If section planes don't do it for you, you can always fall back on layers. The only reason for layers in SU is to control visibility...not to separate geometry...so that is pretty much what you want. You need to draw everything on Layer0 then move it to other layers you create...preferably after grouping it first. The only reason I haven't grouped stuff in my example file is that the house is only 1 skin thick so you'd see the edge of the groups all over the outside walls...very messy. You can see in the example that you can reveal whatever you like by hiding the appropriate layers. Different requirements would obviously call for a different layer structure. layers.skp

Apologies the for the delay in the response. Think you may be right Dave. There were a few splines within the drawing that contained varying amount of segments. It appears that those that had many short segments were the ones that did not show within the styles. On running the 'weld' script on the splines to make them one polyline in SU, they appear in the style, thanks Dave!

T An added thought to Paul's comment is what we call a "certified model." IOW, we stamp the model file exactly like a set of dwgs for const. This means I guarantee its accuracy and assume full responsibility for its representation as a virtual construction (as a lic arch). Risky, but a lot less risky than a RW bldg and usually blows away the opposing counsel (client/commissioners/arch.. because of the sequential representation of a detail or complex assembly. BTW also very well compensated by our clients. SkUp has the power to be as detailed as any other 3D modeler, but much faster on its feet in a presentation when carefully org'd. Our model files regularly exceed 300mb and must be able to open and operate serendipitously from a laptop/projector in an open public forum (usually a tense place to stutter...) Import is to make sure you have good tech, solid info, and doc ea step of the virtual const w/ a solid paper trail. /D

@solo said: OT:Would this be a good place to discuss the new Indiana Jones movie? Sure Pete - where is the scene going to take place?

would be pretty sweet if this could read .skp. http://www.glc-player.net/index.php [image: Win_Venus_full.jpg] anyone part of the forum?

for Hardware in USA have a look here, http://www.leevalley.com/home.aspx lots of great looking stuff, and tool catalogue has some amazing stuff and the woodworking one has lots of glues, some with specs.

@remus said: To subscribe, you need to go to your user control panel and then go to the user groups tab. You thne just select the one you want to sign up for. Weirdly it only lets you sign up for one at a time. Thanks, Remus. I was busy getting fired off a job the last few weeks, so I didn't catch that.

Thats quite a list! I'm gonna have to disagree with you on your first point though. SU would be way too cluttered if 1/3rd of the plugins available where installed, there would just be too many to sift through, especially for a new user who doesnt know what any of them are meant to do. including some of them would be wicked though, like joint push/pul and soapskin. not forgettign adamb's lighting plugin, that could also fill your 'lighting' point on the wishlist

Hi Radicaljon, You should give some more details about your method of importing pictures. What I guess now is that you import the images but do not explode them so they appear on top of existing faces of your SU model (OR you anyway there are two faces right on top of each other). This causes the two "faces" (the real geometry face and the image) "fighting" for visibility (aka "Z-fighting"). You could do a couple of things to avoid it: explode the images and apply them as material on the existing faces (suggested method) move the images a bit (say a couple of centimetres) away from the faces (not the best method - should only use it when you want to display say a picture in front of a wall only) remove the faces behind the images - use this only if they entirely cover the area where the face is behind. Note that there seem to be glitches in the communication between SU and GE in the current releases so sometimes the images do not appear correctly But what you wrote about your problem seems not to be related to this. If this is not the problem, please, attach at least an image (though a "simplified" version of an skp file would be even better).

here is a sky dome tutorial i downloaded sometimes ago , you may find it useful sky scene tut

Stephen, While disabling hardware acceleration may be a temporary solution, it actually is a diagnose of your video driver not working properly with Vista and SU. Therefore you should try to update the video driver and see is it works with hardware acceleration on because if it does, it can speed up SU's performance once you come to a bigger model.

thank you. Any way, I got the model from one of my colleagues (in autocad format but it is ok) thank you alot

OK then I did remember well from the KT Forums. Thanks for working on it - it would extremely speed up the workflow (imagine using it with Didier's component spray tool!)

I too had performance issues with SU 6 under Leopard (Slow panning, unstoppable orbiting, difficulties selecting object...) Turned out the Logitech mouse was causing the problem. Movements and selections are much better now that I have re-installed the mighty mouse. Now, I still get faster, smother and nicer (antialiased line) performances under Win XP (same machine with Boot camp drivers).

Panoramic pic [image: 2357407103_1c216f3467.jpg?v=0] pic render scene.skp

I didnt understand a single word of that. I never use those kinda' inferences. I stick to the classic 'Shift' while drawing the line.

BTW Gaieus I am slowly working on a SU model of my lodge(with the logo scene, thanks) but it has 14 rooms, 12 bathrooms, and a 28 feet high open greatroom. Seems easier to build the real thing 11 years ago. Cheers alpmeadow

The easy way is to use the K-Tools script, the spiral is slightly different from the one you get from successive quadrants - not that anyone would notice. Bob

@bungo198 said: I still hope to return to the tool at some point . And when you do, post whatever it is you're playing with so that we will have something tangible (in a virtual sort of way ) to work and help you with.