Google Earth 6 released
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@mitcorb said:
Or, is v6 Pro only?
No, I have v.6 free.
Sometimes they only "force" (or let go) updates somewhat later than the first release date. With some "products" they make a soft launch only in certain countries (first) or with certain language settings.
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You know, I probably would have had to wait a week for any kind of response on my comment- if a response ever came, if I had posted in the GE forums.
Thanks, Gaieus. -
There's no great secret to the trees. Beyond about 100 metres, the trees are rendered as simple billboards. The billboards for all the trees of a particular region are held on a single 1024x1024 dds file...effectively a transparent png. I've flattened one from Golden Gate Park and resampled it down to uselessness; so as not to be broadcasting Google's assets.
There's another 1024x512 image holding tree parts; because close up, the LOD switches to fully 3D trunks which utilise these separate bits. The palms tend to be modelled 'normally' ie. the leaves are static. Whereas the deciduous trees are basically a trunk and a few branches surrounded by a swarm of Face Me leaf clumps.
I've attached a skp of my own to give the general idea.
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You could really have left those trees intact for us, Alan.
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Gai, you can grab whatever you like...just not spread it around without Google's permission.
Just download the free program 3D Ripper DX to rip stuff out of GE or DirectX games. You'll get all the textures as direct draw files...but free XnView will read them and convert them to pngs.
Be warned, however, that a single grab from GE can generate about 3000 image files...so don't be facing towards downtown SF when you do it. -
Thanks, Alan. Maybe I will indeed give it a shot!
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Typically Google is populating the most populated / popular areas before they worry about the us of us.
I'm not grumpy--I remember when my location on the make was a 2-D view of generic streets. That was a while back, though. The historical sites do excite me. Good stuff. -
There's one thing I do not like.
It's the automatic switching to streetview. Here I am, trying to check out if my model renders correctly in GE (it doesn't) and when I go for a bit of a close up... wham. Streetview. Have to exit streetview, zoom in all over again, be really careful about it.. and wham. there it is again. Streetview.
Can't find anywhere an option to turn it off temporarily... -
Here. Choose something else than what is (also) selected for me.
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ah thanks!
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