Planivolumetric

Antonio83 · 7 Dec 2010, 16:48

How can I draw a planivolumetric in SU7?

I used "Elev45shadows.rb" but this plugin doesn't work correctly....

brodie · 7 Dec 2010, 21:11

A what?

That plugin doesn't draw anything, it just sets up shadow settings.

-brodie

mitcorb · 8 Dec 2010, 03:53

Would you by chance be talking about a silhouette or a 2d projection of a 3d form on a flat surface? No? Then I don't know.
Yes? Then look in the active topics. There is a thread discussing a plugin by TIG that does just what I described above.
If I can locate it I will put the link here:
http://www.forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=31908

mitcorb · 8 Dec 2010, 12:12

After posting my reply, I went looking for the term "planivolumetric". From what I can gather, this is an Anglicized permutation of "planivolumetrico," an Italian term which I think is used for plan overview of a project, such as a building and site.
On this basis, I think you are trying to view the model in top view, which is available.
And you want to show shadows as if in axonometric- which refers to a fixed angle of view and all parts seen with no foreshortening.
You can turn off perspective view in the View drop down menu by selecting parallel projection, for instance.
I believe there is a plugin, possibly by TIG?, for viewing at a specific angle.
I hope this helps. But I have been practicing my "being wrong" skills here lately.

Antonio83 · 8 Dec 2010, 15:15

Sorry, i'm an italian boy...

this is a "planivolumetrico"

this is a shadow study....how do you call it in english?

Gaieus · 8 Dec 2010, 15:24

It seems to be an orthographic view (Camera menu > Parallel projection) from top.

brodie · 8 Dec 2010, 15:28

OK, I guess we'd just call that a Site Plan maybe - I'm not sure there's a specific name really.

As for getting the view right: Go to Camera -> Parallel Projection. Then on the Views Toolbar click the Top view. From there you should just need to zoom in/out and pan around to find your view.

As for the shadows you can use that plugin. I don't think you can use it from the top view though. I think you need to go to a front view or side view before using it. It's been awhile since I've used it. I recall having problems with it at first as well. Otherwise, you could just manually adjust the shadow settings and get it as close as possible to what you're going for. Don't forget in Model Info you can adjust the North angle as well which can help get those shadows pointed in the direction you want.

-Brodie

mitcorb · 8 Dec 2010, 16:13

@Antonio83:
Yes, that is one of the images I saw in Google while looking for the word.

Openspaces · 8 Dec 2010, 19:16

Hi, for the shadows, instead of the parallel projection, i think you should use the perspective and then put the shadow tab on in sketchup. You can then play with the time and period of year.

brodie · 8 Dec 2010, 20:37

@unknownuser said:

Hi, for the shadows, instead of the parallel projection, i think you should use the perspective and then put the shadow tab on in sketchup. You can then play with the time and period of year.

The parallel projection is just to get the type of view portrayed in the image above. It has no affect on shadows. If you do the shadows by hand, I'd place the model on the equator via the Model Info window and set the date to June 21st. That should help get you pretty linear results as you adjust the time and North direction to get just the right shadow positions.

-Brodie

Antonio83 · 10 Dec 2010, 11:49

Let me explain.
I have to draw a floor plan with the shadows.
The shadows should be at 45 degrees and the length shall be equal to the height of buildings.
For example, if a building is 5 meters high, the shadow line of 45 degrees must be 5 meters long. In this way I can measure the height of a building by calculating its shadow line
I intend this to "planivolumetrico"

Now, there is a plugin that allows me to do this?
It 's strange that this plugin does not exist in SketchUp ...

Dave R · 10 Dec 2010, 13:42

Anotonio, see if this will help.

Antonio83 · 10 Dec 2010, 14:11

I already know this plugin (Elev45Shadows.rb): it makes 45 degree shadows but lenght of shadow line is not equal to the height of building.

I tried to set up shadow settings, but happens that inclination of the shadow line changes

brodie · 10 Dec 2010, 14:32

For what you're doing that plugin should be what you want. I'm a bit confused as to how, you've got 45 degree shadows, yet the shadows aren't the same height as the building. Could you post some screenshots so we can help you fix that issue?

-Brodie

Antonio83 · 10 Dec 2010, 15:16

@unknownuser said:

I'm a bit confused as to how, you've got 45 degree shadows, yet the shadows aren't the same height as the building.
-Brodie

I think you're right...
Using this plugin, I realized that shadows are not at 45 degrees.
Maybe I do not use it properly...

I click on isometric view and then click on View > Elevation 45 shadows

this is final result: shadows are not at 45 degrees (blue line is at 45 degrees. Its lenght is 5 meter and it is equal to the height of the solid)

This is my Model Info settings

brodie · 10 Dec 2010, 15:44

Well, I've found part of the problem. Even when used properly the plugin doesn't do quite what you're wanting it to. It should do 45 degree angles but it makes your dimension the long side of the 45/45/90 triangle. The image below illustrates this along with illustrating the dimension that you WANT the shadow to be (sorry for the english units )

Here's my workaround. It's not a perfect solution, but it will probably be good enough for what you're doing and only works in plan view (because effectively what you're wanting to do is raise the sun higher in the sky so in elevation the shadows will point more towards the ground. Basically, just run the plugin normally and then change the shadow settings to match these.

As for how to run the plugin. you want to have parallel projection turned on (ie. don't be in perspective camera mode), and you want to be looking straight at one of your wall faces. You can just pick the standard views if your building is aligned square with the SU axis. Otherwise, select a face, right click, and select Align View to Face. Then run the plugin. If the shadows aren't pointing the right direction you can go to Model info -> Location and adjust the North direction of your model in 45 degree increments until you get them pointing correctly.

I should also note that I think the way the plugin is setup natively is the 'correct' way it should be represented architecturally (ie, you don't want the angled measurement to be the same as the building), at least as I learned it in school. You may just want to double check and make absolutely sure this is how you want to do it, if this is for school or something.

-Brodie

Dave R · 10 Dec 2010, 15:46

What if the latitude is set to 45°, the time to noon and the date to 21 September or there abouts?

Antonio83 · 10 Dec 2010, 16:14

@unknownuser said:

Here's my workaround. It's not a perfect solution, but it will probably be good enough for what you're doing and only works in plan view (because effectively what you're wanting to do is raise the sun higher in the sky so in elevation the shadows will point more towards the ground. Basically, just run the plugin normally and then change the shadow settings to match these.

Ok, I did as you told me. I managed to solve this problem
I thought there was a more immediate solution, but that's okay

Thank you very much:)

Gaieus · 11 Dec 2010, 12:55

@dave r said:

What if the latitude is set to 45°, the time to noon and the date to 21 September or there abouts?

That should not work as the shadow would point to North

Dave R · 11 Dec 2010, 12:58

@gaieus said:

@dave r said:

What if the latitude is set to 45°, the time to noon and the date to 21 September or there abouts?

That should not work as the shadow would point to North

Of course. So what time is half way between sunrise and noon at on 21 Sep at 45° N latitude? That ought to give the right shadow.