@juju said: will something like this be of help? http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=normal_map_maker That is pretty cool but it's for normal maps wich are usually created for rendering. I believe this has something to do with real maps (topography, geography, that sort of stuff)... Are your maps color coded somehow? There is a color to height plugin somewhere but I don't think it would be accurate enough for what you need.

@unearthed said: Hi Sdmitch - Does your example above exist as a plugin? Utimately what I'm hoping for is a way to have an area of loose faces representing a subdivision parcel (maybe they're in a group or component - whatever works), and then have individual components representing each face - is there a way in Su for a face in a component to reference a loose face elsewhere in the file (I'll also ask this as a separate question on the main page) Yes, I will PM it to you. At present, the faces can be loose or in a group or component. If they are in a group or component, then that group or component must be opened for edit. Creating a component or group for each individual face will separate it from its neighbors so modifying a boundary edge will not be reflected in the neighbor. I can't think of any way for a face in a component to reference another face elsewhere in the model.

Funny! All that ravage about 64bit and now someone asking about 32bit sketchup... Maybe the question here is that sketchup 2015 isn't compatible with vista?

8 had working thumbnails... Just use a program like XnView or Majestic Thumbs.

SketchUp always opens a new model using your default Template. Check the name of your default with Preferences. Simply open a new model and change it as you want, then use the File ? Save as Template option. Any new models will start using that updated Template. Incidentally you can customize any model option relating to the 'default' used in the Template... For example you do not need any preloaded component, unless you want it. You can also set up your model's Units, Text and Dimension options etc. If the Template contains a set of commonly used Layers or Materials or Styles they come in as well...

@oganocali said: Thanks to TIG and JQL. From the ruby console I changed the value of Sketchup.break_edges and performed a few run time tests on big meshes. I could not oberve any time difference between true and false values of Sketchup.break_edges variable. Apparently there is a much more costly operation that is performed at the end user move completion. I wish the testers at trimble had a few large mesh cases to push the developers for a performance improvement... That performance improvement has been in developer's mind for ages. They've improved it over the years, the question though is that it seems the real performance issue is rooted deep within sketchup itself, and improving it without breaking sketchup is a real challenge... But this is what I've been reading here and there. I also think testers should push it harder!

Thank you, That is very helpful. All the best

you may have previously reset your cursor size in System Preferences [I do]... and it may not have survived the upgrade... If not you can do that now, just a thought... john

@oceanembers said: I wonder if there's a plugin to give all containers the default material? There is a plugin that takes the material out of instances (components/groups) paints the faces directly with it in one go. That would solve it... It also has a lot of other practical but dangerous tools: Thomthom's Material Tools

For a glue / hole cutting component the blue is always that way--it won't work otherwise. Or you could do this: Make another component of the jambs that will be inside the main window cutting component. Be sure to leave the edges in the main cutting component that describe the cutting outline. Reset the axis for the jamb component how you like and texture. I usually make window components that are just the cutting edges plus various nested components. that way any part can be switched out or modified without wrecking the main cutting component. If that is really not easy to change the texture, then get a texture plugin like Fredo's thru-paint, but I suspect the answer is to make the first prototype window right and you have it right from then on. if this isn't the answer, perhaps you can post a sample problem file

Thanks Marcus, that is really cool! I have to give that a try with a robot... Thanks! s

I did check my plugin, but I can't reconstruct the control points, because I use a direct formula for Cubic Bezier. It would require significant work to modify the algorithm (patch of Bezier curves). Why do you need the control points in your game? Fredo

@krisidious said: No... it's not mine... Mine is almost done. Show us your SketchUp model then! (And don't say you haven't modeled it before )

You don't really need a dedicated plugin for this - solid tools and joint push pull's follow extrusion will do you fine (and the follow extrusion is a little overkill, honestly, it can be done with vanilla sketchup just fine) [image: EfSuUju.gif] edit: excuse the buggy gif, at least it's still decipherable I suppose

You should be installing it using the SCF Plugin Store tool so the files get put in their proper locations. Or, at the very least, download the RBZ file and use Install Extension. I think you should be able to clear the Temp folder entries.

So that's a 'no solution' for #2 for now. Kind of relieving though. I thought it was me..... Thanks for your reply!