Workflow Issue – SketchUp to D5 Rendering (Lighting Placement & Syncing)

[andy.hoangdinh]

D5 Render Version: 2.11
Graphics Card: Nvidia 4080 super 16GB core i7 13700k with 64Gb ram
Driver Version: Studio 577.00
Issue Description:
I’m currently experiencing very inconsistent performance, even though my PC should be capable of handling demanding real-time rendering workloads. Using the same project file, sometimes the software runs smoothly at 30–40 FPS, while on 60% other days, under the same conditions, performance drops below 10 FPS even without any changes to geometry, lighting, or materials. Is there any missing setting that i need to know?

Would you be able to help clarify the correct workflow from SketchUp to D5, specifically for lighting placement?

I typically use Live Sync from SketchUp for concept development. However, because our project’s world coordinate system (true north) is significantly rotated from standard axis alignment, I’m finding it extremely difficult to place lights precisely within the D5 environment—especially since the area is large and open, with several hundred fixtures.

To manage this, I usually place all lighting accurately in SketchUp, then use Live Sync to D5 for visual adjustments. This worked well up to version 2.10.

Since version 2.11, I’ve encountered several major issues:

• The live viewport now appears noticeably blurry, making it very difficult to judge lighting intensity and fine-tune visual settings in real-time.
• After adjusting all lights, grouping/layering them, and saving the project, I return the next day to find all adjusted lights duplicated and detached from their original structure folders.
• The lights from the SketchUp file reappear with default settings, while the previously adjusted lights remain—effectively doubling the entire lighting setup.
• Every time I sync additional lights from SketchUp, this duplication issue repeats.

At this point, placing lights in SketchUp and using Live Sync with D5 has become unworkable.

Placing lights directly in D5 does not cause duplication issues, so I suspect the problem lies with Live Sync integration or data handoff.

Could you help me understand:

• What’s the functional difference between Live Sync and non–Live Sync mode, especially regarding how light placement and settings are handled?
• Will switching to non–Live Sync mode prevent this duplication and preserve my lighting adjustments?
• What’s the best-practice for projects requiring precise light placement over complex site geometry?

Appreciate your guidance on this—thanks in advance!
the projects file

Screenshots/Videos Description:
all environment seems washout with very low light setting.

HDRi extremely blurry and need to set to very low setting Skylight 0.3 background 0.1

After Group and Rename Group, everything return to default next day

i am very sure that i named all my light group into meaning full labels

Steps to Reproduce (optional):

[Clov]

Hi @andy.hoangdinh

I don’t think what you’re experiencing is under expectation, nor should it happen. I would like to address these issues individually to avoid confusion.

• What’s your plug-in version? I recommend updating it if you have not.

1. Live View Port is blurry - (Issue not evident on my end)

• Is this issue evident only in this specific file, or also your other files are experiencing this issue?
• I would like to collect this specific file. Please send your D5 file and Log file to support@d5techs.com and have it titled ‘2.11 Clov-Forum Workflow Issue - SketchUp to D5 Rendering (Lighting Placement & Syncing)’
  
  
  
  
  

Please let me know if you have sent it.

2. Light behaviour

• Are these files stored in a cloud storage? If so, please store them locally in order to avoid linkage errors or even models being unknowingly modified.

As for your other questions:

• Basically, Live-sync provides live updates, and non-live-sync mode will require you to reload the model or “Resync” the model again for the changes to be reflected.
• Switching to non-livesync mode should help. But I think we need to address and investigate this issue you’re experiencing further.

[andy.hoangdinh]

Hi Clov
I sent same email to support email

Please find the attached Project file

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1suc_7hQKEYYyU46A70-VScdb2nzAvUZ8/view?usp=sharing this is the pro jects before changing to NON LIvE MODE

Also the Sketch model

Lv9-10.skp

[image]

My collect log button doesn’t work or keeps circle.

Last night performance

[image]

Morning performants

[image]

And fluatuated in between

[image]

LIGHTING ISSUES

I’ve been working with D5 using Live Sync since I started about two months ago. So far, I’ve been able to produce some decent render outputs. However, I’m encountering serious issues with lighting workflow that are impacting productivity.

Last night, I spent several hours adjusting and organizing all the lighting manually within D5. The problem is, if I reopen the SketchUp file and re-enable Live Sync, all the original lights from SketchUp reappear with default settings, while the adjusted lights in D5 become detached from their groups and disorganized—everything reverts to the top-level structure.

When I switch to non–Live Sync mode, the lights aren’t imported at all, and the newly imported model also loses all material assignments, even though the materials and texture maps in the SketchUp model are identical to the Live Sync version.

To work around this:

• I now save lighting groups locally in D5 and manually reinsert them into the scene, then completely delete those lights from the SketchUp model to prevent re-population upon sync.

• This is manageable for small areas where all lights are in a single plane, but becomes very challenging for multi-level lighting setups, where it’s difficult to align lights precisely.

I’m also considering exporting lights separately or locking them inside D5, but I can’t afford to risk any unintentional changes to the main model at this point.

You’ll also notice that my project sits at a 21.5° angle relative to true north. I’ve realigned the component axes for all light groups within SketchUp to follow their respective orientation, but D5 still interprets the light group axes based on global north, not the adjusted local axes. The world/local coordinate toggle in D5 only helps for individual lights—it doesn’t apply to grouped components.

At this stage, I’d really appreciate your advice on:

• How to properly preserve light settings when working with Live Sync or transitioning to non–Live Sync

• Whether there’s a way to retain material assignments in non–Live Sync mode

• How to better manage rotation and axis alignment for grouped lighting across angled geometry

WORKFLOW ADRESS

I’d like to further clarify why this issue is especially difficult to work around in my current workflow.

While it would be easier to finalize the model and work entirely within D5, my concept design process involves constant changes and multiple design options. Live Sync is critical for this iterative workflow, allowing rapid updates and reviews.

At this stage, starting fresh in D5 or wiping out previous lighting setups is not feasible—it would mean losing a significant amount of time and effort already invested in carefully adjusted scenes.

Additionally, please note that I cannot rotate the model to match D5’s preferred orientation. The angle (21.5° from true north) is intentional and essential, as the SketchUp model must accurately overlay with our Revit documentation. Altering its orientation would break alignment with the architectural base model and disrupt coordination.

I hope this helps illustrate the limitations and importance of a robust syncing method that retains both:

• Lighting placement and hierarchy, and

• Material fidelity, without duplicating geometry or resetting groups.

Any guidance or workaround that would allow me to preserve D5 lighting while continuing to sync model changes from SketchUp—without breaking structure or resetting materials—would be highly appreciated.

[Clov]

Hi @andy.hoangdinh

I’ll be testing your workflow, but I need to confirm the following:

• Where are these files located? Is it in a cloud storage or local file folder? If you’re storing it in a cloud storage then please relocate them in a local address.
• Which D5 Plug-in Version are you currently using?

[Clov]

1. OVEREXPOSURE & BLURRY HDRI

• [No Replication of issue on my end] Upon opening your file in version 2.11, this is how it looks like on my end. No modifications were made on my part and I assume these are all the settings you have set up before sending this specific file to me.
  
  
• HDRI being blurry is under expectation even before the 2.11 update. Since it takes up more resources when previewing, the HDRI is compressed to 2k by the D5 when previewing to ensure that accurate lighting is provided. But if you render it, the final image of the HDRI will not be blurry. Here is a screenshot of the final rendered image.
  
  

Suggestion:

• For reference, I’m currently using NVIDIA 577 Drivers. May I know which driver version you are currently using? If it’s possible, you might want to update it too.

2. SYNCING AND RE-SYNCING LIGHTS

• [No Replication of issue on my end] I’m currently running the latest version of D5 Plug-in for SKP. After activating the Livesync, you’ll be prompted with this window. Which option did you select? It’s best to select the current file then proceed with “Replace and Link” in order to retain the material, environment, and light information.
  
  
• If you’re using the Sync Process (non-livesync), in order to bring the lights or changes to D5, you need to save the SKP model > right-click on the model in D5 > Reload
  
  

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS/INFORMATION FOR CLARIFICATION

1. Since we are unable to replicate this issue on our end, we would like to know the full process of your workflow. Please send us a video recording of this issue wherein activating the livesync or updating your model will result to materials and lights losing their information.

2. Confirm whether these files are stored locally or in Cloud storage. If it’s in a cloud storage then we recommend placing them locally while you’re editing it.

3. Which Livesync Version and Which SKP Version you are currently using?

[andy.hoangdinh]

@Clov

t I need to confirm the following:

• Where are these files located? Is it in a cloud storage or local file folder? If you’re storing it in a cloud storage then please relocate them in a local address.
• Which D5 Plug-in Version are you currently using?

I’m currently using **SketchUp version 24, and both D5 Render/ SU Plugin and NVIDIA drivers are updated to their latest versions.
The project files are stored on our company file server, which syncs directly with a local folder on my machine.
You can access the affected files via this link:
LV9-10 Pool Gym SYNC error.rar

The folder contains a project I completed yesterday, working entirely in D5 Render (SketchUp was not opened).As shown in the screenshots, everything was clean and well organised:

Issue Today

Today, I opened the SketchUp model to continue working and then launched the D5 project. Initially, all the scenes and settings appeared correct:

However, once I clicked “Sync from SketchUp”, the following occurred:
If the SketchUp file has the same name, no warning or popup appears.

If I save the SketchUp file under a different name, D5 triggers a sync i sticked all option, repalce the model then it completely disrupts the existing project:

• Object structure collapses
• Materials are lost
• Light settings are wiped or drastically changed

Some new lights from SketchUp are imported, but many existing D5 lights (e.g. L. Stair) are:

• Deleted
• Ungrouped
• Visibly present as sources but cannot be found, selected, or edited
  
  

My Current Dilemma

This situation has left me unable to advance further , as I would need to manually fix all the scenes again. I’ve locked all lighting settings in D5, as I no longer want to sync lights from SketchUp. I only to retain new light positions for accuracy and sync new change from model

Unfortunately, I also accidentally deleted some lights from the SketchUp model, due to lighting plan change, which now results in their permanent removal from the D5 project. This is worse than having duplicate default lights because even carefully adjusted lights are now irretrievable. It seems that D5 tracks lights by their component IDs from SketchUp, and once deleted, they become “ghosted” in the project—visible, but no longer selectable or editable. i thought if i deleted the lights from SU then it will not duplicated anymore. if you compare my one day before project you can see lots light ungroup and reverse to it original names, when i have hundred lights ungroup together it was nightmare to sort and organised it again.

Urgent Support Needed
This is the third time I’ve had to rework an entire D5 scenes due to this issue, and it’s causing repeated deadline delays.
Is there a way to:

• Detach or unlink specific light components from SketchUp?
• Preserve D5 light settings even if the original SketchUp components are removed?
• Avoid the full re-sync destruction of scene structure when only model adjustments are needed?
  
  
  
  I’m really at a loss and would appreciate any guidance on how to prevent this from happening again.

Regards.

can you check if the screen photos show at your end, i detailed very carefully how to replicate the error.

Would you able to call to go through the issues anytime? +61 411 318 267 i am available via whatsapp

[Clov]

Hi @andy.hoangdinh

I tried your process or workflow on my end using:

• The new SKP and D5 File you have sent (New SKP to New D5 File): New to New
• The previous SKP and the new D5 file you have sent (Old SKP to New D5 File): Old to New

As you have observed in the video, I modified the environment settings in your new D5 File just to see if these settings are reformatted to its original state once I activate the plug-in in SketchUp. Both processes, retained all of the material settings, environment, and even light settings.

Suggestion:

• Please put these files temporarily, in your local folder like the Downloads folder just to observe if the issue persists with this kind of set-up. We believe this is more of a file location or permission issue although you have told us that this was not evident on 2.10.
• Ensure that you have Full Control of the folder where these files are stored just to be sure that there are no issues regarding permission, etc.
  
  

As for your other questions:

• You can only detach or unlink specific light components by deleting the light asset in SketchUp.
• When you delete these lights and add new ones, they will revert to the default values.
• The full re-syncing issue shouldn’t happen with the same D5 and SketchUp files. If the SketchUp file used for Live Sync is replaced in D5, all information should be retained and not be broken. These issues suggest that the files may be stored in a location other than your local drive.

[andy.hoangdinh]

Maybe u haven’t check the other scence scences, 25% of light had been deleted or messed around the settings, the pool area not affect much compare to other scence because it mostly sun light coming in and emisive light source, not much light source strong enough to compete with sunlight The impact is from the atificial lightss which other scence totally rely on to iluminate. you can easily see the change and material lost from stair and corridor area.

you can also see whole folder L. Stair disappear and ungroup into the Lv9-10 light folders group my side show to lights names totally differ than your.

[Clov]

Hi @andy.hoangdinh

Please check your DMs so we can proceed with this issue. Thanks.