thanks guys for your opinions! i guess i just have to learn both of them.

Chris You did a most valiant job 'defending the fort' virtually alone ! I think he's now sorted anyway... Some users are awfully impatient ! It's not like they are 'paying' !

Chuck Vali, valiarchitects.com Instant Wall may be able to do this, if you can change orientation of the output. I am not sure. These plugins at this site are commercial plugins, as far as I know.

@cotty said: If you mean faces with hidden lines in it by "curves", you can activate view -> hidden geometry and use the texture on one partial surface and sample it afterwards... Hi thanks that works @dave r said: Why are you editing the dimensions of the material? Is it not already the correct size? Repetition will (and must) occur if the material image isn't large enough to cover the face. For that reason short sections of wood grain generally do not make realistic-looking materials. I prefer images of whole boards such as in this image. [image: 7974567274_bdf1469cf9_z.jpg] The narrow images don't show the full width of the image like the one on the right does. Hello Dave, thanks I will keep that in mind

thanx

Welcome, Joe! Looking forward to hearing more about SketchUp / ID together!

If the shape isn't too complicated you could use follow me tool ! But the plugin Nick pointed is just wonderful and very easy to use. Give it a try and if you get stuck just let us know and we'll sort it out ! Welcome to the forums and happy sketching !

First project ; Model a desk out of 80/20, simply by getting the 80/20 components and sticking it in the components folder. I am planning to build a desk

@tig said: I'm not sure that there is any correspondence between the external SKM file's RGB values and the built-in [OpenGL] colors. You can of course make new materials directly from from colors - like 'AliceBlue' - just by specifying a valid name as the material. You can also get any material's RGB color values in API code and from that you can compare it to the 'built-in' colors' RGB values. See the Material AND Color parts of the API docs... If you have a material already in the SKP why do you need to use a new 'color' based one at all ? Hi, TIG. Sorry for my late thanks. Actually, other people im my group use two styles of colors, e.g.the external SKM file's colors and the built-in [OpenGL] colors. I want to integrate them.

I think I may understand what you want. I am assuming you have done some Match Photo before but have not used all the features? You did not mention setting the scale of your grid and adjusting the grid to fit the real world scale of something known in your Photo. That is necessary. Once you have completed adjusting the axis you need to use the "Sketch Over" function. So you sketch over your main surfaces, then project the photomatch photo onto the surface by clicking on the "Project Photo" button in the Match Photo Dialogue Window. Now you are able to model more of the details from these surfaces or add new ones. You will be able to paint new materials onto the individual surfaces you create. If the new material-photo doesn't fit properly you can use "texture-tweaking" to pull the perspective out of it and fit your modeled section. This is a quick and dirty explanation and if you haven't done this before, you will likely need more detailed explanation. But I believe this will get you what you want.

As Chris said purge before each saving it can decrease by ten (not always) the file size.

Thank you very much! I have to use ";" instead of ",". Simple - I knew it! Still bothered me since days! Again: Thank you!

A first try with Extrude Edges by Loft CurviLoft Far from perfect, but maybe a point to start... [image: aBcO_estructura_cotty.jpg] estructura_cotty.zip

@artscape said: but I am always learning. Love it! The only wasted day is the day you don't learn something. Welcome!

Hello Albert, SAT animation tool (http://www.simfonia.fr/SAT/) should help you to overcome your problems. If you want you can send me your SkecthUp model on Private-Message and I'll make the animation for you. Best regards;

On PC if you go through the SU menu you can only have the one instance. If you go to the SU launch icon or an SKP file in windoze explorer (not IE!) you can as described above open a second copy of SU alongside the first.

Hi webman, hi folks. Click in sequence on the scenes tabs of this SU file for ideas: Steps with comments.skp

If you have arranged them, use "view -> toolbars -> Save toolbar positions" to save their positions. After they are messed up (which happens from time to time), you can restore your favorite arrangement.

As Pilou points out, there are lots of tools to use and which one you need will depend on what you are modelling - or what part of a model you are working on. Your best bet would be to follow a tutorial such as Marian's car thread: viewtopic.php?f=335&t=37611&hilit=tutorial+marian#p331991 Alternatively, pick a subject to model, open a WIP thread and then ask questions about how to model specific elements.