Organic Modelling...Advice, software ideas and encouragement
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Sketchup does pul pull kind of modeling fantasticly. Especially if you can use the Sketchy output or further render those models in all kinds of render app's. Vectorworks does wonders in 2D, Photoshop with jpg files, Excell with numbers, Word with text and so on.
Modo among others is your modeler for organic forms or product design. If you just want to stick with Sketchup try to write a letter with it. Its possible and in case there is nothing else ok. But its not handy or smart. You can use plugin's to sort of model organic forms in SU but they are written to use now and then to add functionality while modeling typical Sketchup models.
Francois -
Thanks Guys for your input. Simon, France was awesome and the weather was perfect. I hope to return there some day. I have most of the plugins mentioned and will also look at the CAD program. I do already have Solidworks tho and it probably doesn't get much better than that, for mechanical drawings. I might be asking for too much out of one program as all programs have their strengths and weaknesses. I'll continue practicing and putting in the time with Sketchup. One thing that does bother me is that SU gets bad press as far as its limitations. A mag I bought this week was rating some programs and SU was one. It was obviously rated without the knowledge of all the rubies that have been written. Kinda pissed me off. Anyway....thanks guys.
Cheers,
Jeff
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@frv said:
Modo among others is your modeler for organic forms or product design.
forget all mesh-based polygonal modelers as e.g. Modo or SU etc. if you wanna get exact models for e.g. going into production or sharing w/ other CAx systems, i.e. if a more CAD/CAID based approach and not mesh dragging is required.
hth,
Norbert -
@click draw said:
I do already have Solidworks tho and it probably doesn't get much better than that, for mechanical drawings.
sure, SWX is great especially for parametric driven assemblies in the MCAD area. For a direct 3D modling without the need for fiddling/wrestling around with constraints/formulas other products are more suitable.
hth,
Norbert -
Thanks Norbert,
I watched the video from the link. Looks very good. I wonder how much that program differs from Solidworks other than cost. One feature I would love to see in SU is the "Shell" feature....
Jeff
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JPP is close by not quite it. With Shell, you can take a shape, select the sides to remove and add thickness to the remaining model. Not sure if that explains it good enough? Goto the link in Norbert's comment "Blending with ViaCAD" and it will show that feature. It's quite handy...
Jeff
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@click draw said:
I wonder how much that program differs from Solidworks other than cost.
see above and the Novedge Blog (bottom).
hth,
Norbert -
@click draw said:
JPP is close by not quite it. With Shell, you can take a shape, select the sides to remove and add thickness to the remaining model. Not sure if that explains it good enough? Goto the link in Norbert's comment "Blending with ViaCAD" and it will show that feature. It's quite handy...
Jeff
I saw that - but wouldn't selecting the appropriate faces do the trick?
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I am just a 3d hobbiest and have only ever used sketchup. I tried other programs but the learning curve was too big. I've only found two things so far I can't do with sketchup. 1.) I can't rig a model so I can pose it. For example, I made a model of a man in a space suit and wanted him to be posable. I couldn't make something like an elbow bend. To get around it, I made the upper arm and lower arm two groups on layer 1. The two groups overlap each other so as one moves, the overlaped parts of the other are exposed to fill in the empty space. I built a rig on layer 2 and grouped parts of the model to the rig in layer 3. It works, but it doesn't look great. 2.) I can't unwrap my models in sketchup to texture them. I think the pro's call it UV mapping. Whatever it's called, I can't do it in sketchup.
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