Hey guys thanks for the help, I finally got it to work. I think some of my problems had something to do with my download manager. Anyway, I got it working, Thanks.

yep.. noob here sorry I'm such a PITA.

Just to the right of the racks you can see the original imported png file, which has the negative elements already depicted as transparent. I simply imported this (as an image), exploded it, then grouped it so it wouldn't stick to anything else. I had decided on a nominal shelf height of 5', so I imported the image 10' high...as it's double-stacked. All I did then was trace a rectangle over the part of the image that represents the open front. I then measured the depth of the side image and Push/Pulled the drawn rectangle the same distance. You then have a box that is exactly the same size as the elements in the image, ready to take the projected textures. Projecting the textures is simply a case of lining up the different elements on the image with their respective sides, sampling them (Paint Bucket + Alt) the painting onto that side. Obviously, this involves rotating the image (or copies of it) 90° so that you have front and side elevations + plan. You'll also notice that the planking on the image is a bit short for the shelf itself, so the copy that lay flat over the top of the box was stretched to make it fit. I have deleted the top surface of the box, as it's not needed when they are stacked...although I guess you could make a separate top shelf component with a cover on, if it's needed. PS I didn't use SU to produce the original image; I simply drew them directly in CorelDraw and exported a transparent png without bothering to create an original hi-res 3D version, complete with rivets. It's perfectly possible to use SU...you'd just have to do a load of post-processing to composite the different elevations and remove the negative parts.

@unknownuser said: @ajdesign said: how does everyone else approach basic 2d line work? i guess that question could be interpreted a few different ways but.. on the job site when i need some quick layout lines or measurements or what not, i'll often use top view with wire frame on.. but that's real basic stuff.. what do you want to accomplish? Jeff,I need to develop the components of these models and get my students make them. I will try wireframe mode in top view, seems like a simple way to approach things. Thanks

@mac1 said: tet42740 Some additional info for you: I used MeshLab and and did a quadratic edge collapse decimation and was able to reduces the edges in the model by ~200,000. However Meshlab is not easy to use and looking at the model more it became apparent the basic tile model has some problems. There are a number of edges which IMO should not be there. There are some specific mathmatical relations required if you attempt to model it using the ARC tool and very small errors can cause the problems you see in that model. If you want to correct ,create a cylinder( The OD I measured was 96.453 mm, make it just a zero thickness ( no wall thickness) I'll explain why below, extrude it up to the 250mm ht, select the top and scale down by the ratio to get the small dia you want ( I measuerd 71.190 mm for that). You can then go ahead and use the off set tool to set the 15mm thickness. The reason for waiting to this step is the scale tool will scale the thickness if you do it early. I then used the section tool to cut the truncated cylinder at one of the edges lines, make the section a group , intersect with model and delete the undesired portion. When I replaced this new tile with the ones in my posted model, which was based on what was in your orginial OP, the number of model edges reduced >= 200,000. Just some thoughts for you Sorry, I was... delayed. :gandalf: Thanks a lot, I clearly understood. I must change the way I work. I've used many industrial modelers for my job (Catia, Euclid, ... : oldies : ) and it's no good with softs like Sketchup or Blender. Cheers.

My first thought woud be Tools on Surface to actually draw the shapes on the cylinder...followed by Joint Push/Pull to extrude them. EDIT: ...or SuperDrape, as TIG suggests. It depends on the shapes that you want.

I understand the pain of moving. Sometimes I think what one needs is a good fire. Glad to see you back with us.

A very good point. Thanks

That was exactly the problem! I scaled the CAD file and everything works. Thanks

@jean lemire said: Hi Peter, hi folks. See this page in SketchUp help: http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=94897 Just ideas. Doh! Thanks Jean. I am sure I've done that before but left the method unused for too long. Peter

@dave r said: There's no dialog missing from the MatchPhoto box. With V8 it got moved to the Styles>Settings dialog. I suppose the help files haven't been updated. Thanks - at least I found it. LOL

These things can be achieved with dynamic components. They are only available in the Pro version however (v. 7 and later). See an example (should be on your computer with the SU install, too). Select the fence and start scaling it horizontally. When you release, the number of the wooden pieces will grow. Fnce.skp

It's sort of a GIGO thing.

OK thanks I will give it a go. @gilles said: Explose your component then type G (short key for component) then choose glue to horizontal, check the position of the axis and create. Done.

@alan fraser said: Find the Round Corners ruby script by Fredo. It gives you 3 options...round corners, sharp corners and bevel edges. Select the top of the tent, plus the four corners that hang down and choose the round corners option. You'll see a dialog appear at the top of the drawing window...and also the same parameters in the VCB (Measurements box)...the spread of the curve followed by the number of segments, separated by a comma. Retype your own parameters...these would be something like 1" or 2cm and 3 segments. Press Enter, see if the preview lines look ok on your model then use the tick on the end of the cursor to accept them. thank you. yes, i did download it yesterday and applied it to the second tent. perhaps i just made it too round. since the edges where the tent cover falls down look to smooth as if it is a pyramid.

@jean lemire said: Hi folks. See this SU file for ideas. Great work! That is actually what I was looking for - don't know why I did think of it myself since I'm not a beginner - but I didn't so - Thanks! I did find a great plugin on the way anyway

You can find the "puzzle" exercise model in this topic: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=41657

Thanks for all the help all sorted nom

Sometimes it is good to position the material on that flat face just a little bit bigger so that you do not have issues around the edges.

thank you cotty. weld works really well and I need to read up more on coplanar (and everything else). thanks again