Ok guys, i found what the problem was. I just removed all the textures in the model and the render took only 5 minutes.
Thank you all. Now the question is, how am i going to make the scene look realistic, if all the textures are removed from the model?

I export my SU files as 3ds, and import into Vue with an enlargement factor of 10, and that seems to work well.
Unfortunately, some of the people who use Vue and create/sell content for it are lost on the concept of real world units (but, this is also true of some of the content in 3D Warehouse). When I first started using the software i broached this problem in the Vue forums and got some rather stupid and nasty comments. My favorite was along the lines "how can you have real world units when you are working on a computer screen that is only two dimensional."

Awesome! Thanks Pete!

aha, I got it 😄

again thanks for the reply and advices, my problem is that i don't know anything about photoshop, you know any kind of tutorials regardings this line of work?

regards

I'm going to give all this a try---as I'm very interested in using the UDK to test urban design (and then run games occuring in these designed / augmented spaces).
Signed up on the Unreal community discussion board...and found this same topic discussed here:
http://www.katsbits.com/htm/tutorials/sketchup_converting_import_kmz_blender.htm

Ideally, I'd like to work out a good pipeline for using SU created content....at least to put down an initial layer of general buildings, streets, etc.
Having said that...I'm not married to using SU to create content. But, like Revit and Microstation, I know SU well and am just hoping ot reduce the amount of new programs that I would need to learn (or direct others in using them).

Thanks. . .

sorry my bad.

I don't know how to fix your issue, but I do like your name... 😉

@unknownuser said:

And not part of the plugin at all, but quite interesting, is this little line of code you can enter into the ruby console and it will pop up a :

Sketchup.send_action 10624

thanks chris, i suspected there was more to it, to bad it never got finished. was probably intended to develop into a full fledge animation system??

now if i could figure what any of the stuff in the 'camera control menu' means 😕 it could be useful 😆

if you all really want to know the best way to deal with GSU plugins on macs then check it:
💚

[i won't go into the podium spiel again and how to deal with it but check this post --
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=146352#p146352
that said, for best operation, get rid of the user/lib/etc plugin folder if you have one.. it wasn't there when you originally installed su7 and the only reason it exist is because the podium installer created it...]

ok, here's how you do it..

1.)
go to the sketchup folder:
Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 7/SketchUp
once there, you'll see the plugin folder.. drag that folder to the finder's sidebar.. this in effect will create a shortcut to your plugin folder so you're not always navigating 6-7 folders deep to get to it
[as a sidenote, i also like to keep my current project folders there.. gives me quick access to see all my files in different views (list,column,cover flow, or icon) + it's right there in all the apps save dialogs as well.. once you're done with a project, just drag it out of the sidebar and it will do the smoke puff thing.. it doesn't erase anything, it's similar to dragging something out of the dock).. fwiw, i always have my su plugin folder there..

2.)
in safari's general preferences, check 'open safe files after downloading'... this will unzip your downloads automatically as they come in.. (and this isn't really necessary.. it's just my preference and it saves an extra step)

also, in the same preference area, set 'save downloaded files to' the downloads folder which should be in the dock

3.)download a ruby from sketchucation, open the download folder, drag the files to the sidebar plugin folder, and start sketchup.. done son..

here's a video showing me setting up the sidebar then downloading chris fullmer's perpendicular face tools, installing it and restarting sketchup..

it's a lot faster and easier to do than typing all of these instructions 😄
good luck

[flash=853,505:71dnuzhj]http://www.youtube.com/v/HOJFjy18mKQ&hl=en&fs=1&[/flash:71dnuzhj]

Nope, not really, but you can try to figure this in mat. editor, updating the material look. This is the reason that some users shared the settings for the pool water( being asked by others), maybe another user will jump in to help.

If you don't have a 360 environment bitmap then add the sky in post - Photoshop or similar. That's what I most often do.

Ok, so if I were wanting to make a bottle that is red and I wanted to apply a label. Listed is what I would have to do?:

make bottle and paint red import texture and apply the label image. in V-Ray material window, select diffuse tab, click transparent and make white. in diffuse tab, click "m" on transparent select bitmap on common drop down. click "m" in bitmap and select a grey scale of the label graphic.

And that's it? I must be missing something. When I do it like this, the bottle turns transparent red.

Jeff 😞

@dedmin said:

http://www.sycode.com/products/stl_import_su/index.htm
But the best weapon is DeepExploration!

I did see sycode and that seems to be a feasible option. Are there any thoughts on the functionality of sycode, is it worth the money?

@ashraf said:

OSG Composer http://www.simlab-soft.com/3d-products/osg-composer-main.aspx
is another option it is capable of reading Solidworks (up to 2009), IGES and STEP files and exporting Collada files readable by SketchUp.

I have worked with DeepExploration but not OSG Comoser. Using a third party software would be a last resort because it is inefficient. The ability to translate right from Sketchup would be the best option

@thomthom said:

Yes, V-Ray samples dark areas less.
Is it suppose to be so dark?

If note, I'd adjust the camera exposure - if you're using the Physical Camera.

Thanks Thomthom for the exposure advice, I will check that out. Should I just up the samples then to cure the darker area blotchy effect? That area to the right of the scene is not supposed to be that dark. There are plenty of windows from that side of the room to illuminate the room in the actual house, so I'm trying to keep it consistent in the render.

Chango, I will have to try your tip with larger plane lights. The only thing, when you use 'no decay' does that take away from a more realistic render?

I was thinking about using point lights under the recessed can lights instead of small plane lights, I think that might give me a brighter render.

@chango70 said:

Is there a daylight analysis tool (which will be very useful for Architects)?

http://www.light-up.co.uk/index.php?t=gallery&p=6

You can use my V-Ray Toys plugin. That will assist you to setting up matching views so they fit 100% when you merge V-Ray and SU exports.

Follow the Plugins links in my signature.

thanks a bunch 👍