Q: TERRAIN and LOCATION image inside Sketchup

clubber2k

hi,

Hope this is in the right section, two questions regarding terrain and location:

is there a difference between loading the earth terrain from google earth application or from the get location inside sketchup? are these the same map files or might one be better, updated or resolution, then the other? does one have an advantage over the other?
is there a way to edit the image inserted into sketchup location? i.e. the image with its terrain so you can: blur unwanted areas or manipulate the imagery in anyway? this isn't a standart image so I'm not sure what can be done. I need the 3d terrain deta so I can't just use the 2D image itself..

thanks in advance,

Gaieus

The methods depend on what SU version you have (when we are at it, could you update your profile info so that we need not be guessing)?

In general, once you import the GE snapshot, it will also bring in a 3D terrain. In the Google Toolbar, you can toggle between the 2D image and the 3D Terrain.

If you open your material browser > In model in SU, you can right click the image thumbnail and "edit texture image". It will launch the image editor you have previously set up under Preferences > Applications (if you have not set up anything, it launches the app you have system wide set up to open images).

Now here you can edit the imported image and when you save it, it will instantly reload in SU.

If you have version 7 or earlier, you need to have GE open for the import. In this case, it will import anything that is an active layer and visible in GE. It will import the imagery you have active there, too, so in case you have access to "historic imagery" (earlier versions), you can do that. It will import in grey-scale thtough.

In version 8, you need not have GE at all as it uses Google Maps data. It will import the highest available resolution (but o course, the more you zoom in, the better resolution of both the imagery and the 3D terrain data you have). It will also import in colour and already projected onto the terrain (i.e. if you manipulate the terrain, it will not screw up the imagery on it).

There is no choice however what you import - which historic version and of course, there are no active GE layers in this case.

clubber2k

Thanks Gaieus, great answear.