How to reduce file sizes of 3D models for Google Earth?

Morgy

Hello SketchUp insiders

I am new to SketchUp and have started going through several tutorial videos for my first constructions of objects and buildings. Very helpful! Thanks to all who make them.

I am also trying to build my first 3D buildings to be used in Google Earth. If I understand things correctly, it is most important to reduce the file size, which I find tricky to achieve. This video for example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSUp8n5sAYg talks of incredibly small file sizes in my beginner's eyes.

Can anyone point me to something like a priority list of how to achieve small 3D model file sizes?

Thanks a lot in advance!
Morgy

brodie

Off the top of my head...

#1: Texture size: If you use a 10mb .tif as your texture, it will increase your .skp by 10mb. So reduce your textures as much as reasonably possible to get your file size down. Make sure they're all .jpg format and weigh out the quality of your compression level against the size. That's the easiest and biggest factor which most people miss.

#2: Geometry: The only factor besides textures is how much geometry you have. I'm not sure how GE works but in general you want to use as many components as possible to reduce size. Other than that, simply make sure you haven't over detailed the building and you have no unnecessary polygons in places which can't be seen (under or inside the building).

One thing some people do to find the waste is export your model as a .kmz model. Then manually go to the file and change the extension from .kmz to .zip and open the zip folder. You'll see a breakdown of all the subcomponents which can quickly let you see if you have any large image files eating up space.

-Brodie

Morgy

@unknownuser said:

One thing some people do to find the waste is export your model as a .kmz model. Then manually go to the file and change the extension from .kmz to .zip and open the zip folder. You'll see a breakdown of all the subcomponents which can quickly let you see if you have any large image files eating up space.
-Brodie

Thanks, Brodie
Opening the .kmz folder was most helpful for me!

Morgy