[REQ] Export a specified series of scenes

numerobis · 3 Nov 2016, 16:27

Is there a plugin that lets you export a specified (selected) series of scenes as images?
I have to export a series of images for a shadow analysis. Three different designs, two viewpoints and maybe 30 different time settings. This is a LOT of images to export, so a plugin to automate this process would really helpful.

juju · 4 Nov 2016, 07:02

SceneExporterPro

function · 4 Nov 2016, 10:49

theres also su channel or su CH I think by renderiza,
also suForYou has a plugin that is visible on the main page of the plugin store right now called exactly "Export Scenes" .

numerobis · 4 Nov 2016, 11:43

Thanks for your suggestions!

@juju
I will look into SceneExporterPro. Thanks

@function
Where can i export multiple selected scenes in [SU]CH? I can't find it.
The s4u scene exporter is only for v2016, so i can't use it.

It's really a joke that there is still no standard function in SU that allows you to do this. It could be so easy...

numerobis · 4 Nov 2016, 12:19

mmh... there is not much info about SceneExporterPro. Quite old too. Are you using it yourself? Can you say if it works with v2015? The last post on this page does not sound very promising
http://www.smustard.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3%26amp;t=372

I tried the free version "SceneExporter", but it does not allow you to select scenes but simply exports all scenes - and you can't even cancel the routine, the only way is to shut down SU. Quite annoying that such a simple feature isn't implemented.
I can't find any info if the payed version has a cancel button...

function · 4 Nov 2016, 12:56

i think s4u lets you list the scenes you want exported, to be honest it didnt work for me on 2016, I tried a number of times. I have the paid scene exporter from smustard. it works on 2015 and 2016 for me. it doesn't let you cancel mid export - to be fair you can't cancel an export from the standard skp exporter

juju · 4 Nov 2016, 13:10

@numerobis said:

mmh... there is not much info about SceneExporterPro. Quite old too. Are you using it yourself? Can you say if it works with v2015? The last post on this page does not sound very promising
http://www.smustard.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3%26amp;t=372

I tried the free version "SceneExporter", but it does not allow you to select scenes but simply exports all scenes - and you can't even cancel the routine, the only way is to shut down SU. Quite annoying that such a simple feature isn't implemented.
I can't find any info if the payed version has a cancel button...

Never look a gifted horse in the mouth. Free things are sometimes less capable, especially so when there is a paid version available from the same source...

The last post on the forum page you referred to: the person upgraded from SU8 to SU2015 and went on to copy plugins into the new version. It no longer works that way, you install them in the manner SketchUp prescribes, many people do that and end up with errors from time to time.

I've used SceneExporterPro successfully in the past, worked as advertised.

numerobis · 4 Nov 2016, 13:38

Thank you both for confirmation. I think i'll give it a try.

@function said:

to be fair you can't cancel an export from the standard skp exporter

Sure, but this is only one single export. Shouldn't be that hard to cancel the routine after an export has finished.

JQL · 4 Nov 2016, 13:48

But why don't you use native Sketchup tools for that?

You have to go to model info and remove scene transitions from animation then you simply select the scenes to exclude from export in the scene manager and remove them from animation.

Then you export animation, define the format and export as images instead of movie.

You can also define the custom image format/resolution, if I'm not mistaken.

sdmitch · 4 Nov 2016, 14:33

@numerobis said:

Is there a plugin that lets you export a specified (selected) series of scenes as images?
I have to export a series of images for a shadow analysis. Three different designs, two viewpoints and maybe 30 different time settings. This is a LOT of images to export, so a plugin to automate this process would really helpful.

I sent, via personal message, a plugin for you to try.

JQL · 4 Nov 2016, 15:13

sdmitch strikes again!

sdmitch · 4 Nov 2016, 16:53

@numerobis said:

@sdmitch

Is it possible that the script is not working if only the shadow setting is stored in a scene? I only get 0KB files without file extension. I have no idea.

Btw. would it be possible to make the selection dialog larger or scalable. Right now i can only see three or four of maybe 30 scenes which makes it a bit laborious to select them.
Yes you can set a size or number of entries to be displayed. I will PM you a copy with the size set to 30

numerobis · 4 Nov 2016, 17:12

Much better with the bigger window!

@sdmitch said:

I have no idea.

So is each view working separately or is it based on the previous view? Would it be possible to let it act like the normal SU scene switch?

sdmitch · 4 Nov 2016, 17:27

@numerobis said:

Much better with the bigger window!

So is each view working separately or is it based on the previous view?

Seperately I think.

Would it be possible to let it act like the normal SU scene switch?

Do you mean with a "transition"? If so the answer is no because the plugin doesn't wait.

numerobis · 4 Nov 2016, 17:41

No, i mean that i can specify a camera position and layer setting, etc. in one scene that i select first and the export multiple scenes that have only the sun position stored.

sdmitch · 4 Nov 2016, 17:57

@numerobis said:

No, i mean that i can specify a camera position and layer setting, etc. in one scene that i select first and the export multiple scenes that have only the sun position stored.

Sorry I can't answer that. I'm just a simple coder.

JQL · 4 Nov 2016, 18:13

@sdmitch said:

Sorry I can't answer that. I'm just a simple coder.

What this means is that sdmitch doesn't use sketchup, just likes coding.

sdmitch · 5 Nov 2016, 14:22

@numerobis said:

No, i mean that i can specify a camera position and layer setting, etc. in one scene that i select first and the export multiple scenes that have only the sun position stored.

As JQL said, since I don't use Sketchup in any meaningful way, it is hard for me to quickly grasp what it is you want. After thinking more about it, it seems to me now that you want to take a "base" scene and then add "sun" layers one at a time and export that image.

Am I getting closer? It would be most helpful if you could send me a sample model illustrating what you a striving for.

numerobis · 5 Nov 2016, 17:52

Sure, here is a simple demo scene.

I just separated the camera position(s) and the sun settings to be able to control them separately and maintain the same camera position.
I simply have one or more scenes that contain all camera and style settings and then i have multiple scenes that define only different sun positions (date and time). So i first select the camera defining "base"-scene and then after that i cycle through the scenes with the sun positions one by one and export the resulting images.

scene_export.skp

sdmitch · 5 Nov 2016, 18:54

@numerobis said:

Sure, here is a simple demo scene.

I just separated the camera position(s) and the sun settings to be able to control them separately and maintain the same camera position.
I simply have one or more scenes that contain all camera and style settings and then i have multiple scenes that define only different sun positions (date and time). So i first select the camera defining "base"-scene and then after that i cycle through the scenes with the sun positions one by one and export the resulting images.

Ok, I think I finally get it. Please check Personal Messages for latest version.