SketchUp 2016 Wishlist

driven

... But I find that contrast between those shades is exaggerated. ...

you can adjust the contrast, what do you have it set at?
john

Aureus

Good to know, where's that option? (SU2014)

I know to adjust it for shadows (Shadow Settings - Light, Dark) .

driven

I think you want "UseSunForAllShading" unchecked in the 'Shadow Settings' dialog...
toggle it and you can see the difference of your 'Light/Dark' choices better, set 'View' >> 'Shadows' off when you do it...

john

Aureus

@driven said:

I think you want "UseSunForAllShading" unchecked in the 'Shadow Settings' dialog...
toggle it and you can see the difference of your 'Light/Dark' choices better, set 'View' >> 'Shadows' off when you do it...

john

John, the image was from the SU model which has all that what you say. "UseSunForAllShading" was unchecked and the shadows were off. If on - all the surfaces would be pretty dark thanks to that 'overhanging'.

Aureus

Actually, you were right, there's a way to fix it. The "UseShadowForShading" should be CHECKED but "Shadows" should be OFF (View-Shadows-Off).

And DARK level should have much more value than LIGHT (in this case meaning less contrast). Upon installing SU it's usually vice versa /Light-80, Dark-45/ though it should be different: more like about Light-45 (or 30), Dark-80.

An interesting combination.

Thanks.

driven

I normally set it in ruby code so I should of checked ...
I set it to gives me an unshaded 'green screen' view when exporting images...

john

driven

@aureus said:

Does having "UseSunDorAllShading" checked all the time slow down work in any way?

I don't think it's as bad as 'Shadows'...
btw.. I removed my code block because I'm still deciding on the final setting's, 100 100 is probably better for zero shadows...
would you mind deleting it from your reply?
john

Aureus

@driven said:

I normally set it in ruby code so I should of checked ...

           Sketchup.active_model.rendering_options["BackgroundColor"] = (Sketchup;;Color.new(0,255,0,255))
>                     Sketchup.active_model.shadow_info["UseSunForAllShading"] = true
>                     Sketchup.active_model.shadow_info["DisplayOnGroundPlane"] = false
>                     Sketchup.active_model.shadow_info["DisplayOnAllFaces"] = false
>                     Sketchup.active_model.shadow_info["DisplayShadows"] = false
>                     Sketchup.active_model.shadow_info["Dark"]  = 100
>                     Sketchup.active_model.shadow_info["Light"] = 0
>                     Sketchup.active_model.rendering_options["EdgeDisplayMode"] = 0

gives me an unshaded 'green screen' view when exporting images...

john

Anyway, you're obviously much more into this than me. Does having "UseSunDorAllShading" checked all the time slow down work in any way?

Aureus

@driven said:

@aureus said:

Does having "UseSunDorAllShading" checked all the time slow down work in any way?

I don't think it's as bad as 'Shadows'...
btw.. I removed my code block because I'm still deciding on the final setting's, 100 100 is probably better for zero shadows...
would you mind deleting it from your reply?
john

Surely not that bad but if does slow down work, then better to be unchecked with large models prior final exporting images. As for large models and smooth work - I skipped SU2013 but when I installed 2014 I noticed a very nice difference compared to SU8: one big file which took SU 203 seconds to open was an easy task for 2014 - only 17 seconds! The same computer and system. I don't know what they did but they did it excellent!

But let's return to the wishlist.

It's not the biggest thing but right now moving from editing complex components and groups back to the whole model is making me pretty annoyed...
I wonder if one day this could be a bit easier... Right now you need to click somewhere out of the box of the group/component which can be hard if it's bigger than your window.

jiminy-billy-bob

Use the Outliner ?

Aureus

@jiminy-billy-bob said:

Use the Outliner ?

Yes, so far that's the fastest way. Simply I forget to keep it open, when I have some other windows open.

One another wish: don't make it licenced for montly subscription. Just in case you (Trimble) considered that like some other software manufacturers (Adobe for example).

pbacot

There's a plugin called "Backout" or something like that. I wanted this too but now haven't got it installed. Pulls you out of all components. I want the opposite to: Go all the way into context of clicked object. Boom in, edit, boom out without all the click/wait steps.

TIG

@pbacot said:

There's a plugin called "Backout" or something like that. I wanted this too but now haven't got it installed. Pulls you out of all components. I want the opposite to: Go all the way into context of clicked object. Boom in, edit, boom out without all the click/wait steps.
Isn't that built-in ? As the 'Outliner' ??

pbacot

Someone just mentioned Outliner. I was pointing out the plugin as another answer to the question Actually I don't know how outliner would help when I am looking at a house full of nested components. I would first have to search for that component (if it isn't a group) in a list... bleah. Let me double click (plus modifier key) on a face and be able to work on it right then ...is what I mean. And why not use the Backout plugin method with a keystroke rather than go to a special window simply to enter the root context?

driven

you can 'Backout' with the 'Esc' key, and 'in' with simple mouse clicks?
what am I missing?
john

Aureus

@driven said:

you can 'Backout' with the 'Esc' key, and 'in' with simple mouse clicks?
what am I missing?
john

Not missing anything.

You're right again. The ESC key does that work the with no need for any plugin (not you have to keep Outliner open).

All you need is to press it as many times as steps you've made when going into a certain group/component.

So for example, if you're editing a group which is inside a component which is inside another component which is...inside another group which is inside another component which is...inside another component (don't laugh - if you model a tree, you know what I mean)...then you need to press the ESC key five times in a row and voila - you've been pulled out. Luckily, it takes a 0.5 sec for those ones with quick fingers.

pbacot

Esc only take you out one level. Going out is relatively fast, though you just hit the key until you realize nothing is changing any longer. Double "clicking in" is slow depending on the speed of the model.

Once a house model is assembled there are often many modifications or maybe you just want to change the muntins on a window. If you have used components to an advantage there will be many instances and nested componnets. "Clicking in" often needs a third click to discover you still need to click in more to the level you want. Redraws in a complex model for each click slow it down. Sometimes you can't tell if the view hasn't changed because of some subtlety or you've miss-clicked. At last you've arrived at your geometry and forgot what you came for...
There's enough opposition to improving this, that apparently it must be non-problem to most. After years of CAD my patience for mouse clicks must be wearing thin. Case closed.

pcmoor

@pbacot said:

I would first have to search for that component (if it isn't a group) in a list... bleah.

From my experience when you select the component or group in the drawing the highlighted entity shows up regardless of its position in the outliner list, clicking once on each expanding button in outliner reveals the nestings, easy to select, copy ,move, explode, outer shell, etc.even multi-select.... then one click completely out. No sore repetitive strain with multi clickings and escapes. Outliner makes it easy, no need to look it up unless you cant actually see it on the drawing, then outliner would show it even if it is hidden

pbacot

Thanks for the reply. Like I said, searching in a list. I don't see how that improves upon multiple double-clicking on an object that is "in plain sight".

ThunderclapMorgridge

Ok, To those of you who want UV mapping, why? Its already embedded in. You can texture without it. Straight onto the model itself. I love this aspect of this and its the primary reason I use this tool. Seriously making UVs is a pain and i hate it. Discovering accidently that I didn't have to. That it would take a photorealistic image and paint it without distortion onto a face is an awesome thing. Yes, I understand about normals etc. That can be prepped outside of a 3d tool anyway. The sooner UV is shot in the head the better.
All the other wish items I see are ones that you all could get in Blender, zbrush and other tools. I don't need rigging nor animation. I have access to that in Blender.
What I do want to see is:

Selectable axis arrows like in Blender so I can click one and thats the only axis it moves on.
2 a Move function that is isolated to move only. The bounding box turns into a a 3 ring sphere, click a ring and the component/model rotates only in that direction/axis. Move the copy and other functions elsewhere and kill the protractor. Move needs to be simple basic and not need a tutorial to relieve confusion and frustration.
3.an interest function that actually intersects. The purpose of intersect is to merge two components together as one. That should be the default function. Highlight both components and them merge them together, intersect and bang, one component.
OBj import
stl export
a match photo function that works with pictures shot from top down.
(I can't helicopter shots because it makes steve look like he's falling into a black hole)
I am happy this tool does have rigging or animation or other robust items. I don't feel It needs them.