New SketchUp Tutorials Available for Woodworkers
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Hi Folks,
Joe, to answer your question concerning the use of layers, I don't. My projects are not so complex to have this need. Maybe for huge architectural projects but for woodworking I doubt. Except if you want to animate a bit your models like Dave Richards did in one of his video animating a door.Here is my way to have my shop drawings.
When my project is complete with all parts made as components I create my cutting list with the script "CutListAndMaterials.rb".
Then I copy and drag each piece lets say 2 or 3 meters from the original. I orbit like I want put the dimensions on it and create a scene. And so on for all components. For small or simple elements I group them on the same scene.
Now it might happen you have a complicate piece with a lot of dimensions. In this case I orbit my piece in two or three different positions and I create 2 or 3 scenes. Then I put dimensions on each scene. This might result in a big mess but without the help of "PageHide.rb" script. In fact you can select on each scene the dimensions you want to see only on the selected scene. I like this script very much ! Look at my attached file a simple example I did for you with a door.
At the end I print each scene for the shop.I hope my explanation are enough clear, if not please tell me. I'm more at ease in my native tongue
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Jean-Franco,
Thanks very much for the explanation and the model. Both were very clear. Your written english is as good, or better, than mine and I can't speak a word of a second language. You have my admiration.
But I am still not convinced of the advantage of doing everything on one layer, which I can imagine gets very large and messy, not to mention difficult to find your way around a complex model. Though I must admit, it seems the experienced and knowledgeable SketchUp veterans all seem to do it that way. I guess I will have to give it a try for myself and see.
I don't know what PageHide.rb does, but I will download it and give it a try. Thanks for the tip off on that too.
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Joe, I'd like to clarify something about layers, if I may.
Layer "0" is for modeling and displaying. In other words, it is the 'main' layer where all the action takes place. When you draw something that you wish to group or which you want to turn into a component, you do so on layer "0". After your group or component is done you can assigne it to a different layer.
To illustrate:
Say I'm planning out a kitchen.
I'll start off by drawing the walls. Once I've got my walls (each one a group) I create a layer called "walls" and assign the walls to that layer.
Back to layer "0".
I now begin to model my kitchen. I'll model the units that will go along wall 'A'. Just the units mind you. Not the counter top, just the units. When I'm done I create a layer called "units wall A" and assigne those units to that layer.
Back to layer "0".
And so on.
Now I can easily choose what is visible and what isn't without having to mess about with hide and unhide.
Take a look at this little model I slapped together.
Layers Illustration.skp
Everything has it's own layer.
If I want to change something in any given ellement in the model I can turn off the visibility of anything that gets in my way.
I don't really know why but I do know that it is important to do your modeling on layer "0".I hope this clears up the layers issue a bit.
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Gidon (and anyone else whos interested), you should always model on layer 0 because if you dont you inevitably end up with stray geometry al over the place and it takes forever to try and get it on to the right layers.
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Hi Folks,
Gidon, thanks for the quite complete demo model. This is exactly the way I draw. Every part part or appliance starts on layer0 until I decide to make it a component or group. I ten immediately assign it a layer. It may share a layer with other parts if that makes logical sense. I try never to have more than one part in construction on layer0 at the same time lest the get mingled and then life gets difficult.
But I have found that a lot of experienced SketchUp people tend to shy away from layers, choosing to draw everything on layer0, and leaving it there even after making group or components of things. I am wondering why and is there some intrinsic value to doing that which I don't understand.
And remus is correct. If yo dare to draw a part on another lay you are bound to get in trouble sooner or later. The first drawing I did in SketchUp I tried to draw things on the layer they would eventually occupy and all hell broke loose because of the sticky nature of SketchUp primitives. I almost gave up on SketchUp. Glad I didn't.
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thanks for that tip Gidon. up until now i had created the layers first and than drew the corresponding groups and components on the named layer. sometimes i forget which layer im on and end up with bits of geometry all scattered about but your method makes sense and keeps the modeling time productive. thanks.
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@chiefwoodworker said:
But I have found that a lot of experienced SketchUp people tend to shy away from layers,
That's news to me. I know that I create layers at a later stage of my model, in other words I create the layers as the need for them arises and not as a srarting point. The model I attached was for illustration purposes only. I'm not saying I would always use that many layers. I have found that using a specific layer for the units of specific walls or plan views is very helpful for the later stage of compiling the hard copy project plans for the craftsmen together with the optimisation output. I use the Cutlist Plus program from Bridgewood Design which I find to be one of the most cost effective optimisation programs available.
Being able to 'switch off' as it were entire sections of the kitchen makes printing out shop drawing a breeze and the same applies to inputting optimisation data.
It could also have something to do with my Austro-Hungarian genes.
I have this 'thing' about everything having to have a place of it's own so that order can be maintained. (the word 'order' here has to said with a thick German accent
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Gidon,
I have Dutch & German genes, which I guess explains why we have the same need for "order", hence layers.
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my heritage is English but my jeans are all Levis.
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@chiefwoodworker said:
I just downloaded it and will play with it tonight.
Thanks for the tip.Hey Joe, did you get around to playing with 'Wink'?
You might want to try out Camtasia too.
I use it a lot. It's excellent. -
Hi Gidon,
Yes, I have played with Wink. An I am also playing with SnagIt. I'll try out Camtasia tool. Thanks for the tip.
I only have two parts left to the tutorial series I am currently working on, so I will probably stick to the style I used for the first five. But I have another series planned and I will definitely use a format that includes the use of Wink or a tool just like it. It is amazing what these free or very inexpensive tools can do. I had been looking at two other tools before you put me on to Wink, one from Adobe for $590 and one other for $300. But the difference in capability is very little, at least for my purposes. Thanks again.
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