Knowledge Base

Conduct a Shadow Study

Add Elements and Assign Colours

1. Click on ‘Add Element’ and pick a group or component in SketchUp. The first element will be the top layer (usually the city context), and the last will be the bottom layer (usually the proposed building).

Shadow Colour 1.8 Add Element SketchUp

2. Assign colour and opacity for each element (layer) by using the colour picker.

Shadow Colour 1.8.1 Select Colours

3. You may change the order of the shadows laid on top of each other.

Up – Bring element’s shadow forward
Down – Send element’s shadow backward

4. Under ‘Actions’, you can disable or delete the element from the study

Shadow Colour 1.8 Delete Element

5. Create an outline for the shadow (optional). Choose a colour and outline width using the slider.

6. Under ‘Overlap Colour’, you can assign a colour for the overlapping shadow to the corresponding layer.

Shadow Colour 1.8 Overlapping

7. Under ‘Appearance’ , you can change the colour and the appearance of the shadows cast on top of the corresponding element (layer).

Shadow Colour Receive colour

Default – Any shadow that is cast on this element will be coloured using the colour that was chosen for the element that is casting the shadow.

Shadow Colour Receive as view

As View – Any shadow cast on this element will be coloured grey using the shadow intensity configured in Revit.

Shadow Colour Receive no shadows

Receive No Shadow – Shadows cast on this element will not be shown.

Shadow Colour Hide

Invisible – Element will be invisible, shadows of this element will be shown. 

Shadow Colour 1.8 Appearance

8. Press ‘Preview Image’ to get a preview of how your shadow study will look like.

Shadow Colour 1.8 Preview Image SketchUp
Area Calculation and Colour on Regions

Shadow Colour allows you to calculate the shadow area within selected regions and apply a designated colour to those shadows.

To generate a shadow area calculation, please ensure the following:

  • The view is Top and orthographic/parallel projection.
  • The site is fully contained within the view.

1. Click ‘Region’ and select a surface from the SketchUp view.

Shadow Colour 1.8 Add Region
Shadow Colour 1.6 SketchUp Select surface

2. Choose a colour for the shadow of the element within the selected region.

Please keep in mind that a colour must be selected for the shadow area calculation. If you want the shadow to be displayed without colour, you can opt for full transparency. 

3. Click on ‘Preview Image’ and the area calculation will be displayed alongside the preview image.

  • Please be aware that generating the preview image may take some time.
  • You may deactivate the area calculation from the settings.
Shadow Colour 1.8 Area Calculation Preview Image SketchUp
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