@unknownuser said: @jgb said: As for a mesh tool, I think Curviloft does me just fine. In fact it creates too fine a mesh, and I spend a fair bit of time reducing lines. But that is still way faster than my old way of tweaking a manual mesh. The density of the mesh is primarily driven by: the number of vertices on the contour (Curviloft respect all of them) the sampling factor you may apply (usually it is to get a more dense mesh) It may be worth working out the contours to minimize the number of vertices and then perform the Skinning operation. Fredo Thanks Fredo, After I first played with Curviloft (CL) I realized it followed all my verticies, but added more so I now create my initial control curves with a reduced segment count that looks crappy raw, but nice and smooth after CL does its magic. However, CL introduces a significantly higher vertex count in the mesh, sometimes dividing a controlling segment into 4 or 5 bits, with some very tiny. It is those very small segments that I have to eliminate, yet still keep a smooth mesh. But even so, that is far less work than tweaking a manual mesh. In my 3 problems above (Cargo door fairings for my big freighter airplane), I created a segment size of about 24 inches on average, figuring on CL dividing those segments in 2 or 3, but I got quite a few segments that were less than 1 inch. At the scale of my model (308 feet long), that was way too fine. Is there any way within CL's control parameters to adjust the "sampling factor"? I would like CL to divide a control segment in 2 or 3 vertices as a norm. Then I can control the smoothness with my initial arc and spline segment count. Also, how does the "angle value" figure into the control? Mine is set at 40 deg, but I have not played with it yet. And, while I still have your attention, is there any way to default the start location of the popup control toolbar? It always starts at top left, but in my case that area is hidden by my Components Window. Then I have to temporarily move the Comp Window so I can move the CL toolbar down to the lower left of screen. I would prefer that as the default start position. Charly2008. Thanks, but as I inferred before, when I was made aware of the gaps by Rich, I fixed them and had no problem forming the curves, exactly as you did. Now I am more careful in creating my control curves and have done a few far more complex skins since without problems.

Revit is exactly the same. Almost glad to hear that ArchiCAD has the same problem. The funny thing is that AutoCAD is more straight forward in assigning "dynamic" qualities! We've turned back to SketchUP, simply because we're quicker with it & can get the output we need. Rendering with Twilight & Kerkythea just adds the gloss when needed & can produce a similar quality as the Mental Ray engine supplied with Revit/AutoCAD (at least at my level of expertise ).

Arghhhh!!!!! Stupid guy, it's written in the doc!!!!! Thanks a lot Regards, Alain

I've had pretty good luck going from Revit -> SU actually using this method http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=3271&p=15926&hilit=revit+layers#p15926 I used it recently on a 3 story hospital rendering and animation. I brought in the building, site, mechanical, and structural elements. I can't imagine anything much more complex unless you had 3d furniture and such coming in from revit as well, which I didn't. The plugins mentioned in the above tutorial made it very easy to apply the appropriate materials. I only skimmed TIG's responses but as I recall the components worked decently - that is to say, it did actually create components rather than just having everything in groups which could be a nightmare. So changing one window element might not change every window element but it will probably change a fair number of them. Most of the hassle comes in cleaning up the model which will likely be far more complex than you need - but that's neither Revit, nor SU's fault. -Brodie

There's also the Unfold Tool by Jim. I did this in N-scale: [image: 5356417176_1c6b05956e_z.jpg] From: [image: 5355804283_aaf9ed2243_z.jpg]

I get those numbered SKB's when working on a new file for a while without saving with a real name.

Well, I have never had a Pakistani wife (but who knows for the future of course?)

Hi to All Thanks Jeffe, Thanks Simon Really some Rubies are well-hidden. A multi-entries glossary of all plugins is a necessity to avoid such idiot questions. I am not a database specialist but I think it's feasable. Of course I will be fired (By who knows) for saying that. Thanks ThomThom for your generosity.

As I said earlier I'm a complete newbie to kerkythea but try the Metropolis Light Transport render preset, do as many passes as you feel is necessary and then you can get rid of the remaining noise with neat image (http://www.neatimage.com/), that's what has worked for me.

Jim, I'm not trying to be arugmentative. I'm trying to find out where you find it impossible to get the actual dimension. Perhaps to help you out with it. I have done a lot of dimensioning in LO and while I've had some gripes with it, it has always given me the actual dimension between the two points I select. Would you show an example--upload the SU and LO files--so we can see when it fails?

Did you look at this link first?

Tgi3D SU Amorph's "view locking" feature also makes it very easy to draw curves in 3D. Simply draw the curve and "view lock" it from an angle you like and adjust the topology in other views. You can change the view lock to other views as you continue. Remember Ogan's palamar knot in the Speed Modeling Challenge #38 - Fishing? It would have been a lot harder to draw the initial topology of the knot without the "view locking" mechanism. [image: 9QTE_palomar3.jpg] Below is the video of how "view locking" works. [flash=480,385:3f72q944]http://www.youtube.com/v/0q4HLBfZCV8?fs=1&hl=en_US[/flash:3f72q944]

Else for sculpt one two three and make some research on this guy at PushPullbar: Richard it's a specialist of sculpting vegetation with SU

@unknownuser said: @broomstick said: What could be an issue is that Sketchup Models lack the face "subdivision" which is common for 3ds max solids, so tools like meshsmooth, bend, turbosmooth and other things will not work properly on an imported model! I'm assuming you mean SU models are made up of n-gons. This is easily overcome by using the cut tool that comes with Artisan to make your meshes all quads. I'm talking about topology, I don't think 3ds max recognizes loops and rings in the imported 3D (but I have to check!). It is true I read about a re-topologize thingy in the new Max 2011

If you right click (or Context click) on the component then there is an option called 'Reload' and then you can select the require model to replace with.

Nice...I do stuff like that sometimes. It looks great. Cheers,

@d12dozr said: @kathryng said: Thank you and not that you are interested, but I might bore you down the road with my progress. Not at all! I enjoy the little stories that make you (or other members, as the case may be) sound less like a screen name, and more like a human...and your little spiel up there made me crack a grin You could make that quote your signature...just sayin' Absolutely!

Cheers Csaba.

Maybe you can link some of yours previous images There are some members who make SF or space ships designe here Liam887 Marian, Ken28875...