Podium for MAC is not GPU accelerated, for many of the same reasons as detailed in that post. It is worth considering an eGPU should the situation change for the better in the future. Hope this helps. Make it love at first search. The way you show up online dramatically impacts your bottom line. Get more reviews on Google, Facebook, and leading industry-specific sites by sending customers an easy-to-use link.
Podium Walker will work on Windows and older versions of SketchUp for the Mac, and is compatible with SketchUp 2020, 2019 (Windows only) 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 as well as SketchUp 8.
Windows Installation Instructions:
Before you begin: If you haven't already done so, please head over to the Podium Walker download page to download the latest version of the software.
1. Windows Installation for SketchUp 8, 2013, 2015-2020 (2019/ 2020 is for Windows only).
The Podium Walker Windows install is an .rbz installation file, which can be downloaded as either a standalone or zipped .rbz file from the download page. You may download the .rbz file to any folder on your computer.
Note: Internet Explorer 8 may automatically unpack .rbz files so we recommend you use IE 9 or higher, FireFox or Chrome to download .rbz files.
2. Launch the SketchUp Preferences Menu: (Window Preferences)
3. Installing the .RBZ File: (Extensions Install extensions)
About RBZ files - SketchUp .rbz files are installation files that install extensions (plug-ins) from within SketchUp 8, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. You must install the Windows version of Podium Walker from within SketchUp’s Window menu, Preferences/ Extension dialog box.
Do not attempt to install the Podium Walker .rbz file from outside of SketchUp.
4. Browse to the .RBZ file and Click Open/OK
Remember, the Windows .rbz file will only work with the Windows versions of SketchUp.
Do not use the Podium Walker .rbz Windows version on a Mac, and vise versa.
Activate the Podium Walker license
All users: Activate your Podium Walker license using the Podium Walker pull down menu in the SketchUp Plugins menu. Enter the sixteen alpha numeric license code that you received.
Mac Installation Instructions:
Before you begin: If you haven't already done so, please head over to the Podium Walker download page to download the latest version of the software.
1. Mac OS-X Installation
Su Podium
Podium Walker for Mac uses an .rbz installation file, which can be downloaded in zipped or unzipped format from the PW downloads page. Podium Walker will install without any issues for Maverick, Mountain Lion and Lion, and will work in SketchUp 8 thru SketchUp 2018. (SU 2019 version is being developed) Safari may automatically unpack .rbz files so it’s recommended you use FireFox or Chrome to download SketchUp extensions.
2. Launch the SketchUp Preferences Menu: (Window Preferences)
3. Installing the .RBZ File: (Extensions Install extensions)
About RBZ files - SketchUp .rbz files are installation files that install extensions (plug-ins) from within SketchUp 8, 2013,2014,2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. You must install the Windows version of Podium Walker from within SketchUp’s Window menu, Preferences Extension dialog box.
Do not attempt to install the Podium Walker .rbz file from outside of SketchUp.
4. Browse to the .RBZ file and Click Open/OK
Remember, the Mac .rbz file will only work with the Mac versions of SketchUp.
Do not use the Podium Walker .rbz Mac version in Windows, and vise versa.
Mac Specific Issues: Read – Write Privileges
If your Mac does not have read and write privileges on the SketchUp plugins folder, SketchUp will be unable to install the Extension.
- SketchUp 2014, 2015, and 2016: In Finder go to UserLibraryApplication SupportSketchUp 2014SketchUpPlugins folder, right click Get Info and make sure that your account has Read & Write privilege.
- SketchUp 8: In finder go to Macintosh HDLibraryApplication SupportSketchUp 8SketchUpPluginsright click Get Info and make sure that your account has Read & Write privilege.
Activate the Podium Walker license
All users: Activate your Podium Walker license using the Podium Walker pull down menu in the SketchUp Plugins menu. Enter the sixteen alpha numeric license code that you received.
Difference between ProWalker GPU and Podium Walker (Standard)
Google Sketchup Download For Mac
- ProWalkerGPU is a Sketchup extension for visualization and animation based on Nvidia Iray's high quality raytracing program. It requires one more Nvidia GPU to work effectively. Please read here.
- ProWalker GPU only works on a Windows 7 or 10 computer. It will not run on a Mac.
- Podium Walker (Standard) is a fast, raytracing extension for SketchUp based on Intel's raytracing kernels. It is CPU based. No GPU is required. It is fast but quality level is lower than ProWalker GPU.
- Podium Walker will work on Windows and Mac.
- Both ProWalker and Podium Walker support all of SU Podium and Podium Browser materials and lights.
Getting started with Podium Walker is easy. In this guide, we'll take our first look into Podium Walker, explore the interface and navigation, and explain how to create and export an animated video. This guide assumes you already have Podium Walker installed—if you're having trouble doing so, please consult our installation guide.
1. After installing Podium Walker open SketchUp
Podium Walker works best on SketchUp models that have some SU Podium V2 materials or lights included. To examine Podium Walker functions, load a SketchUp model with Podium properties or download the Barcelona Pavilion model from here.Note: This model has Podium V2 reflections applied to the water.
Podium Walker can be accessed from the SketchUp plug-ins menu or from a single icon tool bar.
2. Click the Podium Walker icon to launch the PW interface.
Your current SketchUp model will get loaded (exported) into a Podium Walker window and rendered very quickly. If your SketchUp scene covers the entire viewport, it's possible that the Podium Walker window will be behind the SketchUp window. Your viewport should look like this image below with the SketchUp window and the Podium Walker window:
With the Barcelona model, you can see how Podium Walker quickly converts the SketchUp model and renders it using ray tracing. The Podium V2.x materials properties and artificial lights are rendered as well.
NOTE: Podium Walker is not meant for still image rendering. SU Podium V2.x is a much higher quality ray tracing and global illumination program. However, with Podium Walker you can navigate inside the Podium Walker window and experience real time ray tracing. It can be used a 'viewer' for SU Podium V2.x
3. Things to note:
Podium Walker also reads the time of day from SketchUp and provides natural sun and sky light. The sky environment provided by Podium Walker will change with the time of day and or position of your camera.
You can re-size the Podium Window dynamically.
Changing geometry in SketchUp or adding SU Podium V2.x properties does require that you to close and reopen the Podium Walker window or use the button from the top icon menu.
As a default, PW camera is disconnected to SketchUp camera. The mouse controls in PW are different from SketchUp's. Please read the navigation section below. However, you can connect the PW camera to the SketchUp camera to obtain the familiar SketchUp navigation controls. Please read below.