Sometimes I've found that I have to click on the component with the scale tool to get the scale handles to appear. Does that help in the example in your last post ThomThom? Chris

It's not been consistent. I'll keep observing it and report back.

You can do it with the icon in the screenshot. [image: Q6xI_answer.png] However you can only see this icon when you are in a topic that you started (i.e. you asked something). Moderators can see the icon everywhere - so I can mark any answer as solving the problem. I am not sure where the settings are now but I guess we should somehow hack the plugin so that at least "Top SketchUcators" could also mark answers best.

Thanks Jean

@msm said: I've been looking around at some of the work people do on this forum. If I want that hand-drawn look, I wonder if it's better to put the trees in my model on Sketchup or in Photoshop? I ask because I've noticed hardly anyone uses Sketchup trees in their models... Assuming you are only concerned with producing a 2D illustration you need to consider that once you move from the 3D model to 2D you are committed to things like perspective, light and shadow etc. Which means that any objects you source and add after the fact must conform. I always try to include as many 'ornaments' as possible in Sketchup before it goes into Photoshop or Paint. Tip: The secret to working in Photoshop is 'layers' - these work differently than layers in Sketchup. Always make a duplicate of your master and call it something like 'master working copy'. Now create a layer called trees or whatever and make sure it is the overlay layer. You can now use the pencil or brush tool to add freehand strokes over the 'master wc'. If you don't like the effect just delete that layer and you have the untouched working copy underneath. When you are happy with the result you can merge the layers and take it into a filter like watercolor or play with some of the light renders. I also suggest you check out a pen/tablet for drawing instead of a mouse. Wacom makes some good inexpensive ones. Play around... be happy. DE

Podium (http://www.suplugins.com/) is easier to use than IDX or Kerkythea, and has better quality than IDX. The evaluation version has only 1 limitation, and that is that output size is limited to 500x500.

Hi Joejoejoe, hi folks. A trick I find usefull when tracing over an image is to make sure that I have not enabled "Length snapping" in Preferences --> Model Info --> Units. In fact, I never use that feature. This allows more precise placement of endpoints for lines and arcs wich are the tools I use the most for tracing an image. The "Arc" Tool is quite powerfull since you can start a new arc at the end of the preceding one and get a "Tangent" inference to make nice smooth transitions from arc to arc. LAter, I come back and optimise the number of segments to lower the model size. Shallow arcs, usually, can get by with fewer segments. Just ideas.

Aha, I found the example I was thinking of. This is from PITRAK on the PushpullbarII forum in this thread: http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/sketchup/10076-dynamic-components-test.html See if that one helps. I don't remember what id does differently or how it works, but it randonly chooses between 3 different options. Chris DC random wall.skp

@ccs said: I have done some research and cannot find any rubys to satisfy my current need. You're right, I don't think there are any. What I was thinking is that it's possible to write a plugin that would clean-up the skb's and either delete them or move them to a backup folder when you quit SketchUp.

Have a look at Symmetry 3d website. I guess its what you need.

Thanks. i'll remember that for my next one, scene in vue is almost set up now .

Since my response to Thom post was deleted too, I'm reposting. I will log a defect about this. Thank you. Brad SketchUp QA

Gaieus -- Agree 100%.

Nice one adam, will be interesting to see what sort of animation people can come up with using this. p.s. saw that olympic roof you did in lightup tim, very nice

salsainglesa, I seem to recall that this awkward-sounding beep was due to a ruby plugin. The plugin was calling the "UI.beep" function. I've searched, and found that's the case with the following plugins: ContourMaker.rb CutListAndMaterials.rb Linetool.rb Ldraw.rb Multiwalltool.rb PurgeAll.rb SectionCutFace.rb Slicer.rb Slicer3.rb Ultiwalltool.rb VolumeCalculator.rb ZVolume.rb The culprit would have to have something to do with the layers (obviously,) but I haven't poked around in the above plugins to see if any of these access layers. All I can remember is that it had to do with an "older" plugin. I did find the following discussion, but it's unclear whether the issue was resolved to the poster's satisfaction: http://groups.google.com/group/SketchUp3d/browse_thread/thread/4317cbb9f84d77d8?hl=en Perhaps someone else recalls the discussion to which I'm referring? Taff

thank you, kwistenbiebel. just came back from a one week trip to Amsterdam. and in many hours of brooding (quite relaxed on the sun lit cobblestone streets of the city centre) I got some ideas for dear old SketchUp. sometimes, when the limitations become painful, I start looking for something else. but I always come back in the end

...I got it to work. Thanks for all of your help.

[image: XWxm_SpiralStair2.jpg] Hey Jim… Looked at your new Spiral Stair where you “Can set height, deg. of rotation and inner radius” I know it is still in development, great stuff mate. Thanks for the link. http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=c4c3a9d5968b6f0aced20b565511c17b

@gf.greg said: ...In fact I'm thinking that maybe I'd like to generate a new thread based on our discussion here... One focused on "workflow" and how people combine different tools and how they integrate SU in their design process... I think I'll give it a go, might have to repost some of the stuff I've shown here... I think that's a stellar idea. Let's see what people who think 'outside the box' come up with. Architects are welcome. DE