SU 9 Wishlist

TIG · 2 Aug 2012, 21:10

@rv1974 said:

this is tedious workaround, not the tracking 'on the fly'
Tell me how many clicks or key strokes your new "wonder-tool" would need - I suspect not many fewer than what I suggested...
You would somehow still need to define the apex, start angle, end angles and the subdivisions...

rv1974 · 3 Aug 2012, 07:38

very similar to square drawing in the present version.
(o.k. 0.5: just 2 keybord free hover moves over bisection forming edges)
BTW user defined angle snapping (with on\off mode) would be nice too.

thomthom · 3 Aug 2012, 07:57

@rv1974 said:

BTW user defined angle snapping (with on\off mode) would be nice too.

TIG · 3 Aug 2012, 08:28

It you had a face with two edges at the vertex it could 'bisect' the angle [you'd still need keyboard input to say do 1/3's]... BUT if the vertex shares more than one face how is Sketchup to know which pair of edges it's to use and the associated face plane for the 'bisection' - you'd still need to pick to select the two edges in question [2 clicks], right-click for context-menu[?] and then enter the divisor numeral [e.g. '2'+enter] >>> 2+1+1+1=5 - whereas so using a guideline = shortcut-key + click/drag [2], then shortcut-key to Rotate +Ctrl to copy, click start, click end [4] plus the divisor numeral [e.g. '2'+enter] >>> 2+4+2=8 - so it could be done in less, but never 0 !

It is easy to code, but I'm not sure it's that useful

PS: It's a new context-menu tool available here http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=419335#p419335

rv1974 · 3 Aug 2012, 10:20

@thomthom said:

@rv1974 said:

BTW user defined angle snapping (with on\off mode) would be nice too.

[attachment=0:1oukterl]AngleSnapping.png[/attachment:1oukterl]

I meant angle tracking, mea culpa. Similar to Acad one.

cmoreink · 11 Aug 2012, 12:33

I have more of a dream than a wish and only one:

import and handle large .obj files (trees, hedges, etc.), is this even possible for SU in next 12-24 months? or should I look into thea render, since I use SU+vray only.
What or which part of SU is responsible for not being able to handle such a big files?
Or could SU and vray do (in near future) something like thea render (instances in regards to tress, grass, flowers, hedges, etc.)

cheers

numerobis · 12 Aug 2012, 21:39

@cmoreink said:

Or could SU and vray do (in near future) something like thea render (instances in regards to tress, grass, flowers, hedges, etc.)

maxwell with mxs references (not instances, instances have to be stored in the scene)...

kwistenbiebel · 13 Aug 2012, 06:09

@cmoreink said:

I have more of a dream than a wish and only one:

import and handle large .obj files (trees, hedges, etc.), is this even possible for SU in next 12-24 months? or should I look into thea render, since I use SU+vray only.
What or which part of SU is responsible for not being able to handle such a big files?
Or could SU and vray do (in near future) something like thea render (instances in regards to tress, grass, flowers, hedges, etc.)

cheers

Not sure, a lot of people thought it was Sketchup not being 64 bit etc., but that balloon myth kind of got popped by a lot of members.
I think it is just the way Sketchup is coded at it's core....
It's my believe it will never be 'fixed' as I guess it would mean an overhaul and a little bit of a re-inventing the way Sketchup handles geometry?

This has been a topic for years now...

thomthom · 13 Aug 2012, 06:59

@cmoreink said:

import and handle large .obj files (trees, hedges, etc.), is this even possible for SU in next 12-24 months? or should I look into thea render, since I use SU+vray only.

VfSU is being prepared for beta - it will get proxy support like VfRhino.

brodie · 13 Aug 2012, 12:50

@thomthom said:

@cmoreink said:

import and handle large .obj files (trees, hedges, etc.), is this even possible for SU in next 12-24 months? or should I look into thea render, since I use SU+vray only.

VfSU is being prepared for beta - it will get proxy support like VfRhino.

Thomthom, can you flesh that out a bit more? Are you talking about something like Maxwell's references which live outside of a SU file, or would the high poly geometry have to live within the file being rendered?

-Brodie

thomthom · 13 Aug 2012, 14:02

@unknownuser said:

@thomthom said:

@cmoreink said:

import and handle large .obj files (trees, hedges, etc.), is this even possible for SU in next 12-24 months? or should I look into thea render, since I use SU+vray only.

VfSU is being prepared for beta - it will get proxy support like VfRhino.

Thomthom, can you flesh that out a bit more? Are you talking about something like Maxwell's references which live outside of a SU file, or would the high poly geometry have to live within the file being rendered?

-Brodie

Proxies - references to external files.

Gaieus · 13 Aug 2012, 14:13

Like here (in Thea): http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=46858

...but I guess Brodie knows about it as he even mentioned it.

TIG · 13 Aug 2012, 14:28

Octane Render now also has a beta version with 'instancing'.
You can export a single complex component/group as an OBJ file and import that into the renderer's OCS file as an OBJ 'node'; then in a SKP that has lots of objects placed [they don't need to be same object because simple placeholders for complex objects will work well].
You can then use a simple ruby script to export the transformations of these into a TXT file, it needs to make adjustments for the transformation-matrix differences between the two programs [!] and then you can paste the SSV text output into a new Transform node you add into the OCS; then you simply drag a link between the OBJ node and the Transform node - hey-presto! You have multiple copies of the complex object placed as desired inside the render, without the overhead of zillions of polys in the SKP or OCS files.
This way you can split up a SKP model into manageable parts and end up with a complex OCS file for rendering using placeholder data for the complex objects - like detailed 3d trees etc...
I have been working with smicha and others, on their forum, trying to sort out this 'translation' between the two transformation matrices... now it is working well.
It just needs 'wrapping-up' a bit nicer...

brodie · 13 Aug 2012, 14:41

@thomthom said:

@unknownuser said:

@thomthom said:

@cmoreink said:

import and handle large .obj files (trees, hedges, etc.), is this even possible for SU in next 12-24 months? or should I look into thea render, since I use SU+vray only.

VfSU is being prepared for beta - it will get proxy support like VfRhino.

Thomthom, can you flesh that out a bit more? Are you talking about something like Maxwell's references which live outside of a SU file, or would the high poly geometry have to live within the file being rendered?

-Brodie

Proxies - references to external files.

That's wonderful news. Do we have any idea of a timeline on this or how to get into the beta? I also wonder what sort of file you can reference. For example, I wonder if I can reference .max files.

-Brodie

thomthom · 13 Aug 2012, 14:54

@unknownuser said:

For example, I wonder if I can reference .max files.

.max format is propriety - not one for exchanging between applications. I'd expect either SketchUp files or some propriety V-Ray format. (Mental Ray for instance require you to export out proxies to an MR propriety format.)

@unknownuser said:

Do we have any idea of a timeline on this

When it's done. No one knows - not even them. But at least they've begun the work on it.

@unknownuser said:

how to get into the beta?

Ask Devin nicely. And give good bug-reports.

cmoreink · 16 Aug 2012, 12:49

thomthom and TIG - thanks for info and good news

Gaieus - I've seen this vid just about two weeks ago and that's what got me interested in thea, downloaded the demo version and I've been learning since

cheers

ken · 16 Aug 2012, 13:24

My wish list for V9. Ruby right now has the option to add, cmd.tooltip = "Tooltip", cmd.status_bar_text = "Helpful hints". I would like to see another, cmd.filename ="2ptcircle.rb". This cmd would display the plugin's name.

A little thing but I like to be able to determine the name of each plugin in the tool bar icons.

Ken

thomthom · 16 Aug 2012, 13:28

@unknownuser said:

My wish list for V9. Ruby right now has the option to add, cmd.tooltip = "Tooltip", cmd.status_bar_text = "Helpful hints". I would like to see another, cmd.filename ="2ptcircle.rb". This cmd would display the plugin's name.

A little thing but I like to be able to determine the name of each plugin in the tool bar icons.

Undock the toolbar and the name will be in the title.

pbacot · 16 Aug 2012, 21:31

A couple things, while on my mind:

I know we have more excellent plugins for organic work, but if Sandbox is to continue to be offered, one thing that must be fixed is this: If a large face is selected when the Smoove tool starts, it hangs forever. Doing an undo with the Smoove tool on can sometimes create this selection and you're stuck for several minutes. There has to be some sort of control of this.

Working with the Outliner, clicking on the name of a chosen element can erase the name too easily. It's easy to hit the name while working quickly in the list. It should be something special to edit the name (like choose and press enter), and then text should be highlighted, not erased, AND if the user does no typing, but goes on to work in the drawing, it should just revert, not be empty. The function of clicking seems erratic. Also the list jumps (scrolls) when one clicks and so that the cursor ends up over another element in subsequent clicks.

ken · 16 Aug 2012, 23:22

@thomthom said:

@unknownuser said:

My wish list for V9. Ruby right now has the option to add, cmd.tooltip = "Tooltip", cmd.status_bar_text = "Helpful hints". I would like to see another, cmd.filename ="2ptcircle.rb". This cmd would display the plugin's name.

A little thing but I like to be able to determine the name of each plugin in the tool bar icons.

Undock the toolbar and the name will be in the title.

Yes the toolbar name will be there, however the actual ???.rb name will not be there. And that is what I wish to know.

Thanks for your quick reply.

Ken