@woodoer said: Now I am really curious. Pray tell me what the brick wall might look like? ok.. i guess that depends on what you meant when you said "I'm starting to understand how creative we can be with this tool" the problem is that you're limited to shapes which can be manipulated using only the scale tool and limited parts of the move tool (the part where you can select an entire group then move or rotate it as one).. and there's only so much modeling you can accomplish with only that.. with dynamic components, you're missing (very) important functions from the move tool for instance, you can't do this with a dynamic component.. you can only move the triangle around or change it's scale.. [image: jOnB_cant.jpg] there are workarounds to using the line tool.. (kinda crazy workarounds ) here are two experiments which show it.. the component on the left has an option to change # of arc segments.. so sometimes the component has 5 lines or it could have 25 etc.. DC_lines_example.skp the problem is, even though i've 'made' some new geometry, there's no way to easily or practically (definitely no way to do it from within dynamic components alone) form faces on them... but even the lack of a line tool would be ok.. in sketchup itself, with the proper starting geometry then only using the scale, move, and rotate tool (and select which you already have in dcs), you could start creating some very (very) cool shapes when run through a spreadsheet (DC).. taking away the ability to select an edge or vertex and move IT around seriously dampens what you can really do with a DC.. it boxes you in (creatively and literally.. draw boxes with DCs and you'll be a-ok.. don't confuse it by trying to do something crazy.. like draw an angle )

BigHandD, I hope you don´t mind me using your post for the same reason you did- just to say "hi" to everybody on this forum My name is Jan and I come from Slovenia. I am a new user of the forum and have found about it just about ... 5 minutes ago I use sketchup mostly for architectural models and interiors, but currently it is my primary "weapon" for modeling my "diploma" model, which I hope will bi finished in about two months. So I will probably be a regular visitor here from now on Greetings, Jan

Jeff, Thanks a bunch! I transferred the old textures to the new computer @ User--Library--Application Support--Google Sketchup (#)--SketchUp--Materials, and that worked great.

I used to run blue lines when I was a kid... We had a blue print machine in the spare bedroom. Then one of my first jobs was at A&B Blue Print. The good ole days.

@unknownuser said: So far ThomThom's method is the only one that works, tried desperately to avoid it as I still have over 100 houses yet to drape!! Can you not do them en masse?

Thank you very much pbacot. It looks like I was doing half way right. I moved everything on the layer0, created a group but did not moved it to its own layer. You saved me another long day of despair...lol

Hot spots, Over head bulb picking the hot spots too much. Book bulbs too large. I was trying to exaggerate them and triy to play with emitters, opacity and material. I failed. [image: rqIc_BookLightSmall.jpg]

Huh! I've created plenty of components on faces before, but since I don't have to change axis very often I guess I just never noticed this before. Good info, thanks

If you are looking to create terrain to model on, you can turn on your sandbox plugin, draw some quick topo lines (even better if you can get topo lines from an existing map/gis website) and then simply hit the 'from topo lines' tool in the sandbox tool kit and whalla you've got your site topography to model your deck, patio, & landscaping on. Sometimes I prefer to model the landscaping (paths, walls, etc.) in a plan view, then elevate the lines directly over the sandbox topography and use the drape tool to place the lines I need on the generated slope. Lots of tutorials I'm sure on how to use the sandbox tools.

Hey Rich, thanks for the interactive pdf, can I open this with acrobat? never used one before

Thanks for the info and links, I will continue to look through the warehouse and some manufactures. I guess if I found one close I could just modify them.

Thank you. I had tried everything but right click. Just need to practice with it now. Paul

. another approach using FredoScale and ShapeBender which sort of mimics the 'flow' approach in moi or rhino. (the shape bender step takes a few minutes to process but it will complete so hang in there ) [image: kzFz_helixtorus2.jpg] -- draw the profile shape and push/pull it along the red axis to any length.. draw a straight line underneath the profile.. make a 1/4 circle path being sure that the 'arc' begins and ends at a midpoint of a segment.. 2)-- use FredoScale's twisting option to twist the shape 180º 3)-- use ShapeBender to apply the shape to the 1/4 circle 4)-- copy/rotate to form a circle.

@mac1 said: Not an unsolved problem but normal design. 3d models have 6 clipping planes, top, bottom, left,right, front and back and is not limited to SU. The reason for these is they limit the amount of rendering the program must do to keep performance at a reasonable level.Other wise they would have to render a huge model extents.Rendering is not done outside these planes and is the reason the model ' dis-appears" when the limit is hit. Some programs like Blender allow you set the planes. The link above gives good guidance on how to avoid the problem. ok, unsolved was the wrong expression. i understand the limitations for rendering, my vis-software allows to adjust the clipplanes. i just was hoping to improve the editing work (modelling) in skp by a sort of 'hidden' adjustment of a near plane (for ex. editing components in huge project, where thos problem occures extremely).. so thanx a lot for all the infos and replies to everybody.... sta

just spent some time looking and thinking that maybe this christmas is going to come around too fast!!!!!!

You're welcome.

Hi Cotty, I can't believe you produced the video just for me. So generous with your time. Also I tried what you suggested. Opened the group and placed the windows whilst still in edit mode. It works!! not more Z fighting. Thank you Cotty and to all others that have helped. Regards, Andrew (Penguin2)