September 13, 2026  Gemini -- Compilation of Digital Art

After rendering more than a hundred images similar to those shown below, it's time to take a break.  The subject matter during the past month and a half was derived from a large 3D SketchUp model of my hometown that I had created a decade ago.

These stylized views were rendered by Gemini AI based on uploaded images from the model along with detailed instructions to achieve the effects that you see below.  The bulk of the work posted below dates back to late July.

Images illustrate what the town looked like in the 1950s and early 60s with some scenes containing structures that were standing in the 1930s. The small town's business district is at the south end of Main Street--these can be viewed extensively in earlier posts.  The churches are shown separatetly.  The North Main pictures include  the school and views of the residences along both sides of Main Street.

The small prairie town, like most, lacks grandeur--no palaces, castl,e or anything else remsembling awe-inspiring vistas.  What makes it worthy of catpuring on canvas or on screen is how utilitarian everything is and how, street by street, it all fits together.  Setting the mood by changing the natural elements--daytime to night and varying the seasons--adds interest, reality, and a feeling of being there.  Open the PDF links in this series of ten posts and zoom deeply into the images.  At 400% you can then scroll horizontally and sometimes vertically.   You'll get the idea.

A few other variations were posted in the Photography section (see left side bar) because they were transformed from old photographs rather than from SketchUp exported images. 

The emulated art gallery below is a culmination of many enjoyable hours of doing what I like to do best.  Here's the Last image in this series.  For an enlargement click here:  Compilation of Digital Art,  (PDF file, 242 KB, 1 page).

September 12, 2026  North Main Street, 1st & 2nd Avenues, and the Stockyards -- SketchUp, Gemini, and GIMP

Here are 49 more scenes following the same format as previous posts.  Each scene shown below has a day and nights/snow/rainy/foggy, etc., version in addition to the original SketchUp exported image from the model.  More information about the SketchUp model has been previously discussed.  I, alone, possess the original SketchUp Model to serve as evidence, that I am the true creator of every image generated and posted in this series.

Lastly, there are several 3D exports in wireframe and monochrome views to illustrate the elements within a SketchUp model.  This is the bones/DNA of all of these images without "Shading and Textured" faces applied.

Here are the above mentioned images that can be either downloadeded or opened that provides a close-up look:  North Main and 1st and 2nd Avenues  and Stockyards, (PDF file, 3.03 MB, 50 pages).

September 10, 2026  Residential Neighborhoods -- SketchUp, GIMP, and Gemini

Here are two scenes selected from my SketchUp town model that was completed in 2016.  Since AI is at everyone's fingertips, it is very enjoyable to make use of it by transforming exported images from a basic 3D model into photorealistic pictures.  Today's street is a walk down memory lane.

The scenes below contain a family out for a stroll.  They are shown on a street with an Odd Fellows Lodge and two homes in the background that were built in the early 1900s.  These images capture the street in the mid 1950s.

The prompt given to Gemini AI is easy to explain.  Just describe the people to be inserted into the exported image from the SketchUp model and whether you want it ato be night or during daylight.   Also, describe the season and weather conditions if you want.   Gemini knows what to do with an uploaded images after you provide a few details.

For a close-up look, open or download from this link. Click here:  Rendering Neighborhoods,  (PDF file,  742 KB, 9 pages.)

September 7, 2026  Spring Basketball -- SketchUp and Gemini Imagery

In the 1950s, it was common practice for high school coaches to take down the hoops from the basketball court at the end of the season to signal players that it was time to move on with spring training for baseball or track.  That didn't dampen the spirits of the neighborhood kids.  The images show backyard activity as soon as the snow began to melt.

Coincidentally, the large building in the background (see below) doubled as the school's basketball auditorium.  It was a multi-purpose facility that got plenty of use -- roller skating, dances, school carnivals and other larger gatherings.  The kids looked forwrard to playing indoors once practice resumed in November.

For larger and downloadable images cllick here:  Outdoor Basketball, (PDF file, 625 KB, 6 pages).

September 6, 2026  Image Transformation Process --SketchUp Model to Stylized Photorealism

This post includes the churches from the small town featured in the prevrious post.  They represent those in use during the 1950s.  A new church was built in 1961 that replaced the white church (see below).  There are three images of each scene that illustrate the creation process in reverse order--beginning with the the highly stylized image back to the original 3D SketchUp Model Export.  The photorealistic and stylized versions were  rendered with Gemini based on the prompt I included along with each downloaded SketchUp drawing. 

I have chosen elevated camera angles from the 3D model in order to show off roof lines and other elements of the town in the surrounding area and in the distance.

Also, Gemini embellished the stylized versions based on my very brief instructions.  For example:

 "Create a detailed photorealistic image of the attached rendering that emulates .  .  ."  You would enter your style preference here, create a hybrid, or use your own.

Please excuse errors in detail.  Most of these were modeled from memory with only a few original photos available to serve as a guide.

For larger and downloadable images cllick here:  Town Churches, (PDF file, 1.18 MB, 17 pages).

September 4, 2026  SketchUp Model Image -- Gemini Gray Scale Rendering--Dust Storm, Nostalgia

There's just one image today.  The background is lost in the blowing dust as would be expected with roads covered with a mixture of gravel, sand, and clay that has become very dry during a drought.  In addition, there would also be a mixture of airborne topsoil blowing in from hundreds of square miles due to the dry climate conditions, the strong winds, and over tilling.

Farming practices have improved since the early days, but a storm of this type developed locally this year that reduced driving visiblility to zero and in spots resulted in substantial drifting of prime agricultural topsoil along highway ditches.

The original image for today's project was taken from a collection of exported pictures created from a large SketchUp model of an entire small town.  These can be viewed in various stages of completion in Digital Art 1 and 2 linked in the left sidebar.   Gemini was prompted to convert the image to gray scale and to create a hazy background caused by the blowing dust along the streets and in the sky.

The original SketchUp model was begun in 2013-2014.  Who could have imagined back then that exported images would later be transformed into photorealisitc likenesses.  This has been a perfect ending to a project that required months to complete so many years ago.

I grew up along the street pictured below.  Different aspects of it are etched in my memory.  Today, the only remnants of what is in view below are the roads (now paved), the first building on the right, and the street lights and power poles.  The buildings have either been demolished, or were destroyed by fire.  A few have new structures in their place.  It will never look like it had once did.   The missing wood frame and brick buildings would now be well over 100 years old.  These photorealistic drawings will keep the memories alive.

September 2, 2026  ChatGPT's Re-interpretation of a Photorealistic Image

Transformed images (SketchUp model to photorealistic image) posted during the past two days have been inspired by a variety of notable works with contrasting styles.

Click here to zoom into the ChatGPT version:  Grandstand Transformations, (PDF file,  532 KB, 5 pages).   Note:  Download and/or view the PDF version of the image files with Zoom options.

August 31, 2026  Gemini's Re-interpretation of the Old SketchUp Project

The first set of twelve images were selecetd from the  July 23rd Photorealisim project (see below).  Gemini has transformed these images to appear fanciful and almost surreal.  Many of them are shown in a wet and lush environment.  Gemini was asked to transform these images by applying various contemporary artistic and photographic styles.   Application of these styles includes an illuminated sky, mountains, a few new structures, window scenes, bunches of floral vegetation, signage, and multiple lightsing sources everywhere.  In some instances these interpretations contain harsh or bold color combinations that cannot be described as photorealistic, but only realistic unto itself.

In reality, the townsite is located on a flat prairie with not a hill in site. These modifications create a fanciful, cheerful , and cozy atmosphere.

For a closer look you can view the twwelve images again using the zoom-in feature--click here:  Gemini's Digital Image Transformation, (PDF file, .99 MB, 14 pages).

Link to Here

July 23, 2026  A New Life for An Old SketchUp Project

Today, I resurrected some old images from Digtal Art, page 2 (see left side bar).  The images had originally been exported from an old SketchUp model (2015--16) and then edited with GIMP.   Along with a few short instruction Gemini did a good job adding more photorealism.

There are potentially thousands of images that can be rendered from the digital art page 2 gallery.  With access to the original SketchUp model and the ability to modify it, I have litterally an infinite number of scenes and camera angles from which to chooee.

For you, however,  all you need to do is download or print screen one of the 2D graphic images from Digital Art, page 2  (Or one that has also been edited with GIMP) and ask Gemini to create a photorealistic image from the drawing.  Give Gemini a few specific instructions that you would, or would not like to see. In a few seconds you'll have your own customized copy that is truly unique.

Lastly, there were quite a few details that I got wrong in the original SketchUp model of my hometown, but the rest is recognizable if you're an old-timer like myself.  Three decades of structures, cars, and trains (30s through 60s) tend to overlap in many scenes.  Note, I also used GIMP photo editor to fix a few spots that usually came up in the background where Gemini couldn't quite figure out what was what.

Here are sixty-three examples of Gemini's work that focuses on a small town's Main Street, Depot, and Baseball Ball Diamond as seen in the mid 1950s (or earlier) through the early 1960s:

You can download a copy of the above images and a few more interior views by clicking here:  Digital Photorealistic Album 2026, (PDF file, 13.6 MB, 64 pages).

The advantage of the PDF format is that you can zoom into specific areas for a closer look.  Many of the images retain reasonably good quality up to 400% mangnification;  however, some will pixelate and rendering errors become more evident.  I have manually edited many specific elements with the GIMP Photo Editior that Gemini had misinterpreted.

Before the above mentioned modeling project was completed in 2016, there was an earlier series of gif images created from my initial 2013 SketchUp model with GIMP image light and filter edits.  You will see see a crudely drawn set of images using a more primitive style.    Examples are found in Digital Art, page 1 that is linked in the left side bar.

A few structures from the first model, however, were good enough to be carried over for later versions that followed. Thanks to AI, rendering tools for the general public have improved since then.    Click Here.  This GIMP animation plays on a continuous loop so close the tab on your browser when finished viewing.

July 22, 2026  SketchUp Model with Gemini AI Enhancements

Below is an Hour Glass that was rendered from a SketchUp image uploaded to Gemini and is based on the following instruction:

"Please use the following design to create an hour glass which is placed on an old hardwood table in a 17th century sitting room. There is glass and sand within the wire lattice work that is currently green.  Change the green to a tarnished silver color.  The upper and lower gold-colored sections should be pollshed brass.  Both ends are made of shiny hardwood."

To see how the initial model was made, Click Here to view it with SketchUp Viewer.  See images below.

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Comment:

The October 8, 2025 Post in SketchUp Projects V illustrates equally elaborate Gemini-generated images created from line art -- various views of wire frame SketchUp models accompanied by detailed prompts. Click here to view Contemporary Arizona Homes and Lifestyle.

July 15, 2026   Review Thread Design Sequence -- Five Helix Thread Design with SktetchUp and Twilight Render

Today's project is a review of the Five-helix Method for drawing a 1", 8 TPI section of thread.  The finished model was rendered in SketchUp Make with Twilight Render Extension--Hobby Version.  The model's dimensions have not been reduced to actual scale to allow greater precision while drawing.

Click the following link to view an uneditable version of the model using SketchUp Viewer:  Coarse Thread Review.

The Viewer version illlustrates all preliminary steps in the creation of the model.  The first rendering below was created with Twilight Render Extension and does not appear in SketchUp Viewer in its rendered state--it is a separate file, as are the 2-D graphics renderings that were exported from SketchUp Make as jpg file.

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