Try this: http://www.openspace3d.com/ French tech, and FREE !

Ok, no problem. I'll install Sketchup 2016. I have postponed it because I hate to re-install all the plugins (and finding the updated ones). It gives me a reason to stop procrastinate.

Hi All Here is another test example of an interior scene, done with Render[IN]. In addition to the sun light shining through the door, two neon lights provide the necessary lighting. I am really impressed how easy a sufficient interior lighting can be done because this is always a real challenge and always related with a great amount of trial and error - at least for me. The render time for a resolution of 2880 x 1620 was 40 minutes which is ok as well I think... [image: YhDE_StairsHO.jpg]

http://rengacad.com/en/ Bim system!

"ThruPaint" is part of Fredo's Tools http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=397448#p397448 Note that you also need to install LibFredo. Get their RBZ archives from the PluginStore - linked in the menu above...

It works fine in v8. See this simple GIF made in v8... [click on it to play it...] [image: AX7s_SCF.gif] Something must be wrong with your installation. Try reinstalling SketchUp v8. What other tools are showing disabled [grayed] menu items ?

@rich o brien said: Maybe a dynamic component would help. Thank you so much for this suggestion. I quickly discovered how to build a dynamic component that creates copies in one direction using the scale tool. Any suggestions of how to use the same trick on the same components in the other directions? I would think that the "copy" counter will only be helpful in one direction. Is there a way to nest a dynamic component to accomplish this?

@rich o brien said: @cmeed said: Are you close to beta release? Can I help? Close to alpha release. I appreciate the offer though There'll be an announcement this month regards beta testing. Cool , happy to help with Alpha , Beta or pint-a-bitter

KT is not so user friendly and full of features as Thea is (haven't tried it), still it has a lot of power and control, and it's possible to pick up and get results pretty quickly. KT has a LOT more to offer than most "free" software.

take a look at these: http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?listtype=1%26amp;author=0%26amp;category=0%26amp;search=1001%26amp;submit=%3F http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=Roof http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pauthor=timwarner

Higher subdivision works well even in harder situations; if Wrap-R could map it right without adding more poly counts it'd be step further. deck_ramp2.rar [image: 93LY_Fredo_wow.JPG]

Thanks Dave. Using a pic and turning it into a light source is a real quick way if you only have one or two windows in a scene. The orange was textured using a .png pic of a real orange. It was the biggest pain of everything in the picture. I had to use the SketchUV plugin to do a spherical mapping to get the texture to look o.k. Like you this stuff is a real departure from what I do at work. Having a lot of fun with it.

thanks bob! i had tried reloading it before, but this time it worked! up and running!

Amazing that it is now FREE! Really powerful: especially with its direct PhotoShop interface. Thanks for the heads-up

TIG, thank you for taking the time to produce such an expansive reply, it's thoroughly appreciated. I do completely see the disadvantages to producing geometry with individual layers, it seems a good precise habit in CAD, isn't so helpful in SU! So far using the (wrong) technique I've been using, it hasn't caused any problems, but I completely appreciate it could create insanity. Herein I'll use Layer0 for geometry and layer names for components/groups and see how I get on - thank you again for clarifying this, really very much appreciated. Going back to my original question, I guess the request for this feature is mute by using the Layer0 technique - so that, answers that! Thank you again for your help. All the very best, Chris

You can find plenty of objects on the 3D Warehouse. But it is indeed hard to find free or cheap quality content. Take a look at the SketchUcation store, there's some really good stuff there for very little price (or even free if you're a Premium member) We're working with big content providers to bring their libraries into the Sketchup world.

@miikka1978 said: For some years ago there was DoubleCad that was free to use but it seems that it is no longer available. Its still there. https://www.turbocad.com/content/doublecad-xt-v5

@pilou said: Does the lights linked with any renders ? From what I can tell it is aimed at being a productivity / reporting plugin. I have sent the author an email with a number of queries, one of which was whether or not the components used can be customized. If this is the case, you should be able to create custom fixtures possibly with IES files linked or with settings saved in the custom fixture component which can be read / understood by your rendering app.

Sure!

There was something I didn't like about 1001bit, but I can't recollect what it was. I'll give it a try again to see what it was. As far as VisuHole, it just makes cutting the holes easier. It doesn't do the framing like HouseBuilder does for doorways and windows. I was looking for something along that lines. Now it does look like if I have to use it, it would be a lot easier to design the framing parts manually, but it will still take up more time than what a computer can figure out and do the stuff for ya. Edit: Found out what I didn't like about 1001bit: Doesn't do framed arches, just standard door and window frames, which HouseBuilder already does and IMHO does easier.