[Plugin]Mesh to Poly

ithil · 17 Jan 2016, 22:24

Hi All!
This is my new plugin for SketchUp, the "Mesh to Poly".

It helps to work with the plugin SUbD from thomthom.
It turns off all the checkboxes "Casts Shadows" for all lines with "soft" and "smooth"

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Plugins(Extensions) >> Ithil Tools >> Mesh to Poly

ithil_mesh_to_poly.rbz

Rich O Brien · 17 Jan 2016, 22:28

love it!

Box · 17 Jan 2016, 23:17

Bloody brilliant!

pilou · 17 Jan 2016, 23:23

Cuty boot and tricky plugin!

thomthom · 17 Jan 2016, 23:34

@ithil said:

It turns off all the checkboxes "Casts Shadows" for all lines with "soft" and "smooth"

Sounds similar to what QuadFace Tools do - with Sandbox Quads to QuadFace Tools quads. Is it the same or does it do something differently?

Box · 18 Jan 2016, 00:54

Looks like it is similar Thomthom, I get the same result from both on a problem mesh I had.
I stupidly hadn't tried Sandbox convert, only Triangulated.

thomthom · 18 Jan 2016, 01:20

The QFT tool isn't intuitively discoverable though. The docs are lacking - something I plan on improving. I just wanted to make sure I hadn't misunderstood what this extension does. I feel bad that my lack of documentation caused someone to take their time away from modelling and write a new tool.

ithil · 18 Jan 2016, 05:54

Oops! I reinvent the wheel ....

thomthom · 18 Jan 2016, 06:30

@ithil said:

Oops! I reinvent the wheel ....

It's a clear indication that I've not messaged well all the capabilities with QFT. I'm fully aware that the docs need major updates.
However, don't get me wrong - I absolutely love the fact that someone set out to create a utility to aid in the quad workflow for SketchUp. I'm been hoping more people would pick up on it - and especially developers.
(I just realized I've yet to put a proper license on QFT source - which I should. Something like MIT.)

I also hope to refactor some of QFTs core such that it's easier to reuse it for other extension - allowing more people to develop new tools. Please do reach out if there should be any questions in regard to integrating with QFT quads.

ithil · 18 Jan 2016, 07:11

Thank you for your plug-ins!
It's a great job!
I have a few easy questions.
Do you have a plugin to import OBJ files with the correct polygons?
I do not work in a blender. I can not use this option from the QFS
I need to import POLY from 3D MAX and ZBrus.
And plug-in for exports to OBJ without triangles would be cool.

pilou · 18 Jan 2016, 09:18

@unknownuser said:

Do you have a plugin to import OBJ files with the correct polygons?

Seems QFT has that !

Import ZBrush obj file is a little dangerous!
Make some decimation before!

ithil · 18 Jan 2016, 10:20

Oh my God!
This is a holiday!
Great news!

about Zbrush
I agree. It is dangerous to
But at least a little billet..

thomthom · 18 Jan 2016, 15:34

Yea, as pilou says, QFT has both an OBJ importer and exporter to complete the workflow of moving quad meshes between other applications. Again it's somewhat hidden. I really need to get on to updating the docs.

panixia · 19 Jan 2016, 15:42

@pilou said:

Import ZBrush obj file is a little dangerous!
Make some decimation before!

pilou i strongly reccommend z-remesher over decimation master for such stuff

actually in the beta stage of the importer a zbrush (z-remeshed) model was used, and that worked pretty fine!
here is my proud puppet "Pollo" happly imported with proper textures and quads in sketchup for the first time

more of the original Pollo with all displacement and stuff in action here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zd8mFH7bGY

@pilou said:

Sounds similar to what QuadFace Tools do - with Sandbox Quads to QuadFace Tools quads.

what a huge doooh-moment. i used to run selection toys "select only soften" for that.. a couple of clicks more.. every time

pilou · 19 Jan 2016, 16:13

Yes any functions who reduce, transform this enormous mass of polygons!

panixia · 19 Jan 2016, 16:33

@pilou said:

Yes any functions who reduce, transform this enormous mass of polygons!

yes for sure that's the first goal, but in this particular case.. i was suggesting z-remesher over decimation master because that not only reduces the polycount, but also provides nice and clean flowing quad-topology and a good base for unwrapping and putting all polypaint detail into one texture you can use in sketchup..
not sure that would work with decimation master too..

here is the wireframe from the low-poly sketchup version of pollo achieved with zremesher + quadface tools .obj importer
and below you can compare the final unwrap-texture and some of the original photos taken from real-world Pollo, used to texture it by Z-app link..

i don't know if and when i will have the time to finish it with proper sub-tool for eyes and hands..

dkdude · 30 Apr 2016, 11:22

Hey guys, it doesn't work on my pc, I am using sketchup 2016. any suggestions? thx!

nnightdream · 25 Jul 2021, 20:47

Hi, Mesh to Poly doesn't work on my PC. What am I doing wrong? I tried to use sketchup 2016 and 2017. I have last version SUBd plugin.

Thanks.

panixia · 26 Jul 2021, 17:38

@nnightdream said:

Hi, Mesh to Poly doesn't work on my PC. What am I doing wrong? I tried to use sketchup 2016 and 2017. I have last version SUBd plugin.

Thanks.

Because the plugin need the edges (for the diagonals) to be set on "soft and smooth" and just turns off the "cast shadows" property.
Your triangles are not soft (and I believe not smooth too) so it will not work on them.

nayazerez · 21 Oct 2021, 18:55

hi! I installed the extension through extension manager, but I cant find a tab it the toolbars! can you plz help with that?? thanks!