Selecting from an image?

Box

I'm wondering if it is possible to import an image and select part of it as a shape that can then be push pulled etc. Like using a mask in programs like Photoshop?

As a simple example.
I would like to select just the black silhouette and lose the white background.

Gaieus

@box said:

...I would like to select just the black silhouette and lose the white background...

Well, if I could have a choice, I would also go for the black part of the image!

Anyway, joking aside; there is ImageProfile at Smustard (commercial plugin however; you need to "subscribe" to a certain amount of "credits" that are processed on their server)
http://www.smustard.com/script/ImageProfile

Box

That looks interesting Gaieus, I'll keep it in mind,I'm not sure about the credits and server part of it as I spend a lot of my time without an internet connection.

Come to think of it, I drew that shape in Corel and exported it as a DWG so that I could have it watercut out of a thick piece of glass, can I import from the DWG as a shape?

Gaieus

Sure that's the best choice. If you have SU Free (7.1 or above) however, you will need this plugin to import dwg/dxf

Box

Excellent, thanks for the help once again.

Aerilius

Another possibility would be to vectorize the image (this black/white example is perfect), and then import the lines.
I have not tested, but the following workflow should do it:

Download the free vector editing program Inkscape
Path -> vectorize bitmap
delete the image (in the background) and save as .svg
Download an svg-import script for Sketchup: http://www.uli-tessel.de/suruby.htm
and import the outlines

Box

Thanks Aerilius, I've made a note of this and will give it a try.

shura

Dear Aerilius,
this is an interesting workflow, I'd like to make it work for me too. Unfortunately I don't get the svg.rb to work. It needs some other ruby scripts that are not specifically SU related (I think). At this point my knowledge ends... maybe some ruby-wizard can help us out here?
all I get is this:

Error Loading File svg.rb
No such file to load -- rexml/parsers/pullparser.rb

Yes, admitted - apart from copying ruby files to the plugins folder I don't have much clue.

Also I have tried to export vectors from Inkscape to DXF format to import into SketchUp, but SU splats/crashes immediately. any experience with that? Maybe I have to perform a conversion before exporting... dunno much about Inkscape either.

alex

TIG

@shura said:

Dear Aerilius,
this is an interesting workflow, I'd like to make it work for me too. Unfortunately I don't get the svg.rb to work. It needs some other ruby scripts that are not specifically SU related (I think). At this point my knowledge ends... maybe some ruby-wizard can help us out here?
all I get is this:

Error Loading File svg.rb
No such file to load -- rexml/parsers/pullparser.rb

Yes, admitted - apart from copying ruby files to the plugins folder I don't have much clue.

Also I have tried to export vectors from Inkscape to DXF format to import into SketchUp, but SU splats/crashes immediately. any experience with that? Maybe I have to perform a conversion before exporting... dunno much about Inkscape either.

alex

svg.rb:
This script allows to use Inkscape to create 2D images and to create Sketchup group(s) from the SVG File Inkscape has written.
The script requires rexml: You will find the files in a standard ruby environment: Copy the rexml Folder to your Sketchup Plugins Folder.
You will also need the forwardable.rb and set.rb from ruby in your Plugins Folder.

So you need to get ' Inkscape' AND have rexml AND forwardable.rb and set.rb... It'd be kind if the author of svg.rb posted at least some links if he wants you to try his tool even I'm confused

pilou

A free Autotrace "online"
So you can use any Tif, JPG, PNP etc images and export as DXF for example (if you have always free Google Sketchup 6