Applique

Dave R · 11 Jul 2010, 16:23

Just doodling in SketchUp this morning. I need to draw something to put it on, now.

dedmin · 11 Jul 2010, 16:50

http://archive3d.net/?category=228

Dave R · 11 Jul 2010, 17:04

Thanks, Dedmin.

And I thought my file was big at 1 Mb.

brandy20 · 12 Jul 2010, 19:39

I wish I could just doodle in Sketchup like you do Dave! Wonderful!

PurpLev · 13 Jul 2010, 14:49

Nice work Dave.

I get tired just thinking about all the time and work it would take to incorporate this level of detail into SU models... well worth it in the end... I need a nap...

boofredlay · 13 Jul 2010, 19:51

Really Dave, just doodling? Too modest. Can we see some wires?

Dave R · 13 Jul 2010, 20:00

Thanks guys.

Eric, I'll try to post the wires when I get home.

Dave R · 13 Jul 2010, 21:37

Here you go Eric. I assume this is what you want to see.

TO be fair, I started with a DXF file that needed a lot of cleanup. The original as imported into SketchUp contained 43,719 enities (line segments) After I got finished I have 8898 entities (edges and faces). I applied a sketchy line style, colored the background and face color a bit and ran the exported JPG through Fotosketcher. Like I said, just doodling.

boofredlay · 13 Jul 2010, 22:30

Cheers Dave. Nice work.

FelixPQ · 21 Feb 2011, 11:38

Hi all,

I'm not sure this is the right place for this topic, if not then please tell me or just move it where it belong.

I have SU8 free version and a bunch of plugins and I've been (the last 2 months) trying to create models (from scratch) like this applique for example. With out success I might add at least not to my satisfaction. I understand there are a lot of this kind of work available out there and many other programs to use them with but I want to do it myself.

My first objective is to create a virtual showroom of original pieces of furniture inspired by what was done mostly by hand in the XV, XVI and up to XVIII that I would like to build one of these days with the help of a CNC router.

So I'm searching for an efficient mean to create such original designs that would have quite a few "carving" like details. My goal would be to find a way of doing this almost as fast as it would be to sketch them on a piece of paper but with the precision available with 3D software like SU. In other words, I'd like to "draw" and render these things at least as fast as it would be to build the real thing, hopefully faster.

Basically I'm looking for advice(s), suggestions, ideas, tools or whatever that could help me achieve my goals.

Thanks for your time,
Felix

dedmin · 21 Feb 2011, 12:08

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=34416&p=303808#p303808

FelixPQ · 21 Feb 2011, 17:00

@dedmin said:

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=34416&p=303808#p303808

Thanks Dedmin,

I forgot to mention that for now, I'd like to stick with SU if possible. If no one as a possible solution then I'll look elsewhere.

EDIT:

I think I have found an analogy for what I mean by efficient. Say one wants to add text to some model. Every one would think that's easy right? But now suppose this ET guy (me) come along and ask what about 3D text that is as easy to use as plain 2D text, just choose the font you want, choose the style and size you want, type in the text you want and voila.

I wouldn't be surprised if this 3D text stuff already exist but I used it as an example.

Thanks,
Felix

Dave R · 21 Feb 2011, 21:23

Felix, I am getting the impression from what you've written that you really need to learn to use SketchUp. I think you should put the decorative carvings and onlays aside for the time being and learn to use the program with more basic designs.

It would seem that you want to be able to quickly draw strokes and have them turned into carved details. If this is the case, SketchUp probably isn't the application for you. While something like the applique I started this thread with could be drawn in SketchUp, it won't be an instant thing to do. I expect there will be some very interesting possibilities with the release of Artisan but I don't think that's going to do what you really want.

What sort of woodworking skills do you have? Are you learning the woodworking end at the same time? How about showing us some of what you've already drawn?

FelixPQ · 21 Feb 2011, 22:48

@dave r said:

Felix, I am getting the impression from what you've written that you really need to learn to use SketchUp. I think you should put the decorative carvings and onlays aside for the time being and learn to use the program with more basic designs.

It would seem that you want to be able to quickly draw strokes and have them turned into carved details. If this is the case, SketchUp probably isn't the application for you. While something like the applique I started this thread with could be drawn in SketchUp, it won't be an instant thing to do. I expect there will be some very interesting possibilities with the release of Artisan but I don't think that's going to do what you really want.

What sort of woodworking skills do you have? Are you learning the woodworking end at the same time? How about showing us some of what you've already drawn?

Thanks Dave,

here is my first tries at this virtual gallery thing and for simple pieces http://latelierdefelix.com/VirtualGallery.htm. No carving yet as you can see! I'm not very satisfied either of the rendering, I guess I have more to learn in this area as well.

I admit the 3D text example is a bit over simplified because I perfectly understand that it would be a lot of work to parametrize every letter of every 3D font in various styles I'd like to use and that's without saying anythings about rubies or possibly even a true add-on in C++ or whatever.

At this time, it takes me say a couple of hours to draw something like first image but I didn't time myself. The door is very far from what I'd like to do by a long shot, that would be a door for my house, a real door for real house. I'd like some carving on that door instead simple shape that most can do in a nick of time.

Seriously, I like SU because it's relatively easy to use, it's intuitive and I just like it. But, and there is a big but it might not be the software I need and worst still I have no idea what else to use. I tried blender a bit and gmax as well and I don't like them very much. In blender for example it takes quite a few step just to move object A precisely at say the top left corner of object B while in SU you can almost think of where you want it and it's there.

At this time my biggest problem (I think) is that I don't know how I should approach the problem of creating complex 3D design using a 3D program. In the past I was using a simple 2D cad program to do my work and I had no problem creating whatever I wanted, no carving stuff of course. I know I can draw whatever carvings I want, but it would be a lot of hard work, a vertex by vertex kind of approach but there are most certainly better ways and that's what I'm looking for. I'm willing to follow course, read books or do whatever is necessary to reach that goal. Any help, suggestions in that line would be appreciated.

Regards,
Felix

Dave R · 21 Feb 2011, 23:41

Those are interesting pieces of furniture you've drawn. What exactly would you do with these models once you've drawn them. Are they just to look at or would you build real versions of them? Are you creating detailed models for plans documents or anything like that?

FelixPQ · 22 Feb 2011, 02:53

Dave,

I did the first drawing for a potential client that was quite far from my place, I thought it would help making the sale if I could make something as realistic as possible and though it didn't work out, I thought that this idea of creating virtual pieces interesting to generate interest on my web site. Here http://latelierdefelix.com/yesterday.htm you can see that I'm not only drawing things I'm actually making them. The last two image come up on the first page of a google search and I'm tempted to exploit this as much as possible. I could also mention that almost all the details, panels, shelves and the "corniche" on these last 2 are done by hand. Unfortunately, it is a lot of work and it doesn't pay very much. So I decided to do something that would fetch much more (hopefully) but still be reasonable compared to true antique originals and I also intend to use a 4 or 5 axis CNC router to do the carving stuff. You can understand better my obsession with creating my own artwork. Something truly original and unique, not something one can buy at his (her) nearest woodworking supply store.

Now you have the hole picture of my intentions. What can I say, I'm in admiration of the work of our ancestors and hopefully I'll be able to make 1 or 2 pieces a year and I would be a very happy man.

I wont pretend I know every thing I need for this quest but I have no doubt I will learn them.

Regards,
Felix

dedmin · 22 Feb 2011, 09:16

So, Your intend is to actually build this models using a CNC? Again, SketchUP is not the right toll for this - look at Rhino 3d. It has 2d, 3D, nesting plugin, Cam plugin, T-spline for mesh modeling and it has real curves and geometry. You can grow with this software as much as You wish. It imports and exports a huge amount of file formats, reads and writes SketchUP files.

FelixPQ · 22 Feb 2011, 12:45

Dedmin,

Last night I did some searching and reading on a couple 3D design software, just to see what's out there and I'm beginning to think that I need NURBS and true solid Boolean ops coupled with an intuitive UI and a set of tool for moving, rotating, scaling and of course snaps "à la Sketchup" might help a lot to.

Rhino was one of them, I look at MOI as well and third one. From what I can understand, NURBS are a parametrize mathematical representation of a say a shape that is theoretically a perfect 3D solid and as such you can basically apply any kind of transformation and the result will remain a perfect 3D solid. For example, with SU a cube is not a true 3D solid it's an empty box or 6 flat surfaces glued together. I understand now, why it was almost impossible to build object from parts in SU if any of them as some geometry inside the "box". I was left with so many holes that it took forever to seal. I love so much the inference engine that I was blinded to every thing else.

Thanks a million for making me realize that, I'll have a much more open mind to other program and hopefully I'll find just what I need.

Regards,
Felix

PS I'll still use SU for basic stuff like I'm doing now unless I find better elsewhere.

dedmin · 22 Feb 2011, 12:51

Actually, Nurbs solids are not true solids - http://news2.mcneel.com/scripts/dnewsweb.exe?utag=&group=rhino&xrelated=303826&cmd_related=View+thread

http://www.rhinocam.com/Products/RhinoArt.shtml
http://www.rhinocam.com/Products/Products.shtml
http://www.rhinocam.com/Case-Studies.shtml#
http://www.mecsoft.com/CaseStudies/PDF/mastercraftsman.pdf
http://www.rhinonest.com/
http://www.ransen.com/Photo2Rhino/Default.htm

FelixPQ · 22 Feb 2011, 16:54

Dedmin,

I understand there is a (big) difference between a theoretical concept and its implementation. Let's just say that the theory stuff behind SU and say Rhino is very different and both have their merits and issues.

Thanks for the links,
Felix