Playing around some more with SketchUp shadows and shading in Google Earth.

In this example I took an overhead screenshot from SketchUp of a simple model of the Pyramids of Giza. Then mapped this image back onto the same model as a texture.  This means that when the model was exported to Google Earth,  render effects were included.  

The Google Earth timeline uses a sequence of these models, with baked-in shading, to display a ’sundial animation’, covering an eight and a half hour period.

Pyramids of Giza
(1.7MB)

Viewing tips:

• Terrain and 3D Buildings, under Layers, should to be switched off.  
• This is one of those Google Earth files where once opened it’s a good idea to maximize the width of the time slider to load in all the files.
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• Then minimize this once the green load icons (under Places) have disappeared
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• Click the play button to view the animation.
• Repeat mode and playback speed can be altered in the time control options dialog via the white clock button 

Related:
- Animated London Eye with shadow
- Bouncing Google Earth