Graphics issue - wild flickering!

Steve S

Hello,

I've been using SketchUp in my job for about three months now, and have been getting on well with it so far. One issue that has kept cropping up lately is that when I am working on larger projects, I will get a weird glitchy, stuttering flicker across the screen. Sometimes the flicker is permanently visible (see attachment), but most of the time it comes and goes in a flash.

It doesn't seem to slow down the software at all, it's just very annoying on the eyes! Can anyone suggest a fix for this?

This is an extreme case!

Gaieus

Hi Steve,

A two questions to begin with:
Is there anything imported from some CAD files?
How far your model is from the origin?

Steve S

There are no CAD files imported, although I often drag in saved .skp components to my models.

The largest spaces I work with are about 35 acres, so I guess the origin could be about 80-100 metres away at most.

Gaieus

That should not be an issue then.

What happens if you copy your model and paste it into anew file (SU window)?

Also, just to make sure we exclude anything; try to disable hardware acceleration under Window > Preferences > OpenGL (however this does not resemble a graphic card issue but we never know).

mac1

Some what an aside but notice in your snap that you have a layer differnt than 0 as your active layer. All your drawing should be done on layer 0 and the others used only for visibility control. The ones on the other layers will not be isolated geometry unless you make them components or groups. So if they are not and you have them turned off then you can change geo you don't want to change. Here is some youtube videos on the subject http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=google+sketchup+layers&aq=1m

dannyheywood

Hi, I have had similar problems with this flickering or z fighting when I have been creating buildings.
I have a fix which i hope should help:

First test this on a copy of your model, not an original.

Place each element on a separate layer ie, terrain, building - nothing should be left on layer 0. If you have one element that flickers just place it on a layer called layer 1.
Explode all surfaces until they explode no further
Each layer in turn needs re-grouping, do this for all layers
Select each layer in turn right click group and select soften smooth edges/soften coplanar - Tick both boxes and leave 20 as the default smoothing level.
Once done go to view>hidden geometry and again view>edges (make edges unticked or off)
Road test by orbiting the flickering should be gone.

emiletheart

I had a nasty flicker when I selected a tool and moving it across the screen. Flicker was really bad when using the orbit tool. Disabled "Hardware acceleration" and hey presto!!" problem solved