GE Acceptence Standards

johnsenior1973

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=120729ebf26f7072b831795298672abf

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=7f91a8f8815cca759e357fbe0c16d66c

The first image is a screenshot of one of my models, not accepted to the GE buildings layer because of Incomplete Texturing.

The second image is one submitted after mine, accepted as part of the GE Buildings layer.

When seeing decisions like that my response is to seriously question whether to bother modeling for GE ever again.

Is my own bias towards my model clouding my judgement? I can acknowledge that my model isn't "complete" in that there are fire doors and things like that not included in my model, but TBH integrating fire doors and the sub-level basement into GE isn't worth the bother.

EddyNL

Johnsenior1973,

I understand your frustrations! Sometimes Google accepts wacky models... don't be bothered.
Don't give up though. A way to improve your model is to make sure you use textured roofs etc.

I've added a roof texture to your model, took me 5 minutes. Looks better now doesn't it?

Hope this helps, good luck.

Regards,
Ward

Gaieus

Well, Ward beat me but see, basically says what I do:

John,

a couple of observations/suggestions (not necessarily as critics but as helping to get your model to the 3D Layer):

Indeed, you are using colours (or that's what they seem) on a couple of faces especially on the roof. Whenever the GE imagery is good enough, it is Google's "expectation" to use the top view of the Google image as your roof texture. In fact, it even often looks quite good despite a relatively low resolution because from above, they blend in pretty cool into the GE image.

The other model you linked is not necessarily as poorly textured (more exactly the texture images are not necessarily so bad looking because the modeller screwed it up) but when the textures are too huge (byte-wise), the Warehouse software automatically resamples them and you can imagine whet the efficiency of such an automated and "generalising" downsampling can be. There are constant complaints about this by users who meticulously texture theri models just to later see them back like this.

So my suggestion is to use photo textures always. If you don't know how to put that roof texture (in colour) easily and exactly on that roof, I can dig out an old topic about this.

EddyNL

Good explanation Csaba.

Here is more info on textures subject:
http://www.google.com/intl/en/sketchup/3dwh/acceptance_criteria.html

"Models should be completely photo-textured.
Use photos of the actual structure to "paint" your model.
More detail

We recommend using high-quality and properly sized photographs to produce textures:

* Texture the entire model, including the roof. For faces that can't be photographed, such as the roof, use the imagery in Google Earth. If Google Earth's imagery is too blurry, or, outdated (the building was developed after the imagery was taken) then it's acceptable to use SketchUp materials provided the color and scale are as accurate as possible.
* Use one photo for a face to enhance a model's realism. Please make sure that the face is completely covered with the photo, and no sky or ground imagery can be seen.
* We suggest using images that are greater than 256 pixels wide but less than 512 pixels. It's possible to use images greater than 1024 pixels and less than 2048 pixels; however, files larger than 10MB won't be accepted into the Google 3D Warehouse."

Gaieus

Yes, exactly.

Like in your your place, Ward, mine is also mostly consists of buildings that are attached to each other. There is often a conflict when Google says that the side is not textured (of course, there is another building there) so I don't even care; I use a dummy brick firewall texture to satisfy them. I also have a nice roof texture that would fit on about 80% of the old houses here (I can't use GE imagery because it's rather low res for this and also not taken straight from above).

No matter what you use just use photos.