D5 Lite 1.7.0 for SketchUp: New Features

This guide covers D5 Lite 1.7.0 for SketchUp on Windows, released September 17, 2026. This update adds external AI agent connections and channel output, alongside lighting and material improvements.

Key update	What you can do
CLI for AI Agents (Beta)	Let an external AI tool read Lite scenes, adjust parameters, and render
Channel output	Save channels alongside the main image for masking and compositing
Reflection Visibility and Beam Angle	Control light-source reflections and spotlight coverage
Normal strength	Adjust surface detail across a wider range

Adjust Lite Scenes Through External AI Tools

CLI for AI Agents (Beta) lets tools such as D5Arco, Codex, and Claude adjust Lite's environment, lights, materials, camera, and effects, then render images. The SketchUp version can also import models, images, material files, and style files.

Install and open SketchUp and D5 Lite under the same Windows user. The Lite installation includes the connector, so no separate connector installation is needed.

1. Follow the connection guide to let your agent find the connector for the current SketchUp plugin and check the environment and host connection.
2. Once the connection is ready, ask the agent to read the scene and report which parameters can be adjusted.
3. Request a specific lighting, material, or camera task, then follow the plan presented by the agent.

For a first check, you can send:

Read the environment, lights, and camera parameters in the current D5 Lite scene and tell me which settings I can adjust.

The SketchUp version also lets the agent import models, images, material files, and style files. If the connection fails or multiple connectors are found, use the connection guide to check the installation location and plugin version.

Read the CLI for AI Agents (Beta) Connection Guide →

Render Channel Images Alongside the Main Image

For selections and compositing in post-production, output Sky Mask, Material ID, Reflection, and Transparent channels with the main image.

1. Frame the view, open Render Settings, and set Output Type to Image.
2. Set image quality, format, and aspect ratio, then expand Channels below Aspect Ratio.
3. Select the channels you need, or choose Select all channels. If none are selected, only the main image is output.
4. Click Render, choose a save location and filename, and confirm to start rendering.
5. Open the output folder to find the main image and its channel images.

Channels use the same format as the main image (PNG / JPG), with the channel name appended to its filename. Channel selections are saved with the scene. Panoramas and render view screenshots do not output channels.

Read the Full Render Output Guide →

Control a Light's Visibility in Reflections

If a mirror or glass surface shows an unwanted light-source shape, use Reflection Visibility to change how visible the light is in reflections and refractions while preserving illumination.

1. Select the light in SketchUp and open the Lite light panel.
2. Adjust Reflection Visibility while checking the reflective area in Lite.
3. A value of 1 shows the light source fully; 0 hides it. The default is 1, and each light can be adjusted separately.

This parameter controls the reflected light-source appearance without changing how it lights the scene.

Read the Full Lights Guide →

Adjust Spotlights Using the Full Beam Angle

Spot Lights now show the full Beam Angle, making their coverage easier to judge. Their model display is also improved so it no longer deforms at wider angles.

Select a spotlight and adjust Beam Angle in the Lite light panel, or drag its control points to change the coverage. The range is 1°–160°, with a default of 60° for new spotlights.

Read the Full Lights Guide →

Adjust Material Normal Strength Across a Wider Range

The wider normal strength range lets you refine surface detail while keeping the same map.

1. Select the material in SketchUp and open the Lite material panel.
2. Use a template that supports normals, then load a normal map or generate one from the base map.
3. Drag the normal strength slider from -2 to 2, or enter a value from -5 to 5 manually.
4. Check the surface detail in Lite. Native SketchUp PBR normal strength values sync to Lite without conversion.

Read the Full Materials Guide →

Camera, Thumbnail, and Background Performance Improvements

Improvement	What changes during use
Continuous camera rotation	Mouse-drag rotation is no longer stopped by screen edges
Scene thumbnails	Each thumbnail shows the scene's full aspect ratio, making compositions easier to recognize
Background frame rate reduction	When both Lite and SketchUp are in the background, Lite reduces its frame rate to lower GPU usage

Read the Full Scene List Guide →

Release Notes for This Version → · Back to the User Manual →