FOCUSED Course

FOCUSED V-Ray for SketchUp

The complete V-Ray workflow for SketchUp designers who want traditional rendering done right.

10 modules, 87 lessons, ~23 hours

FOCUSED V-Ray for SketchUp - John Kaplar in a photorealistic dining room
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V-Ray Is Still the Gold Standard for SketchUp Renders.

V-Ray gives you complete control. Physically-accurate lighting. True photorealism. Renders that hold up against anything in the industry. That's why it's been the go-to for professional archviz for over twenty years.

But learning V-Ray on your own is brutal. Hundreds of settings, cryptic material nodes, and lighting behavior that shifts the moment you touch a slider. Most designers try it, get frustrated, and walk away - either stuck with mediocre results or paying someone else to render their work.

This course gives you the structured path. You'll learn every part of V-Ray - lighting, materials, cameras, render settings, and post-processing - through a repeatable workflow that actually sticks. By the end you'll have a system you can run on any interior or exterior scene, and you'll know exactly when V-Ray is the right tool for the job and when to reach for something else.

See the Results

The AI Renders You Will Create

Using the workflow taught in this course, you will learn how to create these V-Ray renders that wow clients and stand up to any industry standard.

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Is this for you?

Who Is This Course For?

  • Interior Designers
  • Architects
  • Architectural Designers
  • Kitchen & Bath Designers
  • Landscape Architects
  • Landscape Designers
  • Pool & Patio Designers
  • Custom Home Builders
  • Residential Designers
  • Product Designers
  • Furniture Designers
  • 3D Visualization Artists
  • Archviz Studios
  • Real Estate Developers

Course
Breakdown

0Modules
0Lessons
0Hours

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Course Structure

Inside this course, you'll learn the complete V-Ray for SketchUp workflow from installation through final post-production - including three full demo projects (primary bedroom, kitchen, and outdoor landscape), plus a virtual tour and VR module.

Module 1 - Introduction to V-Ray for SketchUp

  • PC/Windows: Installing V-Ray [6:53]
  • macOS: Installing V-Ray [8:04]
  • V-Ray Toolbars and What They Do [5:44]
  • The Asset Editor [21:09]
  • The Frame Buffer [24:58]
  • Chaos Cosmos [17:38]
Module 1 - V-Ray installation, toolbars, Asset Editor, Frame Buffer, and Chaos Cosmos

Module 2 - Materials and Textures

  • PBR Textures [24:42]
  • Displacement Maps and How to Use Them [12:17]
  • Where to Find the Best Materials [25:22]
  • Building a Material Library [15:32]
  • Modifying Materials with Photoshop [6:15]
Module 2 - PBR textures, displacement maps, and material libraries for V-Ray

Module 3 - Lighting

  • Rectangle Light [14:49]
  • Sphere Light [4:00]
  • IES Lights [6:43]
  • Spot Light [3:58]
  • Omni Light [3:51]
  • Mesh Light [4:12]
  • Dome Light [6:22]
  • HDRI Lighting [14:38]
  • Sunlight and Sky Controls [8:41]
  • V-Ray Light Gen [13:13]
Module 3 - V-Ray light types, HDRI lighting, sun and sky, and V-Ray Light Gen

Module 4 - Settings

  • Camera Settings [17:39]
  • Environment [10:05]
  • Material Override [6:41]
  • Denoiser [8:30]
Module 4 - V-Ray camera settings, environment, material override, and denoiser

Module 5 - Rendering with V-Ray

  • What Settings to Use [8:34]
  • Using the Chaos Cloud [17:43]
  • Batch Rendering [14:05]
  • Chaos Collaboration Tool [11:36]
Module 5 - rendering with V-Ray, Chaos Cloud, batch rendering, and Chaos Collaboration

Module 6 - Advanced Topics

  • Adjustment Layers [11:33]
  • Ambient Occlusion [9:44]
Module 6 - advanced V-Ray topics including adjustment layers and ambient occlusion

Module 7 - Full Demo: Primary Bedroom

  • Applying Textures and Materials [24:24]
  • Adding V-Ray Lights: Recessed Lights [7:24]
  • Adding V-Ray Lights: Lamps & Light Bulbs [15:31]
  • Adding an HDRI Map as a Background [12:23]
  • Using V-Ray LightMix [14:46]
  • Adding Decor and Accent Items [10:01]
  • Final Fixes [34:31]
  • Rendering Your Design [39:32]
  • Batch Rendering on Chaos Cloud [6:23]
  • Post Production Editing [17:05]
Module 7 - full primary bedroom demo project in V-Ray for SketchUp

Module 8 - Full Demo: Kitchen

  • Applying Textures and Materials [60:12]
  • Adding V-Ray Lights: Recessed Lights [14:14]
  • Adding V-Ray Lights: Undercabinet Lights [11:37]
  • Adding an HDRI Map as a Background [11:44]
  • Using V-Ray LightMix [23:42]
  • Adding Decor and Accent Items [39:06]
  • Final Fixes [34:31]
  • Rendering Your Design [18:23]
  • Batch Rendering on Chaos Cloud [7:10]
  • Post Production Editing [17:05]
Module 8 - full kitchen demo project in V-Ray for SketchUp

Module 9 - Full Demo: Outdoor Landscape, Pool & Patio

  • Sunlight and Sky Controls [9:22]
  • Sunlight with HDRI Maps [14:11]
  • 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]
  • 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 Décor [25:35]
  • Adding a Grill and an Outdoor Kitchen [20:20]
  • 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]
Module 9 - full outdoor landscape, pool, and patio demo project in V-Ray

Module 10 - Virtual Tours & Virtual Reality

  • Creating 360° Renders Using V-Ray [19:21]
  • Upscaling Renders [5:13]
  • Creating Your Virtual Tour [8:23]
  • Adding Hotspots for Navigation [17:28]
  • Creating a Map [7:26]
  • Adding Product Hotspots [6:07]
  • Sharing Your Virtual Tour with Clients [2:50]
  • Embedding a Virtual Tour on Your Webpage [3:05]
  • Configuring Your Virtual Tour for Virtual Reality [2:01]
  • Virtual Reality Using the Meta Quest 3 [7:36]
  • Monoscopic and Stereoscopic VR - Which One Should You Use? [2:42]
  • Creating 360 Photos on Your Phone [4:03]
  • Marketing Your Virtual Tour [5:30]
  • Monetizing Your Virtual Tours [2:36]
Module 10 - 360 virtual tours and VR with Meta Quest 3 using V-Ray renders

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.

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

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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 are covered in this course?

This course covers the complete V-Ray for SketchUp workflow - installation, the Asset Editor and Frame Buffer, PBR textures and displacement maps, every V-Ray light type, HDRI lighting, sun and sky controls, V-Ray Light Gen, camera settings, the denoiser, Chaos Cloud and batch rendering, adjustment layers, ambient occlusion, and three full demo projects. The final module walks you through creating 360 virtual tours and experiencing them in VR on a Meta Quest 3.

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

You'll be able to produce photorealistic V-Ray renders of any interior or exterior scene - including materials, lighting, cameras, and post-production - using a repeatable workflow. You'll also be able to create 360 virtual tours and VR experiences from your renders to share with clients.

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

This course is designed for beginners. Every tool, setting, and workflow is explained step-by-step in a structured format. No prior V-Ray experience is required.

Are there any prerequisites for this course?

Basic SketchUp experience is helpful but not required. You will need access to V-Ray for SketchUp to follow along with the lessons - V-Ray is a paid product sold by Chaos (separate from the course). V-Ray runs on both Windows and macOS.

Do you offer a course syllabus or curriculum outline?

Yes, a printable PDF course guide with lesson outlines and notes is included with the course.

Are there any hands-on projects or exercises?

Yes. The course includes three complete step-by-step demo projects - a primary bedroom, a kitchen, and an outdoor landscape with pool and patio - plus a virtual tour and VR module where you apply everything you've learned.

So, To Summarize...

Here is Everything You Get

  • 87 Online, Pre-Recorded Video LessonsIncluded
  • 23 Hours of TrainingIncluded
  • 10 Modules Covering Every Part of V-RayIncluded
  • Full Demo Project: Primary BedroomIncluded
  • Full Demo Project: KitchenIncluded
  • Full Demo Project: Outdoor Landscape, Pool & PatioIncluded
  • Virtual Tour & VR ModuleIncluded
  • 200+ Page Printable Course Guide with Lesson NotesIncluded
  • Printable SketchUp Cheat SheetIncluded
  • Private Facebook Group AccessIncluded
  • Lifetime Access, All Updates, and DownloadsIncluded
  • 14-Day Money-Back GuaranteeIncluded

Ready to Start FOCUSED V-Ray for SketchUp?

FOCUSED V-Ray for SketchUp course - traditional rendering workflow for SketchUp designers

The Investment

3 payments of $179

or pay in full with one payment of $497

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14-day money-back guarantee