Arcs imported from AutoCad look horrific
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Always place your project close to 0,0! Your linework is 10 parsec from file's origin and it causes jaginess. you must relocate it close to 0. Also check all options in Import options except 'import materials'
And finally, to change default segmentation if imported arcs:
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=352084#p593781
you could set 96 for instance.
P.S. work wisely - build curbs with profile builder. -
Another advantage of creating new geometry is that some objects may be identical--so instead of drawing everything in place from imported parts, you may make one component and place it in multiple locations, using the imported drawing as guide in placement. In a parking lot even things like the planters or whole rows of parking hardscape may be identical, or mirrored--so redrawing each from the import would make no sense.
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@rv1974 said:
Always place your project close to 0,0! Your linework is 10 parsec from file's origin and it causes jaginess. you must relocate it close to 0. Also check all options in Import options except 'import materials'
And finally, to change default segmentation if imported arcs:
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=352084#p593781
you could set 96 for instance.
P.S. work wisely - build curbs with profile builder.Thanks!
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@pbacot said:
Another advantage of creating new geometry is that some objects may be identical--so instead of drawing everything in place from imported parts, you may make one component and place it in multiple locations, using the imported drawing as guide in placement. In a parking lot even things like the planters or whole rows of parking hardscape may be identical, or mirrored--so redrawing each from the import would make no sense.
Makes sense, I'm definitely trying to learn to be more efficient with it.
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@dave r said:
@bsquared said:
Just to make sure were on the same page, you would draw the new raw geometry 'on the outside' of the base component (without going 'inside' the component to redraw the linework).
Yes. Creating your new geometry outside of the imported component will prevent the new from merging with the old.
@bsquared said:
And then once you have everything drawn, you'd just delete the original base component.
Yes. And purge the unused componets from the In Model components.
@bsquared said:
The advantages being that you can then make all the new linework it's own group and seperate from any other linework in the base that could potentially merge and cause problems with the parking lot?
That's one benefit. The other benefit is that the new geometry you create should be clean. No broken edges, gaps, or overruns that are common in .dxf and .dwg files. Also consistent numbers of segments in arcs which makes things easier to work with.
Note that as Gus indicated, you can use larger number of sides for arcs if you want. Be careful with that. There is a point of diminishing returns as you increase the number of sides. Large numbers can create performance and other issues while not really improving the model. As you work with circles and arcs, I think it makes sense to use some multiple of 12 segments. That way they are divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6.
I did want to ask you though, if one has a very large site, such as a campus with multiple buildings, huge parking lots, sidewalks, etc. Do you think redrawing everything is still the best approach (with more of a long term benefit) or is there a point where a project is just too large that's it's just not practical to think about retracing everything in sketchup? And if that is the case, what do you think is the "next best" approach? I've been reading a book called 'Sketchup for Site Design', by Daniel Tal. His approach seems to lean more towards healing (as he puts it) the imperfections of the imported cad geometry in sketchup using a variety of extensions, and cleaning up the CAD file as much as possible before importing everything.
Another source I found prefers to import systems of the model from autocad individually, getting each one set, making it a group, and then importing the next system. (Example, importing the roads, then the sidewalks, then the buildings, etc) as apposed to importing the entire cad file at one time.
I was just curious to know your thoughts. Thank you.
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@bsquared said:
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Another source I found prefers to import systems of the model from autocad individually, getting each one set, making it a group, and then importing the next system. (Example, importing the roads, then the sidewalks, then the buildings, etc) as apposed to importing the entire cad file at one time.
I was just curious to know your thoughts. Thank you.
While I don't recommend it in general, I'll admit I use my own imported edges sometimes, after isolating the shapes I want and careful inspection. And if you have so much control of your CAD files, you may find this works. Most people are talking about files direct from other sources, when importing.
I don't see a reason for importing every group / block separately. You could create the blocks beforehand. They will still be individual components when you import them all at once. Pre-designed blocks could be a good way to organize. Keep proper Tag use in mind as imported geometry may get assigned a Tag other than "Untagged" in the process.
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This is my opinion based on what I've seen with CAD files I've been given to work with. It's also based on years of helping other SketchUp users. More often than not the geometry in those imported files has enough problems that starting over usually takes less time than trying to repair the imported geometry. That's not always the case and if you are creating the CAD files with the intent to use them in SketchUp you can probably do things to make sure the geometry is correct before you import it. If the files are coming from another source, at the very least take some time to examine the import closely before you commit to using that geometry directly. Maybe it'll be useful, maybe not. You need to be the judge of that. Personally I would rather create fresh, clean geometry that I know is not going to cause me problems later than spend time searching for and fixing issues in an import.
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@dave r said:
This is my opinion based on what I've seen with CAD files I've been given to work with. It's also based on years of helping other SketchUp users. More often than not the geometry in those imported files has enough problems that starting over usually takes less time than trying to repair the imported geometry. That's not always the case and if you are creating the CAD files with the intent to use them in SketchUp you can probably do things to make sure the geometry is correct before you import it. If the files are coming from another source, at the very least take some time to examine the import closely before you commit to using that geometry directly. Maybe it'll be useful, maybe not. You need to be the judge of that. Personally I would rather create fresh, clean geometry that I know is not going to cause me problems later than spend time searching for and fixing issues in an import.
Fair enough, I'm learning as I go so just trying to make sure I'm doing things the right way. Appreciate your help.
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Sorry if it sounds a little like waffling. As you learn to use the tools you have, you'll (hopefully) develop a workflow that is efficient for you and a standard of quality that works for your application.
This might sound as if I'm a bit snobbish but it's not meant to be. I don't even use Sketchup models from others for projects that I do commercially. I don't even use components from the 3D Warehouse. I always make the model myself so I know the entire model is created the way I want it. This makes it much easier for me to work through a project. No surprises when changes come. When I am sent a SketchUp model as a reference I find it is always faster for me to start over and create a new one using the old one as a reference than to hunt through the model to repair things. That's just me but it's worked well for the nearly 20 years I've been using SketchUp.
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Dave's advice applies to CAD work in general. Setting up the file the way YOU want it from the start allows you to take of advantage of templates, other personalized digital materials and organization, and, particularly, the workflow that you've developed over the years. That's perhaps the greatest value and time saving in this sort of work. Compared to ready-made geometry, it pays off in the end.
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