Constant "Bug" ...how to fix? [Shadow related]

Karash · 5 Dec 2011, 07:08

Hello Gurus,

I need some serious help. I have been using sketchup for several years now, and this one recurring problem keeps coming up. I don't know if its just a problem with my workflow, or something that SU is doing and borking out on, but I would love some feedback on how to prevent this from happening.

Whenever I am doing more detailed work on areas, I always get this shadowy effect where faces are broken up into several distinct shades of crap. I have posted the pictures to show what I mean.

I am at the end of my rope to be honest...

thomthom · 5 Dec 2011, 08:37

Can you post a sample model?

Rich O Brien · 5 Dec 2011, 08:46

It looks like your orange decal is geometry rather than a texture. Can you use textures instead?

If not there's another thread around here that discusses techniques to use to keep the surrounding mesh smooth.

Karash · 5 Dec 2011, 15:31

Yes, I am using geometry for my design work...and I probably shouldn't. However, does anyone know how to fix this, since this happens a lot to me even if I do not use geometry for my 'texturing' of surfaces. I do a lot of intersection of curved surfaces (then cutting and deleting), and this problem always comes up. So this isn't really a texturing issue as this happens all the time when I am building my mesh.

Dave R · 5 Dec 2011, 17:16

It kind of looks to me as if the edges between the faces are hidden rather than softened. Could that be right?

I get that same effect when the edges are hidden instead of softened.

Karash · 5 Dec 2011, 17:25

No, they are softened, that is why I posted the pic with the wireframe + textures.

Rich O Brien · 5 Dec 2011, 17:28

Read this thread

thomthom · 5 Dec 2011, 17:45

@karash said:

No, they are softened, that is why I posted the pic with the wireframe + textures.

Can you post a small sample?

I'm guessing the shading turns out like that due to the number of extreme shapes around the rounded corners etc. The shading algorithm doesn't seem to work well there. What if you try to triangulate and/or subdivide the faces a little? I know, not as clean a model, but...