Render Fun tutorial series · Lesson 3 / 10

Render Fun Tutorial 3: Camera, Framing and Composition for Better SketchUp Renders

17 October 2026 · 3 min read · Ufuk Şen

A great render starts with a great camera. Frame the view like a photographer and half of the image is done before the first sample.

SketchUp scenes used as render cameras in Render Fun

Use SketchUp’s camera and scenes

Render Fun always uses the SketchUp camera: orbit, pan and zoom as usual, and save your best views as SketchUp scenes. Click a scene tab and the render follows at once. You can also drag the picture sideways, and SketchUp’s camera turns with it.

SketchUp scenes saved for the render: pool view, aerial and front

Field of view, ratio and size

The lens width comes from SketchUp: Camera › Field of View. For interiors about 60–70° often works well; for facades stay narrower.
Pick an aspect ratio in the Quality panel: 4:5 is great for social media, 21:9 feels like cinema.
Size sets the pixels of the saved picture: HD, 2K, 4K or your own width and height.

Composition helpers and straight verticals

In the Camera panel, the rule-of-thirds grid helps you place the main subject and the horizon line keeps the view level; both show on screen only, never in the saved render. Looking up at a building makes its upright edges lean together: "Straighten verticals" fixes that, like a tilt-shift lens. For architecture, this one makes a big difference.

Straighten verticals on: the facade edges stay vertical

Depth of field

For a close shot, drag "Blur the background" under Depth of field, then press "Pick focus" and click what should stay sharp. Photographers can also switch on the physical camera in the Colour panel, with ISO, shutter speed and aperture. With several scenes in the model, All scenes renders and saves every one of them in turn.