Google Earth 6 released

chrisjk · 2 Dec 2010, 13:37

English Oak, Japanese maple, etc....

Aerilius · 4 Dec 2010, 14:03

TreeMaker?

A Googler asked me about a tip for tree modeling...

Another tool would be http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=30737&p=286944#p286944 (Shhhh!)

As far as I know, no modeler has found a trick to use the face-me feature. It seems to be reserved for the tree layer and not for custom trees. I still wonder how they determine the correct type of vegetation. Especially in mountainous regions, vegetation changes depending on altitude.

mitcorb · 4 Dec 2010, 14:15

A bit OT, but:
I work on three separate computers. Each has the last Google Earth 5.n.nn... free version. When I go to Help/ Check for Updates Online I get "There are no new updates."
Evidently v6 is so special, they don't want everybody to know about it.
Or, is v6 Pro only?

Gaieus · 4 Dec 2010, 14:22

@mitcorb said:

Or, is v6 Pro only?

No, I have v.6 free.

Sometimes they only "force" (or let go) updates somewhat later than the first release date. With some "products" they make a soft launch only in certain countries (first) or with certain language settings.

mitcorb · 4 Dec 2010, 15:13

You know, I probably would have had to wait a week for any kind of response on my comment- if a response ever came, if I had posted in the GE forums.
Thanks, Gaieus.

Alan Fraser · 4 Dec 2010, 17:11

There's no great secret to the trees. Beyond about 100 metres, the trees are rendered as simple billboards. The billboards for all the trees of a particular region are held on a single 1024x1024 dds file...effectively a transparent png. I've flattened one from Golden Gate Park and resampled it down to uselessness; so as not to be broadcasting Google's assets.
There's another 1024x512 image holding tree parts; because close up, the LOD switches to fully 3D trunks which utilise these separate bits. The palms tend to be modelled 'normally' ie. the leaves are static. Whereas the deciduous trees are basically a trunk and a few branches surrounded by a swarm of Face Me leaf clumps.
I've attached a skp of my own to give the general idea.

50 face tree.skp

Gaieus · 4 Dec 2010, 17:15

You could really have left those trees intact for us, Alan.

Alan Fraser · 4 Dec 2010, 17:41

Gai, you can grab whatever you like...just not spread it around without Google's permission.
Just download the free program 3D Ripper DX to rip stuff out of GE or DirectX games. You'll get all the textures as direct draw files...but free XnView will read them and convert them to pngs.
Be warned, however, that a single grab from GE can generate about 3000 image files...so don't be facing towards downtown SF when you do it.

Gaieus · 5 Dec 2010, 10:23

Thanks, Alan. Maybe I will indeed give it a shot!

SketchGuy · 9 Dec 2010, 18:11

Typically Google is populating the most populated / popular areas before they worry about the us of us. I'm not grumpy--I remember when my location on the make was a 2-D view of generic streets. That was a while back, though. The historical sites do excite me. Good stuff.

pyroluna · 19 Jan 2011, 17:33

There's one thing I do not like.
It's the automatic switching to streetview. Here I am, trying to check out if my model renders correctly in GE (it doesn't) and when I go for a bit of a close up... wham. Streetview. Have to exit streetview, zoom in all over again, be really careful about it.. and wham. there it is again. Streetview.
Can't find anywhere an option to turn it off temporarily...

Gaieus · 19 Jan 2011, 17:41

Here. Choose something else than what is (also) selected for me.

pyroluna · 22 Jan 2011, 17:41

ah thanks!