Thanks for the help! (Thanks Solo for the thumbs up.) I like building computers but sometimes it is nice to just plug it in and go...(lousy timing for buying a new computer. Who has money at this time of year.) And thanks for the tip about downloading windows and using the sticker number. I think I will start it from scratch instead of fighting all the advertising..... Thanks! Stuart

assmuming you have the Intel Core i5 460M cpu

Yes, you are right. The standalone version hasn’t any dependence on Rhino. It can be used with any mesh editor that supports import/export meshes in “OFF” format. In fact, the both kind of the Completer's release are only quite thin wrappers on the same engine. But, the absence of its own editing possibilities causes, that using this tool you can’t manually designate model’s boundaries to preserve them during the repairing.

That's great, I can imagine how much fun you have with it I've used the commercial 3D print bureaus, so the design process is a bit different since you don't have to think too much about support material like you do in some cases with the smaller printers. Back on topic, I can see browser-based programs like Shapesmith becoming a good alternative to downloadable software like Sketchup in the next few years. All the same benefits(and drawbacks, to be fair) as other programs that live in the cloud apply: no need to worry about program updates, installation issues, and so on. Here's a short writeup about Shapesmith from Fabbaloo. Tinkercad recently snagged a USD $1M investment, so the interest is definitely there, but for now, Sketchup and this community still makes the most sense for me.

heres the link, sorry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InSnq5Tv5l4

I've been reading this post with interest as I have a Disto and have been looking for a way to add horizontal measurement, but most systems are very buggy and/or very expensive, but some Swiss cavers have added a third-axis upgrade to a Disto A3 http://paperless.bheeb.ch/. Apparently it will work on other lasers, but the Disto has greater accuracy and functionailty (and the Disto A3 has enough room within the case for the upgrade). The device uses the Disto's memory to hold the resulting point cloud prior to Bluetooth transmission to PDA for field-drawing or for building into a drawing later. .[image: 0lZ8_distoXthirdAxis.JPG] I'm considering getting someone to build me one of these, as it's essentially a poor-man's electronic theodolite, and would revolutionise field work. I understand they cost around 150 Euros to build (and the site has full specifications and construction info for the electronically-minded) Just thought you might be interested in this.

@gaieus said: There's a sticky topic in the SketchUp Discussions forum about Lion: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=38858 Thanx a lot Gaieus, it really help a lot

forget my last post i just found that when something is a group it counts as a solid but when the same object is not grouped it is an entity. what does this mean?

I think you can do it both ways - I know it does a AVI movie OR an image... you can easily extract images from an AVI if you need to...

Thanks! I just found out about the "Transfer Wizard". Seems like a painless way to go...

Hi zoom123, Your sketchup problemo will not be solved by upgrading pc. Large models with a lot of plants etc will always be a problem for sketchup. Your best option is exporting to another 3d application like cinema4d, 3dmax, or blender (free), and do the planting in there. Greetz Pugz

Thanks for the compliment mitcorb. Sorry I'm so late to this thread. If you've already made a decision it'd be interesting to know which way you went. I don't have any great insights here. It's an interesting thought but I personally wouldn't want to be the one to test out the theory that it might help. For the most part I feel like specing a computer for SU is like specing a computer to run powerpoint really well. It really doesn't take that much to run it well, and after that it's all overkill. I've got an nVidia 9800GT which was a decent card several years ago but fairly old now. I've already swapped it from an old machine to a replacement once and will continue to do so until the card dies. Viewports (whether it's SU or 3ds max) just don't use video cards to their full potential (see this study done awhile back http://www.cgarchitect.com/news/Reviews/Review076_1.asp ). Now if you're a gamer or you do video production, that's another matter - spec your video card around that rather than SU. In fact that's my general rule. If you do anything besides SU that's computer intensive (video encoding/editing, gaming, whatever), spec your machine primarily around that and SU as an afterthought even if you use it a lot. I would challenge Idahoj's comment about having at least 8gigs of ram too. I think 4 gigs is fine if SU is your most labor intensive software. 6 wouldn't hurt with a 64-bit OS, but I can't imagine how you'd get to 8. If someone does that, I'm more than open to correction, but I don't see it. SU would run into major issues long before you used that much ram. -Brodie

Well, I just brushed the surface here of what this can do. Let me know if there's anything else you need

Here's a link on how to configure grids for the viewer, http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Viewer If they're running a mesh enabled simulator and running a stand alone simulator, instead of using hosted service like Second Life or Inworlds, they need to configure the sim, http://metatek.blogspot.com/2011/07/multi-user-sim-on-stick.html also check http://opensimulator.org If you have a mesh enabled browser, when you click build, select upload and don't see model, either the sim or the region isn't mesh enabled. If it's standalone they need to back up their inventory, OAR files then install a newer version, OpenSim 0.7.2 is mesh enabled. If you're using a hosted service, you're SOL. As a precaution, export the model as both obj and collada, and use MeshLab to import the obj to export as a collada. There's still a problem with uploading SketchUp exported collada files, it's either the exporter or artifacts in the model.

There's a review in the next Edition of CatchUp of the Be3D Pro. Worth waiting til next week?

I am not sure you can upgrade to it but the graphic card in my macbook pro is very good. [image: Wiqb_GC.png]

@edson said: @miikka1978 said: Here is what I found in Unity 3D forum. Maybe this could be beneficial for Sketchup users. Ürban PAD is a smart modeler for creating 3D buildings and cities faster. You should be able to export buildings or city to game engine (UDK/Unity 3D) or 3D software (FBX and Collada export). They are offering Ürban PAD for special price $29 (Indie license). Note, this deal will only take place if certain number of licenses are sold before October 2, 2011. I don't know the company before, so I can't really say anything about the trustworthiness of them. http://www.gamr7.com/init/urban_pad/special hi mikka, I apologize for my dumbness but what is an Indie license? Indie license means that there is restriction that companies or incorporated entities that had a turnover in excess of US$100,000 in their last fiscal year must use Ürban PAD Pro. Normally Indie license costs $700. Pro license seems to cost $ 7000.

hello: One month ago i started using sculptris. Now i will show you my third model. [image: 6025777804_0031189871.jpg] Devil Chiu 01 por artysmedia, en Flickr More, laterrrrr

@unknownuser said: Still I wouldn't say no if someone gave it to me... Hell I'd even thank them.

@notareal said: What about http://www.allegorithmic.com/substances/library/substance-bitmap2material Does anybody have any experience with this or is there some other good ones available nowadays?