I know that this is from earlier in the year, but I had the exact same problem and it is definitely a 'Driver Issue!' The machine had been inherited from someone else who had 'Played' with the Display Settings. It was very annoying, and almost impossible to detect the cause of the problem. Many suggested an 'Incompatible Video Card' and Insufficient Memory, etc. However, the problem was quite fundamental, and easily fixed. In my case the Drivers were up-to-date however, the machine had been configured to use a 16 Bit Colour Configuration on a Windows 7 Ultimate 32 Bit Machine! - This will give rise to 'Screen Bugs' such as the 'Grey Box' on Label Text. It will also create Large Blocks of 'Emptyness' when exporting an image from SketchUP to JPEG. To correct the problem, carry out the following. Download the Latest Drivers for your Video Card. This can appear quite daunting, as in my case the Download was 380 MB and the Install Process quite ponderous! However, it is worthwhile doing, as many 'Bugs' and Technical Issues have been overcome. Once the Drivers have been updated go to Control Panel> Video Card Configuration> Manage 3D Programme Settings> Programme Settings> ADD> If SketchUP is not on the list of Programmes, then it needs to be added - Go to ADD and you will select SketchUP.EXE by following the Path in Programme Files. ALTERNATIVELY Some Video Cards will have their own Separate Programme accessed from Desktop> Windows Button> All Programmes Next 'Quit' from the Video Card Configuration and go to Control Panel> Display> Screen Resolution> Monitor> Colours Be sure to select a 32 Bit Configuration! Apply the settings and 'Quit' from the Control Panel. Reboot your Machine. When you open SketchUP on the Default Drawing, go to Window> Preferences> Open GL> and Tick the Hardware Acceleration and Fast Response Boxes. Now try applying Label Text to the SketchUP Drawing Character (Bryce or Lizanne) - The 'Grey Box' should be gone! NOTE Video Card Configuration> This will be the name of the Video Card Manufacturer (In my case NVIDIA)

Check this tutorial: How to Create REALISTIC Materials | Vray 3.4 for Sketchup

@gilles said: Why not complain to Trimble if you want native function? post is inside: SketchUp Feature Requests Is this the right section for such a request? BTW - a lot of Fredo work has to be implemented as native functions in SketchUp.

Thank you Pixero.

Good info. Thanks.

My thanks to you all -- Rich, and Box, and sfto1 -- for your inputs. I think, before I buy any books, I'll take Box's advice and read a lot more of the forum postings, and try the sketchup.com videos, and see what else I can use to learn on the fly. I don't watch reality TV shows, but I do waste time watching NCIS and Blue Bloods and their ilk. [sigh] I'll try to do better. Thanks again. If I produce a basic design for my 12x16 meditation room, I'll post it. It won't impress anyone.https://sketchucation.com/forums/posting.php?mode=reply%26amp;f=79%26amp;t=67671#

@rich o brien said: If it is custom designs then GarryK's Cabinet Maker https://sketchucation.com/plugin/1613-gkware_cabmaker Is a good place to start Agreed!

I Knew it was hiding somewhere! Thanks for that!

Sorry seems this pluging not more updated! Seems it's works not entierely with the new version of SketchUp! So take Curviloft by Fredo ! Many options are inside! Another little thing : for put face's object perpendicular to a curve use the tricky Pependicular face tool by Chris Fullmer Here between a Circle and a Rectangle by an Arc Circle [image: lzOC_GIF_curviloftt.gif]

@pbacot said: Majid, That's a great one. Very solid realistic feel to it. I hope they appreciated it! Thanks mate! during the design process we tried to achieve the quality of natural light via facade and the volume inward moves and combine it with unified office space demand and natural ventilation.... I hope be lucky to see it built!

Thanks Anton appreciate your reply. I will try your suggestions. Fairly early on the learning curve for me, cheers.

Export in 3ds with full hierarchy on

Had anyone the same problem? maybe it possible to write a custom script to measure the area and attach it to DC?

First off, apologies for my lack of reply. There's a lot of really great answers, suggestions and just general knowledge that I wasn't expecting. Thanks @Box @JQL @ntxdave. For clarity, the shoe aspect is more about modelling a representation of my clients product so that it can be placed within a space. And avoid having to comp in trainer products into final visuals in Photoshop. The main focus of my task is to design and iterate through options for a given event / space. Given Sketchup works to sizes accurately this can be quite quick at times. I've attached a couple of examples, using Warehouse examples, showing the approx basic level of rendering / representation that would be satisfactory. Side note: @JQL mentioned "Incredible rendering engines that render this in secs;". Can you expand on this? [image: uzDA_ScreenShot2017-05-23at20.18.47.png]

Perhaps not very clearly explained what exactly is needed. I think so more clearly. [image: MSCj_2017-05-13_15-36-262.png]

Try this to get you started... post.skp

http://regular-polygon.com/keyframe-animation/download/

For what it's worth, I normally work up my survey data [total station] in CAD [draftsight] as far as possible before importing the dwg drawings to SU. For example, i may setup 2D Plans/Elevations etc along with 3D data like spot heights. I just use the raw nodes points as markers which import as guide points but you could create blocks for your markers. The main issue is that the text is lost although there are ways around this if you really need it. Another tip is to import and arrange scaled JPGs of the CAD drawings as a visual reference. If this type of workflow would suit you and you want to continue to work on the base survey data you can also XREF the Survey drawing using TIGs plugin.

Great job of modeling HornOxx

You have: https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/estimator-sketchup And also Profile Builder 2 which has the same principles for estimation with the added bonus of genereating profile and assembly geometries in a parametric way: http://profilebuilder4sketchup.com/learn/