If you have digital info - say in a .csv file - you can use various scripts to manipulate this data into a 'cloud of points', and then 'triangulate' these points into a surface. This surface can be adjusted using the built-in Sandbox Tools. There are further scripts to manipulate the surface - such as 'drape cpoints' - which can then get triangulated back as a gridded mesh rather than a triangulated one and others to simplify, add contour lines etc... You can also make surfaces from 3D contours [Sandbox's add-on 'simplify-contours' will make it less intensive !] etc... To import data from a file as a 'cloud of points' get http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubylibraryDepot/Ruby/em_fil_page.htm [cloud_v6.zip] - it supports various data format - see its pdf help file in the zip... The script 'points_cloud_triangulation.rb' [which shows in the Plugins menu as 'Triangulate Points'] converts cpoints to a faced mesh - it's here... http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibraryDepot/Ruby/points_cloud_triangulation.rb Note that this script also requires 'delauney2.rb' - which you can get from here... http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=117071#p117071 'drape_cpoints.rb' makes a surface into a regular meshed set of cpoints that you can reprocess - http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=179421#p179421 Hope this kicks you off in the right direction...

@putnik said: When an 'organised' script gets updated by its author, you have to go through all the steps again, which is a pain. I suggest you lobby the other authors to make their works Organizer-compatible. That would cut down on the headaches for users. @putnik said: All in all a better script manager is really needed. Unfortunately, a script manager relies on standards. If authors are unwilling to follow - or don't know about - the standards that allow the manager to function, things won't get any better.

Hmmm, no I didnt, but thats a good idea! I will give it a shot, thanks for the advice. There are a couple of those scale rubies out there for circular shapes I might give one of those a shot. Thanks Honolulu, opened up a whole new thought processes!

@jteselle said: This is an old problem -- just wondering if anyone has a solution. I am using SketchUp 7 on a Windows PC, with XP. I've been using SketchUp for a long time (since version 2) and have noticed this problem from time to time. I set up my window size maximized on my screen, with toolbars where I want them. When I exit and then restart, sometimes the application window opens correctly (full size) and sometimes it opens up small. I can't see any logic to it. When it opens small, I have to reposition all the toolbars, because they have been moved around to fit on the small window. Any ideas as to how to fix this? Have you tried right clicking on the shortcut and selecting run Maximized? Or is that what you are explaining you have done. Best, C [image: 4W17_SP04.jpg]

Thomas, Looking at FredoScale I think it may do the job, with the tool called "Stretch". Those tools are fantastic, but not being a big ruby user I get daunted by where to begin. This looks like one to have. Thanks! Peter

SU can only display things minimum 1 puixel from each other on screen. This means that if you place two faces 3/8" from each other but look at them from close enought for SU to "have enough pixels" in between, there's no problem. Once you zoom out however and this 3/8" would occupy less screen real estate than 1 pixel, SU has problems displaying it and z-fighting begins. A bigger resolution export surely helps and this is what probably happened here; your screen resolution must be higher than the resolution you exported the animation in. Am I guessing well?

Try GreyScale.rb by Jim Foltz. http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/ruby-scripts/9467-visual-index-ruby-scripts.html#post146122

Strictly speaking, scaling only "works" when the target object is symmetrical to all three axis. And that is a very rare situation. Look at your screen capture of S forms, EscapeArtist. What you need to do is not scaling, but offsetting, in 3D. Like Gaieus said, JointPushPull by fredo6 is designed exactly for the purpose. Beautiful, isn't it?

@cholme said: Sometimes they work fine and other times ... First, for setting your own shortcuts: Bravo! Shortcuts rule. Second, they can also be a bit of an insect colony. From the link below, scroll down until you get to the red box that starts, "Complaints." http://www.martinrinehart.com/models/tutorial/tutorial_10.html#defining It's quite a long bug list for one small area. Can I add yours? Martin

See if this roofing texture will be better (I could still imagine something much better but it's still better than that "Spanish tile" you use) And a preview of it on a basilica we've just found ("strongly" WIP) [image: DFIT_Bazilika.jpg] The stone/brick opus mixtum is not mine but I will ask my friend who made it to share. Roofing_Tile_Roman.skm

If I had to do something like this, I would project the image on the wall in SU and make it emit light that way in Podium. Should work fine I guess.

yes i do it might come from the way Maxwell plugin interferes with SU when it controls camera views then. What i just do is use magic wand in pshop, with 1 neighbour pixel setting ( neighbour pixel setting off) then i can remove the grey stripes... Hope this can be solved in future SU or MR versions! N

Thanks guys!!!

Thanks Guys for info. Learn something new each day, never really paid much attention to the smooth option before, so had ago and you can create some interesting effects on faces when selecting various combination's of edges to be smooth - almost creating soft shadows on faces, but not on ground. [image: oZPx_cubes.jpg] [image: X2pH_cubes1.jpg]

I'm taking guess but if your models are generated by a modeller that uses solids these entities may require translation into meshed equivalents which could be producing the additional size/elements.

Nobody said you where a "sub par" designer. I think your designs are great. No need to show us your resume to prove it. But when you come to a group and ask this... @fitz said: I work a lot with models that intersect at angles,(crown moulding as one example) and use the "intersect model" tool quite a bit, as its the only method I've found for making compound miters in models. Then after i gave you some great advice you go off on some tirade with the notion that i somehow slandered you, well that's just childish! Then later you even admitted your mis-communication problem here.... @fitz said: the so called "miter action" I speak of, especially using "crown moulding" as an example was a massive oversimplification on my part, as what I REALLY am refering to is different models "intersecting" at angles. Makes me wonder of your intentions...? After looking over your pictures (and man are there a ton of them!) i noticed some errors that i would like to point out. You will probably think i am being mean but you need to know these simple facts about construction before you go off claiming to be some kind of superman! In the next picture i annotated some horrible mistakes in framing that would cause you to surely fail a structural inspection... and get laughed off a job site... http://jjsenlightenments.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-not-to-frame-door.html This proves to me your lack of construction knowledge. Your a designer with no formal training in the feild. Sometimes what looks good on paper is nothing more that wishful fantasies and pipe dreams. Not only do you not have the all encompassing knowledge of a project manager, you lack even the basic skills of a 12.00hr carpenter. Don't try to challenge me at my game!

As to processors, the newer Xeon and i7 processors seem to have a slight edge compared to older dual- and quadcores. I tested a 2.53 GHz Xeon a couple of months ago, and it seemed equal or a bit faster with my small models than a 3.6.GHz P IV. Anssi

Ah fantastic!! thank you very much

mirami: The disappearing faces may have something to do with the scale of the model. Small size models with microfacets are a known limitation in Sketchup. The workaround is to scale up by some factor like (10), perform the operations, and then scale down by (0.1). There is a native tool to "repair tiny triangles" in a right click menu after selecting the perimeter edges. If it does not show up, there is also top line menu Tools>Utilities>Create face. This could end up being a lot of "knitting", as I call it. (It may be better for you to direct your questions in the other thread "on designing a shoe".)

Select the grouped helix in the attached model > right click > explode and while its segments (and nothing else) are still selected, "apply" the scale tool and start scaling. Cool effect indeed. Pottery.skp