Request: dashed lines in sketchup?
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You know what I would like: To have layout display hidden and smooth lines, in vector/hybrid like Sketchup does. This would, at least let us design some lines along with the model.
This should be only natural as Layout is meant to display simila.rly to sketchup..
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@dave r said:
Andrew, the Dashed Lines plugin works by dividing a selected edge into a number of smaller segments and then it hides every other segment. So the remaining edges that are displayed can be rendered as vector lines in LO.
FWIW, since LO does a better job with dashed lines than the plugin can do, I don't use the plugin anymore. There's a whole lot more control and more options directly in LO. I will often draw lines in SU that will be displayed as dashed in LO which is pretty easy.
It might be useful to remember that SU is a surface modeling application. Edges are used to define the limits of faces. LO does lines.
Thanks mate.
Yes its a surface modeller but there are times [in architectural workflow] that we need to be able to differentiate linetypes as has been the case for ever. Give that we can draw a line within SU I think we should be able to create a custom line of our choosing. Currently I do it in LO but when a consultant wants a dwg of the project I send them the SU export as LO DWG export is very poor.
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@jql said:
You know what I would like: To have layout display hidden and smooth lines, in vector/hybrid like Sketchup does. This would, at least let us design some lines along with the model.
This should be only natural as Layout is meant to display simila.rly to sketchup..
I don't mind that idea, JQL!!
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@utiler said:
Yes its a surface modeller but there are times [in architectural workflow] that we need to be able to differentiate linetypes as has been the case for ever.
It's not at time, it's in every project...
I never looked at sketchup as a simple surface modeler before. Rather a complex surface modeler that worked in a simple way.
The complexity behind Sketchup+Layout combo is way over the simple modeler capabilities. You take a look at sketchup features and immediately think one of it's main markets is architecture.
Therefore:
- Sections;
- Dimensions;
- Leaders;
- Classifications (with IFC built in);
- Linetypes (in Layout);
- Scrapbooks (in Layout);
- Etc...
Are a lot of features that fit perfectly on architecture. However many linetypes are model dependant and should change accordingly to model in an automatic fashion. Sketchup typically manages this with layers, styles and scenes.
The main thing missing in this "architectural" display loop is linetypes inside SU that can be synced with LO. It's definetely important and worh of Trimble's investement.
Even for graphical presentational flexibility for other disciplines outside architecture having linetypes inside sketchup would be killer.
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@dave r said:
@nwdesign said:
Question for TIG; where is the site to download your dashed line style?
I'm not TIG but I play one on TV.
Try this: http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=2Dtools
It's not a "style" as in the styles you can choose and edit under Window>Styles.
I had to register to download this nonsense. Change that.
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@justneedtodownloadsomethingthisregisteringisexcessive said:
@dave r said:
@nwdesign said:
Question for TIG; where is the site to download your dashed line style?
I'm not TIG but I play one on TV.
Try this: http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=2Dtools
It's not a "style" as in the styles you can choose and edit under Window>Styles.
I had to register to download this nonsense. Change that.
getting stuff for free can be such a pain? really? surely, registering could not have been such a troublesome process?
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Hi Guys -
For the last year or so I've been incorporating dashed lines into my construction drawings that show dashed lines for roof overhangs and overhead beams/ceiling items. These are automatically generated from the SketchUp model and require no modification inside of LayOut. I also don't need to apply any special plugins or filters to my model or the roof geometry.
I struggled with this for a bit, and found that It was relatively easy to do once I uncovered the underlying hack.
By using StyleBuilder, I was able to create a custom SketchUp Style that gives me dashed lines. It renders well in LayOut when using Raster Mode, and you can see the screenshot of a dashed roofline for a drawing set I'm working on right now.
You can see it's not the prettiest dashed line in the world, but looks ok on the printed sets. I honestly have been meaning to do some nicer versions, but just haven't had the time to do a really nice set of different dash-styles and widths. Here it is in SU in Wireframe mode:
I've included the style below for your use and deconstruction. Anyway have fun with it I'm interested to see what people come up with. If you find it useful, please help keep SketchUp evolving by posting your own dashed line styles on this thread. Hoping that we may see the development of a good group of different dashed line styles.
Finally, I hope that this hack will be unnecessary eventually when SketchUp officially has dashed-line options for their Styles directly in SketchUp itself - so we can choose line styles/dash patterns directly from the Styles window in SUp.
Until then, Cheers -
Kyle
PS - I find that this particular version of the dashed line isn't quite 'thin' enough in LO even when adjusting line weight for the style (I use it anyway, still looks ok). This makes sense because I used Preview and the dashed line available in that program, using a pretty chunky line, when making the Style. Some more sophisticated drafting tools may give a better result, you may try with different line weights in the style creation tool, etc. Good luck!
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Kyle, that's a good hack.Thanks for sharing the style. I've played with creating dashed lines in Style Builder in the past but didn't work too hard to get a really good one. What application did you use to create the line?
You could certainly make a thinner line in the application or use a template for a heavier line and scale it down in SB.
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Just to add... Inkscape can make respectable dashed lines pretty quickly and you can vary the weight and dash style.
I did a quick dashed style and combined it with one of the stock straight line styles to get this. It could use some refinement but I think you've hit on a decent solution, Kyle.
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Posted this over on another thread. Made a few dashed styles for you
guys...http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12%26amp;t=46703%26amp;start=30
See how you go for now. Its as good as it gets for time time being.
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@heyitsmekyle said:
Hi Guys -
For the last year or so I've been incorporating dashed lines into my construction drawings that show dashed lines for roof overhangs and overhead beams/ceiling items. These are automatically generated from the SketchUp model and require no modification inside of LayOut. I also don't need to apply any special plugins or filters to my model or the roof geometry.
Hi Kyle & all,
I've been looking for a dashed lines extension for an age that you can control spacing/gaps between & save as a line type & just change individual lines. I found one a long time ago from SMUSTARD called dashedlines, but it never got updated to recent SU versions.,, H'mmm
I've not used style builder before, as the tutorials & explanation of use is very poor in my opinion. Anyway, with your dashed lines styles, can you tell me how to implement/load these in SU-Pro. I may be wrong, but styles to me suggests all lines on mass will be changed to dashed lines..!! I just would like to change the odd line here & there to dashed lines, is this possible..?
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The dashed line plugin from smustard doesn't need updating to work in current versions of SketchUp. It works just fine as it is.
As for using a style to create dashed lines, it will change all edges that are displayed to the same look. That's the whole point of styles. There are ways to work with that requiring multiple scenes and image exports but it's a lot to go through to create a few dashed lines. Much easier to use the plugin or better, use LayOut.
To install new styles, put them in a folder on your machine. Then, just like opening a local component collection go to the Styles details menu and open that folder.
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So check this out. This is sketchup not layout. Thank you Slalp. Thank you Fredo Ghost. Thank you Profile Builder 2. I made the line types with Profile Builder 2. They are not perfect but I really like them. and you can set them so you just draw them on the floor and they wind up @ 3'-6" above the floor so looks cool in plan. If anybody interest I can give you the sketchup files but you have to have Profile Builder 2 to make it work.
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I quite like that!! Could you share the SU file? I've tried making dashed lines with Profile Builder too but never perfect...
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So here are the .skp files. This only works with Profile Builder 2 Assembly tool.
I made dashed, hidden, center, phantom and even batt insulation.
They only use a couple components and just repeat them so I'm guess not much in terms of computer load.The center and phantom have to be a specific length or they will finish short or long of the definition line.(I'm going to work on this some more. I really spent very little time trying to tweak them. But for me being able to keep things coordinated right in sketchup is worth a little fuss. I was really surprised at how easy the batt insulation was.
I also like dropping in center lines on my openings so I know exactly what I'm snapping to in layout.
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Thanks mate I'll give them a go.
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Hi i just bought profile builder but have not yet learned to do diddly squat with it.
how do you use these profiles to make lines?@ccaponigro said:
So here are the .skp files. This only works with Profile Builder 2 Assembly tool.
I made dashed, hidden, center, phantom and even batt insulation.
They only use a couple components and just repeat them so I'm guess not much in terms of computer load.The center and phantom have to be a specific length or they will finish short or long of the definition line.(I'm going to work on this some more. I really spent very little time trying to tweak them. But for me being able to keep things coordinated right in sketchup is worth a little fuss. I was really surprised at how easy the batt insulation was.
I also like dropping in center lines on my openings so I know exactly what I'm snapping to in layout.
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@hectormc said:
Hi i just bought profile builder but have not yet learned to do diddly squat with it.
how do you use these profiles to make lines?@ccaponigro said:
So here are the .skp files. This only works with Profile Builder 2 Assembly tool.
I made dashed, hidden, center, phantom and even batt insulation.
They only use a couple components and just repeat them so I'm guess not much in terms of computer load.The center and phantom have to be a specific length or they will finish short or long of the definition line.(I'm going to work on this some more. I really spent very little time trying to tweak them. But for me being able to keep things coordinated right in sketchup is worth a little fuss. I was really surprised at how easy the batt insulation was.
I also like dropping in center lines on my openings so I know exactly what I'm snapping to in layout.
They are not profiles but assemblies. Use the assembly tool in the same manner you would any assembly. Draw with the path tool or select a path and apply the assembly. I should say I have switched to doing all my linework in Layout. The new make scale drawing has made it soooo much easier.
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