Planning a Sketchup model? Strategies - share your thoughts

remus

Do you examine the original which you are going to model for 'difficult geometry' and then plan your model around those tricky bits?

i dont tend to plan the entire model around the bits which are going to be difficult, although i certainly think quite hard about how im going to model tricky stuff.

More generally, i tend to model the large parts of a model first, as i find this gives you a 'base' on which you can base the rest of the model.

@unknownuser said:

Do you decide how complex and detailed your model will be depending on how you intend to render the model?

Thats a tricky one. Personally i usually just go for loads of detail or hardly any detail, although i think this is mostly to do with the sort of thing i model (product shot type things.)

@unknownuser said:

Do you make a concious decision to 'fudge' certain tricky bits - the whole model being more important than one or two individual parts?

I never start out thinking i'll fudge bits of a model, although often after spending a inordinate time on a certain section of a model i'll decide to make it as good as i can and leave it (aka fudging it).

@unknownuser said:

How do you know when to stop the detailing? Do you make a decision at the start that your model will be a certain level of complexity or detail or accuracy (depending on it's intended use)?

I just keep going until most of the visible stuff is modelled, although again this is probably down to the nature of the stuff i tend to model.

@unknownuser said:

Anyone think of any other questions to ask an experienced Sketchup user about planning a model?

Before i start modelling i usually think quite carefully about how i might be able to use scenes and components in my model, as this can make things a lot easier further down the line.

Gaieus

Ha. Can be a good topic if more chime in. All depends however what you use SU for.

@electricdoodle said:

The reason I say this is because Sketchup is so easy to get into and fun to use that it's tempting to just jump in and start sketching a model without any real preparatory planning.

I've done this, and inevitably, further down the design creation you find that you hit a problem that could have been avoided if only you had taken some time to plan your model before you began.

I definietly did this with my "first, major" project when I was still kind of "newbie".

@unknownuser said:

Do you examine the original which you are going to model for 'difficult geometry' and then plan your model around those tricky bits?

Not really "for difficult geometry" (there shouldn't be such ) but first I have to find out how a building may (have) look(ed) like at all. Then I build it.

@unknownuser said:

Do you decide how complex and detailed your model will be depending on how you intend to render the model?

Also. And of course also depending on how much time I have and how much is reasonable depending on whether it will or won't be seen at all for instance.

@unknownuser said:

Do you make a concious decision to 'fudge' certain tricky bits - the whole model being more important than one or two individual parts?

For me it'smore when I cannot decide what a certain detail or part of a building complex may (have) look(ed) like. Then I either lie or "fudge" if you want to put that way.

@unknownuser said:

How do you know when to stop the detailing? Do you make a decision at the start that your model will be a certain level of complexity or detail or accuracy (depending on it's intended use)?

I actually never know where I'll end up so no decisions at the start. It will bring it along anyway. When a client is already impatient, the job is considered ready

@unknownuser said:

Anyone think of any other questions to ask an experienced Sketchup user about planning a model?

I's modtly the workflow really (like what Remus says). To make it easier for yourself. Laziness makes the world go round (without it there wouldn't have been any inventions or discoveries).

Note that "by profession" I use SU for archaeological/historic reconstructions. Apart from that, I mostly hang around these forums and model whatever people with problems need.

Thus my first sentence as well - all depends what you use SU for.

solo

Sketchup is a strange monster, there are so many ways to do things, so many ways around problems and complicated geometry.

Depending on what needs modeling there are different approaches, for Archvis type modeling the prep work has normally been done in a CAD app so it’s just a formality in getting the model to a level of completion as required by a client.

Product modeling like guns, ships, cars etc start with an idea then I begin modeling using two instances of Sketchup, one for modeling the different groups and components and the other for assembling them.

I always setup my scenes early in the modeling process so that I know how my final presentation is going to be, that way I can concentrate my detail to the areas closest to camera and generally keep areas that will not be seen unmodeled unless it’s for animation or a full model is needed.
I used to ‘over model’ in the beginning as most folk new to SU often do, but after a while one gets savvy to the tricks of minimal modeling.

Because of SU’s poly issues I tend to try model with an idea of a final file size, I tend to plan models using symmetrical modeling as much as possible, making sure to use groups and components whenever possible, I do a lot of purging and saving before using any ruby as I disabled ‘autosave’ from preferences as it slows SU down.

But at the end of the day modeling is like drawing, one can learn the basics, but one always ends up doing it the way one is most comfortable with which comes from practice and persistence.

Aidus

First and only thing. Be organized as much as you can. Groups layers colours etc. everything must be organized especially if You work on large models.

linea

I think Sketchup is really the same as working in Cad or Photoshop. If you are the only person who is going to use the file and you won't need to edit it much, you can just dive in without much planning. But if you need to share the file or make ammendments you need to plan more. As most of my models go back and forth between different architects I model those very differently to how I would model something quickly.
I can just fly in there, not worrying about groups, layers, hide the odd dodgy line, don't watch the poly count and quickly end up with a convincing model but I don't do this on anything important or anything that somebody else has to work on. I use alot of layers. I'm sure my process is far from textbook though, I think I do every project a bit differently.

Part of the problem I find is that most people say "but I thought Sketchup was supposed to be really quick"...

broomstick

I have a fixed approach to modeling, using layers and groups to determine an order in the file.

I do a lot of architecture modeling, so the first thing is to import the cad files. I then proceed to put all of the lines of the cad on a unique layer (so I can turn it off in the end). Once that layer is prepared, i block the group made from the cad lines, and I start my modeling on that.

All the geometry starts at layer 0. When i finish a part, I group it and put the group on a new layer.
For example I draw all of the exterior walls of a building, I group that geometry, and then I put it on a "extwalls" layer.

In this way all base geometry still lays on Layer0, but when I need to turn off a Layer I know that those groups will be turned off.

CAVEAT: from experience, if you eventually export your model in another program like 3dStudio max, this approach is not so good, because all geometry will be read on layer0!
If you otherwise render in Vray, or export in Artlantis, then you are good to go...

Selecting the scenes at first is a great Idea... I always just get carried away in modeling, so at first I really don't know wich parts I'll show. Knowing it before... that would help me a lot

@gaieus said:

Note that "by profession" I use SU for archaeological/historic reconstructions. Apart from that, I mostly hang around these forums and model whatever people with problems need.

That's enormously interesting! Do you find yourself well with SU in such a way of work?

Tobobo

@unknownuser said:

Do you examine the original which you are going to model for 'difficult geometry' and then plan your model around those tricky bits?

I normally get CAD drawing of the site so I spend time cleaning the cad model to reduce the amount of tricky bits.

@unknownuser said:

Do you decide how complex and detailed your model will be depending on how you intend to render the model?

I normally I’m told how detailed it needs to be but I wish those in power would know the difference between indicative and detailed!

@unknownuser said:

Do you make a conscious decision to 'fudge' certain tricky bits - the whole model being more important than one or two individual parts?

I have been known to fudge parts but that’s normally dictated by the poor quality CAD drawing.

@unknownuser said:

How do you know when to stop the detailing? Do you make a decision at the start that your model will be a certain level of complexity or detail or accuracy (depending on it's intended use)?

When I either run out of time or I can't do anymore without bring down the network with a massive file.

Anssi

Most of my modelling fits inside the thing implied in the product name, "sketching". I have a problem to solve or a product to design. I import a plan fragment and develop that into a rough model of the context. I group and componentize things a lot because they need to be moved around to test different solutions. Lastly I export 2D views into CAD for CDs.

If I have (seldom) a whole building to model, I am more methodical and make almost everything into groups and components. Normally I use layers only to test design options.

Anssi

Gaieus

@broomstick said:

@gaieus said:

Note that "by profession" I use SU for archaeological/historic reconstructions. Apart from that, I mostly hang around these forums and model whatever people with problems need.

That's enormously interesting! Do you find yourself well with SU in such a way of work?

Which one?Archaeology or help forum work?

Well, joking aside; SU IS the perfect tool for this. You can never make sure that what you imagine to be a reconstruction of a building you only dig up the foundations of will be good. With SU, you can always go back and quickly adjust your theory to the facts as more and more evidence come to light and the idea is getting a final shape.

broomstick

@gaieus said:

@broomstick said:

@gaieus said:

Note that "by profession" I use SU for archaeological/historic reconstructions. Apart from that, I mostly hang around these forums and model whatever people with problems need.

That's enormously interesting! Do you find yourself well with SU in such a way of work?

Which one?Archaeology or help forum work?

Well, joking aside; SU IS the perfect tool for this. You can never make sure that what you imagine to be a reconstruction of a building you only dig up the foundations of will be good. With SU, you can always go back and quickly adjust your theory to the facts as more and more evidence come to light and the idea is getting a final shape.

Right! I should have quoted you better. Apart from that, your take is really interesting