Sections to 2D with layers
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Awesome! I will give that a shot. I am also wondering if the new Skalp plugin has the same functionality. Thank you!
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Well, what I do is:
1 - I create a scene in SU only with the section turned on, every other part of the building is off.
2 - I create another scene in SU, with same camera, with the rest of the building turned on and sections turned on too.
3 - In Layout I have the scene with the section on layer "section lines" and the scene with everything turned on, in layer "visible lines". This scene is under the first one as layer "visible lines" is under layer "section lines" on the layer tray.
4 - When I export dwg, the layers are separated.
5 - Every other elements on the drawing can be separated by layers too (leaders, dimensions, text,...).Pros:
I can update my model any time in LO and export to dwg with no hassle
This method allows me to ditch CAD altogetherCons:
DWG export as double lines.
Layout is still a bit cumebersome in some of the bigger projects.
The method is very useful but needs double scenes and scene management in sketchup is poor.Try it and you wont go back to getting sections rotated on new files. And if you use autodesk autocad you can always use overkill on the double lines, though who cares about that now?
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I think the next phases of Layout are key, and I agree with you, I would love to not have to use another piece of software than SU/LO, but for the time being, 3D is incredibly easy and efficient in SU and 2D documentation is easier (for me) in CAD.
Thank you for your workflow, I will also give this a go.
PS- I hope to break free from this vicious cycle using Nick Sonder's working method (BTW- thanks for the inspiration from another architect, Nick!)
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@kyeric said:
Awesome! I will give that a shot. I am also wondering if the new Skalp plugin has the same functionality. Thank you!
At this moment you can export your section directly to dxf including hatch patterns with Skalp. But the section come on a special section layer at this moment.
In the final realize (September 2014), you will have the option to keep the SketchUp layer in dxf.
Skalp version 1.0 only exports the section itself to dxf. The hidden lines are not exported in this version but this in high on our which list for the next major release.
For our own architectural office we long used SketchUp in combination with Vectorworks. Modeled everything in SketchUp and used Vectorworks like layout. Just made plot sheets and to place text and dimensions. All done with the predecessor of Skalp. When layout became better we changed our workflow and now we don't use Vectorworks anymore and do everything inside SketchUp with Skalp and Layout
The Skalp Team
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Truly looks like a gamechanger. I would love to develop a SketchUp model and have the ability to export a 2D section cut that retained it's original layer names (i.e. "Wall", "Floor", "Window", "Lightsaber"- you know, the usual
Really looking towards the further development of tools like this and the weaning off of other products to finish the documentation process. Unfortunately, my work is expedited through CAD at the moment. Hope to be able to use LayOut more effectively in the future along with these sorts of plugins.
Thanks for the response, Skalp!
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@kyeric said:
Truly looks like a gamechanger. I would love to develop a SketchUp model and have the ability to export a 2D section cut that retained it's original layer names (i.e. "Wall", "Floor", "Window", "Lightsaber"- you know, the usual
Really looking towards the further development of tools like this and the weaning off of other products to finish the documentation process. Unfortunately, my work is expedited through CAD at the moment. Hope to be able to use LayOut more effectively in the future along with these sorts of plugins.
Thanks for the response, Skalp!
In think that the layer feature for dxf export will be in the beta release we plan at the end of August.
The Skalp Team
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I had a chance to visit with the Skalp developers at the SU conference in Vail this year. They have been working extremely hard to create a 1st class plugin to deal with sections. They have looked at just about every aspect of sectioning and exploited every opportunity available in Ruby; PLUS a lot of ingenuity has gone into into the design of their UI to present a full-featured sectioning tool. They have not left too many stones unturned. Skalp's documentation is good also. I expect their support and continued development will be of the same caliber.
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Thanks. It's good to hear a review, since there is no demo and at this high price for plugin, the beta does not yet have all the features advertized.
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@jclements said:
I had a chance to visit with the Skalp developers at the SU conference in Vail this year. They have been working extremely hard to create a 1st class plugin to deal with sections. They have looked at just about every aspect of sectioning and exploited every opportunity available in Ruby; PLUS a lot of ingenuity has gone into into the design of their UI to present a full-featured sectioning tool. They have not left too many stones unturned. Skalp's documentation is good also. I expect their support and continued development will be of the same caliber.
Thanks John.
Indeed we work extremely hard on this plugin to be and to stay the best section plugin for SketchUp. And there is still a lot to do and we have still have a lot of good ideas.
@unknownuser said:
At Skalp you don't buy a plugin, you invest in a way of working.
The Skalp Team.
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Hi Skalp,
I downloaded your plugin last week and I really love it. The only draw back I can see is that the hatches are bitmaps in Layout. This results in poor quality print outs and large file sizes when exporting PDFs. Any chance that you'll introduce vector hatches in future, or is that a limitation of Layout that is beyond your control?
I've tried using the skalp export to DXF command, but it seems to only include the section cut. It would be great if there were an option to include the objects beyond the section plane as well.
Great plugin, thanks a lot!
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