[Plugin] ShadowProjector

djh · 8 Mar 2015, 15:51

Dear TIG,
Your plugin looks like just what I need - to export vector (dwg or dxf) with shadows. I am drawing technical illustrations with fine lines and shadows. When I export them as a jpg or tiff and shrink them down, the lines get broken and don't print well. But, I can't figure out how to use your plugin. I keep getting this message even when I select a face. "You must Pre Select at least ONE Suitably Oriented Face!" I haven' projected a shadow yet. I even tried with some very simple models, but...
Can you please help me?
DJH

driven · 8 Mar 2015, 16:09

djh · 9 Mar 2015, 08:55

Thank you very much, Driven and TIG. Also, I exploded all the components and groups. It works wonderfully.

TIG · 9 Mar 2015, 10:42

You don't need to explode everything.
But you do need to select the face[s] to receive the shadow outlines.
This means they do need to be in the same context, but then you could edit the container and select the face ?

djh · 10 Mar 2015, 08:30

This means they do need to be in the same context, but then you could edit the container and select the face ?[/quote]

What does it mean "in the same context"?

djh · 10 Mar 2015, 08:38

Having problems, even when I redrew the model as simply as possible.

Shadow.skp

TIG · 10 Mar 2015, 11:44

Thanks ofr the example SKP.
I do agree that it fails.
But the info I get from the Ruby Console is helpful to see what is wrong.
I'll look at how it might be recoded to resolve the issue.

Incidentally, you model contains some reversed faces inside the grouped 'walls' and several bits of hidden geometry [View > Hidden Geometry > ON] around the tops/ends of some walls.
Although they shouldn't cause issues it's good practice to tidy your model as you go.
With them gone it still fails, so they're not the cause of the issue...
I will fix it.

Watch for updates/announcements...

TIG · 10 Mar 2015, 15:03

Here's v1.5 http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=TIG_shadowProjector It fixes a problem which resulted from instances [groups/components] sat directly 'on' a shaded-face, and sometimes not casting a shadow below them.
It should now be more robust and cope with raw geometry, groups and components placed directly on top of the shaded-face.
It works properly with @djh's example SKP !

Dave R · 11 Mar 2015, 01:39

Thanks for the update. I'm still getting unexpected results. See the attached screen shot. The edges of the projected "shadow" are 500 meters long and extend down below the face on the ground plane and away from the sun.

TIG · 11 Mar 2015, 09:30

Thanks Dave, I too have seem some issues and I'm working on a fix...
The face should be 1km long NOT 500m !!

Dave R · 11 Mar 2015, 10:09

Half is better than none.

djh · 11 Mar 2015, 10:18

TIG, thanks for the advice to clean up the model.

I'm sorry, I still got the same results. I don't know how you were able to do it with the same model. Also, you mentioned before, "This means they do need to be in the same context, but then you could edit the container and select the face?" What does it mean "in the same context"?

TIG · 11 Mar 2015, 11:32

I'm working on a fix...

TIG · 19 Mar 2015, 17:06

Here's v2.0 http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=TIG_shadowProjector
It is completely rewritten to be faster ad more robust...

TIG · 23 Mar 2015, 14:37

Here's v3.0 http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=TIG_shadowProjector Along with ignoring Hidden faces/objects and those assigned OFF Layers, it now respects transparent faces [<70% opacity] which won't cast shadows, and similarly faces with the default-material faces within a container that itself has a transparent material and which doesn't then cast a shadow etc.
Objects with cast/receive shadows 'unchecked' settings are now fully respected in the shadow analysis.
Faces which shade themselves [because they face away from the sun] are automatically assigned 100% shading with no further analysis...
A glitch with report writing if type was 'lines' is now resolved.

Dave R · 23 Mar 2015, 23:58

Latest version installed. Get this in console when trying to run the tool.

Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined methodeach' for nil:NilClass>
C:/Users/Dave/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2015/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-ShadowProjector/TIG-ShadowProjector_Code.rb:127:in new' C:/Users/Dave/AppData/Roaming/SketchUp/SketchUp 2015/SketchUp/Plugins/TIG-ShadowProjector/TIG-ShadowProjector_Loader.rb:18:in block in module:ShadowProjector'
SketchUp:1:in call'

TIG · 24 Mar 2015, 10:56

Obviously it shouldn't do that
Did you have a face preselected ?
I'm on to it...

Dave R · 24 Mar 2015, 11:00

I did have a single face, correctly oriented selected. I tried it first on a chair model I was working on at the time when I got that message. I quit SU and restarted. Then tried it with a simple box in a component and an ungrouped face. Same result.

TIG · 24 Mar 2015, 11:06

Here's v3.1 http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=TIG_shadowProjector
It fixes a glitch caused by a simple typo.
The test for 'receive-shadows' for a container being unchecked was inadvertently being run even if the selected face were in the model entities, which of course cannot have that set !
Now resolved.
Thanks Dave for feedback...

Dave R · 24 Mar 2015, 11:11

Glad to help, sir. I'll give it a try when I get home from work and let you know.

d