Second time this week, I see mention of 3ds here in this sort of context. I wish for Many things for SU...to be faster, more stable, and better at putting out basic architectural stuff it was designed for. But there does seem to be a line to draw. SU isn't ever going to be 3ds. and that's a good thing. It's simple and fast (not in the CPU sense), and often the shortest way between two points. But to do the fancy stuff, sometimes you just need fancy, expensive, and time-consuming (if you have to learn it first) software. I hope to see what solution you find though.

Try this technique for a beginning on something similar and it will give you ideas for other things you can do. Use Photoshop or Gimp. Also Fotosketcher. http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=25197#p216173 Also there's this book... http://sketchucation.com/shop/books/242-digital-watercolour

Here is a comparison between the two. [image: 0LE6_Raster.png] [image: raHV_vector.png] Nick can often use Raster rendering for lines because they aren't really visible in the image. When he needs very crisp lines, he'll use Vector rendering or Hybrid which renders lines as vector and textures as raster.

Extract them to the Styles folder under SketchUp 8. Put them into a folder within the Styles folder. Either use an existing one or make a new folder. Make sure you have full read and write permissions for the Styles folder. If you are using Windows 7, you most likely don't have full permissions.

You can do it with the icon in the screenshot. [image: Q6xI_answer.png] However you can only see this icon when you are in a topic that you started (i.e. you asked something). Moderators can see the icon everywhere - so I can mark any answer as solving the problem. I am not sure where the settings are now but I guess we should somehow hack the plugin so that at least "Top SketchUcators" could also mark answers best.

Thank you so very much!!! I appreciate it!!! At first I was ready to pull my hair out..but now I'm really enjoying creating things!! Have an awesome week!

Thanks for the tip, much quicker than redrawing.

Thank you ever so much for that, really helpful. Had a bit of trouble doing the deletes but got there in the end. Thanks again.

Thanks. An extra step is not a problem at all. I can make most changes on jpg and make the transparent cuts last.

Very easy Thank You Jean

It's also mentioned in the help center article Gilles linked to - only quite small print at the bottom...

Thanks, I finally got it to work (and Cotty's second suggestion worked for me, too). I am just wondering why I can't rotate it and have 360 show up like in the video.

Thanks Tig , currently a very broke student so every penny counts for me , but yes ive been using your plugins and i must say a big THANK YOU! they have helped me so much!! Thanks again!! will be trying your shadow plugin now!

Hi Bilal, hi folks. Click in sequence on the scenes tabs of this SU file for ideas: Curved and bent shape.skp

@krisidious said: You're probably going to have to be a little more specific. from what i could gather, it's using dynamic components as a means of reporting volume and area (lenX*lenY type of stuff..) seems it would only work on rectangles / cubes ... also seems like entity info is a better choice (unless there's something happening via the generate report action near the end of the video which i'm not seeing)..

Thanks, peebo, for pointing out that next video, and the rectangle fill technique, and so forth. It has been a long time since I watched these, and I may have forgotten them and fallen into bad habits along the way. I helped you and you helped me- thanks.

@tig said: 'Flattery' works on PC [and probably MAC]. Are you extracting/installing it properly ? It is an Extension and needs activating etc ? Also look at:- Jim's simple "jf_UnfoldTool.rb" http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/2007/08/plugin-unfoldrb.html and MattC's "AutoUnfold.rb" http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323&p=342121#p342110 There's also the similar "unfoldtool.rb" by anon, that I have but can't remember where from... The error was something to do with "encryption", I just reinstalled it, clicked "OK" a bunch of times and it seems to be fine Thanks for replying as I'd probably have given up on it otherwise.

Thanks for the advice Google Earth might be a good idea.

Yep, the sketchy styles/transparency bug. My work around is to create an opaque "bill board" object, placed closely behind the image (on a seperate layer) in the component. This way I can choose when I want transparency or not. This also comes in handy for conceptual work, when I only display the "billboard". See attached images. [image: 2zmI_1.JPG] [image: clOl_2.JPG]