Sketchup and Blender
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Here's a good example why using n-gons in SU and then fixing them in Blender still causes havoc...
For modeling something like this logo you need to forward plan a small bit.
Both circles that meet in the middle must have a common amount of adjacent verts...
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Rich, So how would one use SU with Blender then going forward? What I mean is Sketchup even to be considered or should one just break the ties and go Blender 100%? As it seems that the mesh SU creates is pretty useless in Blender.
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No, it's the habit that SU creates that is the problem.
Is is so easy to draw circles, have incorrect topology and create n-gons in SU that the user is pretty much learning a modeling approach that goes against every convention in every other app.
It is not to say SU is at fault it is that the user takes the lazy approach. Hence people whining that nothing is like SU and failing to step outside the comfort zone.
I model most of my Blender proxies in SU because it is quicker. I don't do detail work in SU though.
One of 2 things will happen here. You'll either have a Eureka moment or you'll just constantly flog SU into doing something it in't meant to do...
I've no problem helping out while you transition but I ain't investing time when I get the impression it is already proving too non-SU.
The reason I adopted Blender was I needed better animation tools. But months of 'why does this SU export cause this or that' meant the progress was slow. But now I know when to open S or when to open Blender.
I don't have a secret I just learned when to stop in SU and when to migrate models to Blender.
Here's what I would make in SU prior to Blender export for the sub-d work. Nothing anyone else couldn't do.
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About units in Blender - this is very confusing for new users:
http://www.katsbits.com/tutorials/blender/metric-imperial-units.phpImporting Google SketchUp files into Blender 3D - advanced:
http://www.katsbits.com/tutorials/blender/import-google-sketchup-kmz-models-advanced.php -
@solo said:
And another thing, what software do folks use when doing a tutorial that shows what mouse and keyboard button is pressed?
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OK, joining the club.
There are many reasons to turn a geometry to quads.
SketchUp supports n-gons based geometry.
Blender also supports n-gons.
The way to import the SUp n-gons to blender and continue to be N-gons is the Collada format.
Import in blender as collada then.
Enter edit mode, select all (A), press W menu/[remove doubles], select all again, [ctrl+N], this will turn all normals of faces outwards , in case something messed up in SUp.
Now you are ready to go for a nice UV unwrapping. No need to import textures from SUp (it is possible) because the SUp default unwrapping can be automatically generated in blender. It is the cubic projection.
The blender UV editor is one of the more powerful around and I suggest you to learn it.Now, you re ready to setup a scene, lighting and go for a Cycles rendering.
And, more additional modeling of course. -
I tried exporting a model from SU to render in Blender, with little success. Is there a way to export cameras from SU to Blender? That was mostly where I stuck because everything was already set in SU.
Thanks,
JQL
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@jql said:
I tried exporting a model from SU to render in Blender, with little success. Is there a way to export cameras from SU to Blender? That was mostly where I stuck because everything was already set in SU.
Thanks,
JQL
Looking at the addons in Blender there are many importers and exporters, I wonder what it will take or who it will take to write one for Sketchup, one that will support layers, groups, components, camera's and even animations.
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My first attempt at following a tutorial.
I changed the obstacle to the Thea logo and opted to render with the Thea plugin and not Cycles as Cycles was still rendering after 15 minutes (too slow) and Thea completed it in just over 3 minutes.
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Winner.
Show the blender mesh.
Mine way to quickly learn commands is with the dynamic menu. Hit space bar while in the viewport and start typing.
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@rich o brien said:
Winner.
Show the blender mesh.
Mine way to quickly learn commands is with the dynamic menu. Hit space bar while in the viewport and start typing.
What is supposed to happen when you hit space, I get a window that opens but not sure what to do then.
Here is the screen shot.
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You should see this command palette...
...here you can type a word to see what the command is...
example...if you needed to merge verts hit space - type merge...
...and you'll see the command is Alt+M
Great way to learn what is the shortcuts and the commands.
I'd really like to see the Thea Logo in edit mode.
Select it, hit edit and then hit / on the numpad to go into local view.
Take a screengrab while in edit mode so we can see the mesh.
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Woohoo!! Thanks for starting this thread Pete, glad to see Rich and Michalis right on board! I will be watching and participating as I can. I
Blender! -
My tool of choice in SU is TIG's "Triangulate Faces" plugin. Before exporting anything to Blender that I will be editing in Blender, I always make sure I can see the entirety of my topology, and then make extensive use of the sandbox "Flip Edge" tool. I use TIG's obj exporter for my conversion, then import with the "keep vert order" option. (This is important for vray proxies, plus it helps keep the outliner neater.) Then in Blender: Mesh -> vertices - > "remove doubles", and Alt-J for tris to Quads.
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@unknownuser said:
I'd really like to see the Thea Logo in edit mode.
I inserted it into post above, not much done to it from export, I figured it would be under water so it will be fine.
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@andybot said:
My tool of choice in SU is TIG's "Triangulate Faces" plugin. Before exporting anything to Blender that I will be editing in Blender, I always make sure I can see the entirety of my topology, and then make extensive use of the sandbox "Flip Edge" tool. I use TIG's obj exporter for my conversion, then import with the "keep vert order" option. (This is important for vray proxies, plus it helps keep the outliner neater.) Then in Blender: Mesh -> vertices - > "remove doubles", and Alt-J for tris to Quads.
Ooo, thanks, gonna try this.
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Do you want my .blend file? It's a bit rough but you might see things that raise some questions?
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@rich o brien said:
Do you want my .blend file? It's a bit rough but you might see things that raise some questions?
Yeah, always good to compare things and learn tricks, thanks
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Yes, glad you started this thread Pete.
I started learning Blender a few months ago and like everything I try to tackle I have to do it in small doses because of time issues.
Anyway, I have been following the Blender Tutor http://www.blendertutor.com/page/4/?fp_type=news with pretty good results.
I finished the coffee pot and am starting the SNES machine tutorial next.
I think I have a better image at home but I am not at home now so...
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