V-Ray, and show you the basic tools included with SketchUp. This bootcamp is also perfect if you know a little bit of SketchUp, but nothing about V-Ray. You will learn my workflow to model an outdoor space in SketchUp and render it in V-Ray.

Are there any prerequisites for this course?

No, the only prerequisites are that you have a working computer (no iPads) that can handle SketchUp and V-Ray, a three-button mouse (can be purchased easily from Amazon if you don't have one) and are able to carve out 2-3 hours a day during the bootcamp to watch the lessons.

Do you offer a course syllabus or curriculum outline?

The course syllabus is shown above and highlights each lesson for the seven day program. Once you enroll in the course, the Course Guide is also available to download and print, and it has ample space for you to add your own notes as you go through the lessons.

Are there any hands-on projects or exercises?

This bootcamp walks you through how to create a residential landscape design from start to finish. There are no additional projects, tests, or quizzes in this bootcamp.

So, To Summarize...

Here is Everything You Get

  • 105 video lessons (22+ hours)Included
  • FOCUSED Method™ training methodologyIncluded
  • Private Facebook group access (lifetime)Included
  • 250+ page printable course guide with lesson notesIncluded
  • Printable SketchUp 2-sided cheat sheetIncluded
  • Outdoor Furniture Pack (100+ pieces)Included
  • Outdoor Kitchen Pack (dozens of appliances)Included
  • Gate Pack (52 customizable gates in 4 styles)Included
  • Pre-configured V-Ray outdoor material library with PBR texturesIncluded
  • Grass, mulch, concrete, pavers, pool tile, and stone materialsIncluded
  • Lifetime access + future updatesIncluded
  • 14-day money-back guaranteeIncluded

Ready to Start 7-Day SketchUp Bootcamp for Landscaping, Pools & Patios?

7-Day SketchUp Bootcamp for Landscaping, Pools and Patios course - design complete outdoor spaces in SketchUp

The Investment

3 payments of $267

or pay in full with one payment of $749

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14-day money-back guarantee