My first building! Advice and criticism wanted!
-
Hi All. My first Thread here, and I thought I'd post my first attempt at a building, close to where I live, that I took pictures of. I'm hoping I can get some answers to a few questions, and get any advice from what you can see from the pictures here.
First of all, I made the building from the Match Photo option. I actually used 4 different photos, and just moved the blue axis when going around the other side. Then, I imported some photos I took of the building straight-on to use as textures, as opposed to projecting textures from the matched photos, which doesn't usually work out too well imho.
Here's the building from the front-right...
From the front left...
Not too too shaby for a 1st attempt I hope. Good enough for GE I would think from some of the buildings I've seen, especially out of the measly 4 models uploaded to my hometown. I don't want to settle for "good enough for GE" though. Eventually, I'd like to be able to model more complex stuff. Like house plans for an example I guess. I don't just want to learn how to make "cubes" and stuff with textures slapped on it just for GE, even though that's what my objective is at this time. That's all I mean. So I'm trying to learn as properly as possible from the start, how I should be doing things. I know I'm doing certain tasks the long way right now. So I'm up for any suggestions anyone has!
The 1st problem I had that I'd like to point out, is in this picture there is a doorway, and for some reason, the face is divided in 2 just to the right of the middle. I have NO idea why it's doing this. I even tried deleting that whole face, and drawing it in again with the rectangle tool, but the division is still there. Anyone have any clue why this is happening? I checked inside and out to see if there was hidden geometry causing that, but no.
My next question for you guys is about using materials when photo textures aren't available. As you can see here, I tried to make a material that matched the brick texture from the other side of the wall...
And again here...
Is this a technique used commonly? Or should I be using a sample of the textures I'm already using. Which brings me to my next question.
I remember watching a tutorial not long ago, where the guy who made it was copy and pasting samples of the texture already pasted to a wall in the front of his buildings, and he was covering up parts of the photo used for his texture that had things in the foreground, like the car in my next photo. I can't remember where I saw this video, and I can't remember how he did it. Basically, he was selecting a small rectangle section of the texture already on the model, and pasting it over the obstructions. Can someone please tell me how this is done? Or point out where a tutorial would be for this?
Here's the pic with the obstruction...
I have 2 more questions just for the heck of it if someone knows.
What is the best way to measure a building for a GE model.When does GE update their satelite photos? The ones from my hometown are from 2004!!
Thank you sooo much for any and all feedback! If I can help anyone out in any way in the future, I'm pretty good at returning favors lol!
Sincerely, Drey
-
Andre, this is just a "bookmarking" of your questions. I really need to go now but will have some comments later.
-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xK5S1C951o Editing Textures with an External Editor
Not exactly what you were asking for, but it is a more elegant solution than the one you describe.
"When does GE update their satelite photos? The ones from my hometown are from 2004!!"
It depends on the area. In the top tool bare of GE there is an icon with a clock an an arrow facing backwards. That's the "Show Historical Imagery" tool. If you click on that you'll be able to see how often the areas you are looking at have been updated.
-
@johnsenior1973 said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xK5S1C951o Editing Textures with an External Editor
Not exactly what you were asking for, but it is a more elegant solution than the one you describe.
I suppose a easy, simple solution would be to just do it in a graphics editor aye? Thanks for the obvious solution.
It's funny how your mind gets so flustered sometimes you miss the most obvious damn things! Anywaaaays...
Thanks for the reply!
EDIT
I'm just realizing now that sometimes, using an external editor isn't an option, when I apply a texture sometime, and the texture wraps around something sometimes, then it would be nice to be able to copy/paste a small section of the texture to fix a little part.@Gaieus
I'm VERY much looking forward to your advice bud. Anything would be apreciated!Sincerely, Drey
-
@judgedrey said:
I'm just realizing now that sometimes, using an external editor isn't an option, when I apply a texture sometime, and the texture wraps around something sometimes, then it would be nice to be able to copy/paste a small section of the texture to fix a little part.
In that case you have to make sure that the area you want to edit is a flat surface, then just a rectangle or other shape around what you want to erase. Then right click on that area > Texture > Position. Then you can move the texture around so that you lose the area you don't want and you can get the best fit.
-
@judgedrey said:
Not too too shaby for a 1st attempt I hope. Good enough for GE I would think from some of the buildings I've seen, especially out of the measly 4 models uploaded to my hometown.
Indeed, not a bad model especially for the first one.
@judgedrey said:
The 1st problem I had that I'd like to point out, is in this picture there is a doorway, and for some reason, the face is divided in 2 just to the right of the middle.
I have no idea of the "why" either but you can turn on hidden geometry (View menu) to see what's there. If the face is coplanar otherwise, you should be able to delete the hidden line dividing it.
@judgedrey said:
My next question for you guys is about using materials when photo textures aren't available. As you can see here, I tried to make a material that matched the brick texture from the other side of the wall...
That1s a fairly common (and good) technique. You may want to position that new texture however so those "grouts" line up with the neighbouring wall. Right click > Texture > Position...
@judgedrey said:
I remember watching a tutorial not long ago, where the guy who made it was copy and pasting samples of the texture already pasted to a wall in the front of his buildings, and he was covering up parts of the photo used for his texture that had things in the foreground, like the car in my next photo.
As John says, (especilly in this particular case), it would be better to edit that image and nicely clone some "carless" area into that part. Under Window > Preferences > Applications, you can set your preferred image editor. Then right click on that face and again texture > edit texture image... If it is a bigger texture wrapping around the model, you can first make the image on a particular face unique first. Right click > make unique texture (and now edit this image texture as per above).
There is a plugin by Aerilius which will make a unique texture for each face (and supposedly with a better antialiasing algorithm than what native SketchUp has) and also resizes these textures to optimize them for GE:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=41441 -
Just having a look at your pictures again, I've got a worry that your model will be rejected.
The reason - the roofing textures.
Looking at it you've just used a standard SU texture. It will probably be pretty close to the actual roof, and definitely far more accurate than the GE satellite image, but for some reason they are really clamping down on the roofs recently.
-
If the GE imagery is good enough,indeed they like to see the original GE imagery on the roof. There are places however where the imagery is so poor that it just does not make sense (like my place) and some other places (like mine again), the satellite imagery is not orthogonal at all (not made from above) but the southern faces of the buildings are visible so if I were to put that onto the roofs, the walls would also end up on them.
-
@gaieus said:
Indeed, not a bad model especially for the first one.
Thanks very much! That is comforting to hear for a noob. I realize it's super simple, but for someone who is using this program for the first time, certain areas were a little tricky for me and had me wondering what was the best way to accomplish them. I'm still worried about doing things the long way, even if it gives me the desired result. I'd like to learn to be efficient also.@gaieus said:
I have no idea of the "why" either but you can turn on hidden geometry (View menu) to see what's there. If the face is coplanar otherwise, you should be able to delete the hidden line dividing it.
There's something about this problem I forgot to mention before. The area where this line/division is appearing, is when I projected a texture and SU asked me if I wanted it to "Trim" the unseen areas, or something like that. That is where these flat surfaces have these damn seperations now. I've looked and looked for hidden lines everywhere, inside out, and nothing. It's only where I "trimmed" the projected texture. Next time I do this, should I NOT trim when it ask? Is there a way to get rid of this seperation now that it's there? If not then I guess not trimming the texture is the best way to avoid it.
@gaieus said:
That1s a fairly common (and good) technique. You may want to position that new texture however so those "grouts" line up with the neighbouring wall. Right click > Texture > Position...
Good good! I'm glad it is a technique that people use regularly. I was wondering if I was doing something very noobish by doing that, or if I should be using photo textures for every square inch of the building possible. I try to use photo textures if possible, as it looks so much better when you have a good pic, but I'm glad this way around it isn't frowned upon, lol. I was also unaware of the "position texture" option you pointed out. That is a life saver!! Thank you SO much for showing me that! It looks way better when you line up those things!
@gaieus said:
As John says, (especilly in this particular case), it would be better to edit that image and nicely clone some "carless" area into that part. Under Window > Preferences > Applications, you can set your preferred image editor. Then right click on that face and again texture > edit texture image... If it is a bigger texture wrapping around the model, you can first make the image on a particular face unique first. Right click > make unique texture (and now edit this image texture as per above).
EUREKA!!!!
hahaha
That is how it's done!! I selected MS Paint to be my editor, and problem solved! Now, once I get used to it a little more, I'll make GIMP my default editor, and then the possibilities will be endless!!! Fantastic!@gaieus said:
There is a plugin by Aerilius which will make a unique texture for each face (and supposedly with a better antialiasing algorithm than what native SketchUp has) and also resizes these textures to optimize them for GE:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=41441I'll check it out for sure, thanks. (Not sure I understand what it is, but I'll check it out nonetheless lol)
As for being rejected by GE, I'm not too worried about that for this model. I was just using it as practice atm. Thanks for the info about the roof though. It isn't a concern for this area, or the main intersection where I live because the imagery is over 10 years old ffs.
I'm gonna be posting in the GEC about this soon enough, because I want to start modelling buildings around here, like I've said, but there's been SOOOOO many changes since the last sat images, it's not possible to add models at this time. If you check out these coordinates from Google Maps, and BING (which is up to date), the differences are incredible!
Google Maps - Corner of Champlain st and Acadia ave, Dieppe, NB
BING Maps - Corner of Champlain st and Acadia ave, Dieppe, NB
As you can see, there are about 5 new buildings on or around that corner, including the towns brand new town hall right on the corner there.
Anyways, thanks again for all your help! It's so very much appreciated! I hope I don't become a pain in the butt on the boards with all the questions and such. I try to search as much as possible for some answers before posting new threads, but sometimes, I can't help but ask, you know? Thanks again!
Sincerely, Drey
-
@judgedrey said:
Anyways, thanks again for all your help! It's so very much appreciated! I hope I don't become a pain in the butt on the boards with all the questions and such. I try to search as much as possible for some answers before posting new threads, but sometimes, I can't help but ask, you know? Thanks again!
That's how forum answers get here - people ask.
So don't hesitate.As for the imagery - yes, I know how it is. Ours here is over 5 years old, too (good that this economic crisis hit as there are much less constructions this way)
Advertisement