You can view the meshed objects in plan, or elevation view and then use the Autocad command "Flatshot" and it will create 2D a block of what is visible on your screen. Then you can explode the block and delete out any little bits that you don't want. It's still a bit of work, but it's way faster than exploding an entire 3D object and sorting through the garbage that happens when you do that. JP. Bernier Draw! Studio @carrye said: The .dwg I have received are not good at all. They are wire mesh and not only do they have to be gutted but smoothed out. I can only smooth them so far or I end up losing too much detail so I go in and hide lines manually after a certain point. Can 20/20 models be exported as smoothly-curved AutoCAD solids instead of meshes? Is it better to export to .dxf than to .dwg?

Hey Rich, Gus is totally stoked with the new measuring tool he has Thanks for suggesting that!

If you wish to control units for areas independently from the model unit, and use 2D Label to assign the text to faces, then you can have a look at FredoTools::ReportLabelArea. [image: yr5X_ReportLabelArea-Labelling.png]

@dave r said: I think you missed attaching the file. Or are you sending it via private message? This is my first attempt at forum stuff, I thought i attached it but obviously didn't go. I uploaded it...let me try again. If you don't get it maybe direct me to the "How to attach a file-for dummies" page. Thx

I may have got the image orientation a bit muddled up on that first model I uploaded. I think Right is Left & vise versa. I now have some little labels to put in the photos with a scale on them. Saves having to remember what photo is what, which I obviously failed to do the first time. It does make it a little less confusing if the photos are arranged correctly....doh! Can also scale more accurately from now on, which also helps with accuracy.Helps to have some ortho photos of it open to use for comparison whilst modelling too. Wasn't really expecting anyone to actually go to the trouble of "the challenge". But here's mine anyway. I think it's pretty close & didn't take too long to build. It's a lot easier when the images are ordered arranged correctly. Might become a texturing challenge next....lol. RockSS007B-SU17.skp

@sketch3d.de said: @edson said: Would you suggest a free and easy-to-use alternative? if you would have done what I've described above (and what you've claimed) you should have DraftSight already on your system? No, I installed it and TeighaViewer a few minutes ago.

Cool to see the other ways to "skin this cat" A shout out to Box... I tried to run Solid Tools on the whole text and it threw up an error message, that's why I exploded the text to the individual characters. I wonder if it's a "Mac" thing ?

Didn't know about Fredo6 Performance report, so took screenshot. Hopefully it might be helpful. [image: c5z1_Fredo6Performance20180227.jpg]

@sjs66 said: I told Wrap-R they should include something similar in Wrap-R... They should listen to you.

I started having an odd thing happen with the new 2018. The inferencing stops working on the red axis every blue moon. The only way to get it to work in session is to use the arrow keys to force it. Restarting SketchUp always solves it. Weird.

does this cpu shot tell you anything? this took 25 seconds to export at 6000 pix wide, and the program seems to freeze and this white box appears on the screen and the little white box lower left .. [image: pJRN_2Untitled.png]

There is no risk if you make regular copies before every serious change.

@jakemm said: Update: Ok, it looks to be that because it was a simple model, that's why Sketchup got confused. Once I'd started adding some internal walls, everything magically worked as it should do! Without seeing it. That's what I figured. You can always just add a temporary flat roof or something. SU doesn't know a house from anything else. It's really just set to find some sort of negative space it seems.

Examples of camera simulations with MSphysics can be found here: http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=68975 You can connect a target object with the same polyline/curve (Curvy Piston) in front of the camera object to get a parallel view.

Very good. I'm happy you're all set.

Yes, there is no automatic way for it in SU. Maybe Thom needs more good suggestions for new tools in QFace/SubD workflow. I find Blender easier for this type of modeling but I will not quit on QFace/SubD workflow yet. I think there is room and will on Thom side to add more tools to ease things out when modeling with QFace/SubD way, we just need to present them to him.

@jgb said: Whenever I draw a line that is just slightly off (by design) the red, green or blue global axis, SU snaps the endpoint just off my mark with the "Constrained by..." message, and won't let me move it. As mentioned in your other thread where you wanted to change the bounding box and component axes to run along the component's geometry, you can take away the disturbing factor by temporarily redrawing the axes. Then snapping to your target shouldn't be a problem. If this happens a lot, create a scene with only the "odd" drawing axes saved. p.s. it is important to know that the use of the scene with its saved axes is not restricted to just one context. Open a (nested) group or component and you'll still be able to use the scene!

Yes, Wo3Dan, you do. And thank you..... I tried that in the past and most times it works. But you sparked a thought that is a solution. Within the bounds of the component I draw a grouped cube, and align it as I want the components axis to be. Change Axis of the component to the grouped cube works every time! Then I delete the grouped cube. It can be a bit tedious for a lot of off axis components, but it works better and faster than playing with change axis a dozen times. The primary reason I need accurate axis alignment is I use Move/rotate and Rotate to orient copies of the component in several positions, where the rotation axis is not quite on the global axis, like changing flap angles on a dihedral swept wing. I also use hidden lines to extend the bounding box so that the main rotation axis is dead on the geo-center of the bounding box. That way I only need the Move/rotate tool to simply pivot the object; instead of the Rotate tool, having to find the center of rotation and its RGB attitude every time I need to change the components attitude. Now... if only I can remember to do that instead if instinctively just change Axis!!!!

You might be able to use Bitmap to Mesh.

agrazdi, Animator is not finished yet and still in Beta. Actually, it will be chargeable when more advanced. There is also a difference between Simulator and Animation applications. With Simulators, you design kinematic and physical constraints and relationship, and then you can freely move some objects or cameras, and record the effect as a video. Say, you design a car movement with wheels, and then you can drive it on any road.So it is very powerful. With Animation, you have to create your scenario, by arranging movements of objects and cameras along a timeline, regardless of physical constraints. Say, you drive the car on a given road. You get exactly what you want, but if you wish a variation, you need to modify the animation elements. Fredo