Hi Mike, (and welcome) First of all, don't talk about images as they are 2D raster images and we are talking about 3D vector based modelshere, right? Now as for imported models; they are most probably scaled right (I mean 1:1) as you shlould aslo make your models. So first of all, make sure that you are modeling in the correct scale (1:1). To make sure, use the tape measure tool to see how big YOUR model is (I know it's all virtual but still we need a refernce to "real world" in virtual reality as well). If something is out of scale you have two choices: use the tape measure tool to scale a group/component or a whole model use the scale tool to scale any geometry (primitive/group/component). If the conveyor belt is the "culprit" (being out of scale) of course you need to scale that, not your model.

Double clicking on a component will allow you to edit it. See if the stud inside is another component or group - you can further edit these nested components, too. Once within its context, the geometry there "behaves" just like any geometry; you can make changes, add, delete geometry etc.

I'll give it a try... Thank you for your tut.

Done, Joe, I thank you!

I came across this yesterday when I exported my model to Illustrator for editing. When I selected individual segments to change the stroke size, other segments were also altered. I was using the direct selection tool which should have isolated the segment I wanted to change. It seems that when an image from SU is exported it is comprised of compound paths and groups. The way to make the image behave like it should in Illustrator is to do the following. Select the entire image (select all). Under Object, select Compound Path and Release. Again select all and under Object again select Ungroup. Now every segment is isolated and can be edited without effecting any other one. This will also allow you to group together segments in a way you want. I don’t know how many will find this useful but it will work if you need to export to Illustrator. Have a great holiday weekend. Tim

@rhankc said: Make unique will work when more than one instance of the component is in the file open on your screen. The path to the component library on a pc is:C:\Program Files\Google\Google SketchUp 6\Components right click the component on the component menu, select save as You can modify the right click save as selection to path straight to the component file Window (top of the screen), Preferences, Files, Components, There you set the path where you wish to keep them. you will have to save that path to your template and then the all the projects open under that template will 'save as' to that location. HTH rhankc- Thanks for the reply. ad

Hi Brodie, I don't have multiple displays but on another forum I saw this solution, I hope it helps (credits to "Gully Foyle") @unknownuser said: The way I get them back is by following this procedure. Do it for each missing browser, one at a time. First, you want to give the browser focus, so you should select that browser from the Window menu, even if it already has a plus next to it (if it does, click it twice so it ends up with a plus and is the last thing selected. It should then have focus, even though you can't see it. Then, you want to open its system menu using the keystroke Alt-Spacebar, then put it in Move mode by hitting M. At that point you should be able to scoot it around with the arrow keys. What you can do is to hit any arrow key once and then move your mouse back and forth, up and down, without pressing any mouse buttons. If all goes well, you should see the missing browser moving around with the mouse. Once the thing is back on-screen, click the left mouse button or hit Enter, and you should have it back. Then proceed to the next missing window, and so on. Gully Foyle

@zootsuit said: Hi there. I'm working on a large scale residential estate for an architectural project. I have a PDF of the plan site which I want to use as a base to trace over in Sketchup. I have converted the PDF to a jpeg in Photoshop then imported it and used it as a material on a base rectangle. The problem is that it needs to be scaled up so much that the image is very blurry and hard to trace accurately. Is there a better way I can do this ? Should I model on a much smaller scale , i.e the original size of the jpeg, then scale the model to size after? If I try to scale the Jpeg up in Photoshop the file size goes through the roof! Many Thanks Zootsuit Is it a bitmap embedded within the PDF? Or is it vector graphics? If it's vector you can use Illustrator or similar to open it and then export the lines as DWG/DXF.

@ginahoy said: I guess I'll have to purchase AutoCAD when my employee leaves. Perhaps I can find an older version at a good price. That's a shame, because I have no interest in learning AutoCAD beyond setting up ARCH D layout pages for my plotter. david I would guess that you would do quite OK with the AutoCad LT product, as yor work doesn't involve 3D modeling in AutoCad, or using special third-party applications. I think it's about 1/3 of the price of the full version. Anssi

Thanks, Dave. I am playing with styles and seeing how I can it to look as loose as possible. I am even scanning a piece of smudged paper to use as a watermark.... Will post next week. By the way, this is where the inspiration came from.... I think it was a thread from this forum a while back or it may be PPB2... [image: t4Iz_view204p.jpg] [image: 9xMn_persp2001.jpg] [image: SvVX_view2010w.jpg]

Thankyou ขอบคุณคร้าบ

Yeah, it seems that your entire structure is somewhat "underground". You can also select all and move it up to 0 z value.

Thanks Markus, I still have them, didnt break any, all these Years.

Also - have you tried to see if Hypercosm could work for you...??

Markus - way cool job!! Will the work you are doing eventually be shared on the main Martela site? I have a library of sketchup files I created from converting the gdl library to 3ds and importing, but some of the models are not very efficient. I am curious about your work for interior designers - are you allowed to expand a little on what you do? I am a designer by education, but gave up the everyday practice about 5 years ago to work more with computers. Thanks for sharing! Bytor

Doesnt neccesarily have to be a vector format, but if it isn't you'll nee to trace over the top of the imported image to turn it in to a vector image (you'll need ot explode the iamge, as well.) To import an image (or any other file for that matter) just go file->import, form there youll get a dialog window open up, theres a list of available formats in the dropdown menu.

Thanks Tom for your response on GE/SU, I have to volunteer at the hobbyist level too. I see many questions about GE on this forum, and there isn't a corner to collect these threads or meaningful contributions like many of the other SU friendly software. I believe that Google will continue to enhance the GE/SU crossover modelling, and where and how to follow these developments is my question? Certainly, it may not be in the interest of the forum board and moderators, to take on more GE/SU content. I couldn't agree with you more, Tom, there is some really good work been done, but its been lost in the sheer volume of content(3DW). I'll have to take another ride on the London Eye.(I'm sure sketchphysics could give this ride a real spin!) Cheers alpmeadow

Haha crazy ... Now it works perfect. I didn't do anything but it works without any problems Thanks anyway guys!

Thanks heaps guys. That new subdivide and smooth looks exactly like what I am after. My Last question is: Can you intersect with model to 3d spherically curved shapes. What I am trying to do is make certain storage areas on these kayaks (like those seen behind the seat in the picture) and would like to makes components of these storage areas then intersect them with the model onto a almost flat but still curved surface. If that is possible them doing the rest of the storage areas onto a large overall shape will be a piece of cake.

Hello Anssi Thanks for your two sents. NEver heard of that problem. But it´s not that either. The model is entirelly created in SU and is pretty much build around the point of origin. Oh well. I got the pics in the end. Can it be that SU is still a pretty buggy app?