Color by layer

[bgrubb]

I have a sketchup model that has 3D .dwg models imported. Because of the size of the building and not really knowing how to use sketchup we added all the materials to layers, checking the color by layer box. This works fine when we are doing front, back and side images. But when we try to do a perspective view and import cars from the 3D warehouse if the color by layer is on our cars have no color. What is the easiest way to either fix our model so we don't have to use color by layer or get the cars to import with color?

Our final product is a 24x36 pdf or print with 5 elevations of a building. Only one showing a perspective with cars. We have found a work around, putting an image with cars only and perspective into photoshop. Only problem with that is the file size is like 75mgs and we can't get it to reduce enough.

thanks for the help!

[TIG]

Switch off color-by-layer.
Switch on View > Texture mode
Imported objects should now look OK.
Obviously everything else will look pants!
You need to then apply colors/materials to the 'home-made' parts.

All 'raw' geometry [faces] take an applied material.
Groups and component-instances will take a material if faces are in the 'default'.
You can edit a group/component to apply materials to parts inside it, any left uncolored will take each instance's material - e.g. car with black-tires, glass-windows, red tail-lights etc can have default-shell and there have different colors for the main areas...
IMPORTANT: faces have a front and a back. You should always model so the front of the face is 'out' - i.e. where it's normally seen. If it looks like the default-back material [usually 'bluish' as opposed to a 'whitish' front - depends on your 'Style'] when seen in View > Monochrome mode, then you need to select it and right-click context menu 'Reverse' to flip it over...