Basically you should use a vector export format like DWG or PDF. You won't get textures or shadows, though. The basic rules: http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=9281 For raster exports it is different. Pixels do not have a scale. You can either print the images directly to paper or PDF using a PDF printer (still using a standard view, with Parallel Projection on), or do something in this line: Draw an empty rectangle around your model with dimensions you know. export the plan view with parallel projection to an image. open the image in photoshop trim away everything outside your "frame". Photoshop can do this automatically if you have an uniform background. now you can resize the image to the dimensions the frame should have, with or without resampling. if you need to you can now crop away the frame. Photoshop remembers your DPI setting so the image should remain at the correct scale. when printing from any application, remember to turn off all page scaling in the application or your print driver. For instance, Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat default to fitting the page to available printing area, which produces extra margins and a slightly downsized image Anssi

Oh thanks, you are very kind, everything works! Bye

Hi Tomsdesk Ive already remodelled the area but thanks for your suggestion, I'll remember it for next time!

Thanks for the welcome. I hadn't noticed the Portugues pages yet, but I will try as I learn more of the language!

Hell yeah! It does work! Thanks!!

Hi Nick, Note that you can exploit the inference engine to do the job for you. After grabbing the right grip of the scale tool, you can snap to any corner of your ground floor group. See attached images. [image: 7XXl_step1.jpg] [image: ly3l_step2.jpg] Note however that unless your second floor is not just a hollow box (i.e. no wall thickness, no windows, furniture etc) it will scale everything proportionally and everything will be "distorted" in this way of scaling.

Well, I also have Camtasia 3 (downloaded/installed when there was a frrebie period some time around december) and YES, it is superior to the others I have. And yes, it can create very small files with seemingly lossless compression. I like it.

Sorry for the delayed response... Yes, you could have your Steam Engine animate and "run" using Antics V3.1 BasePack and for more information on how to make this happen have a look at our SketchUp Tips and Tricks section at http://www.antics3d.com/forum.php?action=topics&cat_id=24

@unknownuser said: Hey Bex, why do you think we set up this "Newbie Forum"? It says: "Welcome! Ask and get answered..." Good point and still very much appreciated

I found script to make faces: http://www.smustard.com/script/MakeFaces

Take a look at this link Some videos are on your subject (use the "research on the page" of your navigator) Normally only 2 corners are sufficent

@unknownuser said: Then you can create layers to toggle the visibility of certain elements on/off (say you have 20 buildings in a lunar city - you want them to be seen "from outside" all the time but you can hide/show the interior with the massive geometry by controling layers). This can be done with a lot of stuff. I can see that the cut and paste method that I tried it with was the culprit in the crash. Going with the component method fixed it. This evening I discovered 'explode' which has been helpful. Last weekend I got through the 'important' parts of Sketchup through "Sketchup for Dummies." It didn't get much into layers except to say that they're wicked for gumming up the works. Again, thanks for the advice... if you know of any free tutorials (the other books I found were $80/piece) please let me know.

okay it sort of works now......improvement is being made, allthough it looks like the model is attached to the points by a rubber band. can't have everything i guess. ffd-test.skp

@gaieus said: They cannot document the workflow with each and every 3rd party paalication This is why forums exist! That's true. At least WE now have documented in RIGHT HERE for further reference!

@zootsuit said: Hi there. I'm working on a large scale residential estate for an architectural project. I have a PDF of the plan site which I want to use as a base to trace over in Sketchup. I have converted the PDF to a jpeg in Photoshop then imported it and used it as a material on a base rectangle. The problem is that it needs to be scaled up so much that the image is very blurry and hard to trace accurately. Is there a better way I can do this ? Should I model on a much smaller scale , i.e the original size of the jpeg, then scale the model to size after? If I try to scale the Jpeg up in Photoshop the file size goes through the roof! Many Thanks Zootsuit Is it a bitmap embedded within the PDF? Or is it vector graphics? If it's vector you can use Illustrator or similar to open it and then export the lines as DWG/DXF.

Hi Johnnyjack (and welcome). This really sound like some video card issue. Try to go to Window > Preferences > OpenGL settings and first turn off Fast Feedback. If this doesn't help, turn off Hardware acceleration as well. This (finally) should work however it may affect performance especially with more complex models. The ultimate solution would be to update your video driver and see if that helps.

Im not sure if youve tried this yet, but try turning hardware acceleration on but turning of fast feedback. If it works this is generally a better solution and will make US run faster. As for pushing things through walls thats just a 'feature' of SU. To make sure it cuts through you need to get an inference on the opposite wall, just look for the little dot...

Thanks heaps guys. That new subdivide and smooth looks exactly like what I am after. My Last question is: Can you intersect with model to 3d spherically curved shapes. What I am trying to do is make certain storage areas on these kayaks (like those seen behind the seat in the picture) and would like to makes components of these storage areas then intersect them with the model onto a almost flat but still curved surface. If that is possible them doing the rest of the storage areas onto a large overall shape will be a piece of cake.

Thats interesting, the Practice I work for recently designed the replacement Sharrow School, although it was a project I was not involved in

@remus said: I forgot to say, its worh unticking the 'use fast feedback' box first, as this wont slow down SU as much, although it doesnt always work. Thx very much, I did this first and it solved the problem.