[Plugin] Image 2 Model

EarthMover

Looking for a script to take a folder off the hard drive and batch convert transparent .png files to .skp with a 0,0,0 axis and face camera enabled. A bonus would be if it would hide the perimeter edges of the image. It's not necessary to cut them out for shadows as they will be rendered. Just looking to speed up the conversion process as I have hundreds of plant images that I've taken and isolated and the manual conversion is becoming quite tedious. Not sure if something already exists. Any help would be much appreciated.

EDIT - Much thanks to SDMitch! Most recent plugin attached.

Image2Model.rb

sdmitch

Am I correct in assumming that you want each image in its on .skp file and placed at the origin?

Images are included in a model's definitions but I don't think the .behavior.always_face_camera applies. I believe it only applies to components.

Gaieus

In such a case, images should be exploded and the face (bearing the image material) turned into such a component.

You can turn an image entity into a component, too (and face to the camera) but that would cause all sorts of issues with external renderers as not each can recognise image entities at all.

Now the ultimate question (if such a script were possible): how to scale those components?

sdmitch

Adam, Would you post an image that I could test. I have been working on your plugin and I want see if it works the same with one of your images as it does with mine.

Gaieus has a point regarding sizing the images/components.

TIG

You set the image size as you import it, but you can reset it later after reading its pixel sizes and basing the inch sizes on those, pro-rata...
The basic code to add an image is:
image-entities.add_image(path_to_file, insertion_point, width, [height])
The width/height are in inches.
The last argument [height] is optional, if omitted it is taken as being in proportion to the width you have set.
An added image typically arrives 'flat' at the ORIGIN - if it's a plant or tree you'll probably want to stand it up on its end - you can apply a simple rotation transformation: tr=Geom::Transformation.rotation(ORIGIN,X_AXIS,90.degrees) image.transform!(tr)
You might also want to shunt the image so that the center of its bas is at the ORIGIN rather than it bounds.min ? Here a simple translation is needed:
tr=Geom::Transformation.translation([image.width/2,0,0].vector_to([0,0,0])) image.transform!(tr)

sdmitch

TIG, Great minds think alike. I originally tried moving the Image bottom center to the Model ORIGIN before making it first a Group then a Component but didn't change the point the Image rotated about when Orbiting. I had to move the Component.transformation.origin instead.

One thing that I can't seem to resolve is the fact that although I do a "viewFront:" and a "viewZoomExtents:" before doing the .save, the model, when opened, has not been saved that way.

EarthMover

@sdmitch said:

Adam, Would you post an image that I could test. I have been working on your plugin and I want see if it works the same with one of your images as it does with mine.

Gaieus has a point regarding sizing the images/components.

Here is one of my hi-res .png files for testing.

Yes, I did forget to mention a few steps. The routine is -

Import and place 'image' in front viewport.
Center on axis as pivot point
Explode image
Select all
Make Component (Check always face camera, shadows face sun
Enter component edit and select outer edges and hide them.
Exit component and 'Save as' image name.

Thanks for looking into it Sam and for the help TIG. If something can be manifested it would save hours of tedious work.

Pieris Japonica (Dorothy Wycoff).png

sdmitch

Adam, Your image worked exactly like mine so I have attached Image 2 Model I. When you execute the plugin, The Open panel will allow you to select the source folder for the images. Next, the Save panel will allow you to select the destination folder for the models. An inputbox will let you choose whether the image is to be "stood up" and the width for the images. Since this is a "batch" process these options will be applied to all images in the source folder.

I still haven't resolved the problem of the saved file not being frontview and zoomed extents. It seems that it saves the model however the default template is setup.

Check it out and let me know how it worked for you.

batch process images into components that are saved in a model file

EarthMover

Works great with one exception. Can you perhaps set it to save just the newly created component and not save a copy of "Susan" along with each new .skp? Perhaps that's is the issue you are already referring to. I need to be able to compile these plants through the component folder. Other than that it's working like a charm!!

Also, just noticed that the component is still an "image". Possible to explode that down before the component conversion? Not sure if the final .skp files will work with all render engines with 'images' embedded.

sdmitch

If Susan is showing up it because she is in your default template.

I take a look at exploding.

TIG

You could always some code at the start to erase all model entities...
Sketchup.active_model.entities.erase_entities(Sketchup.active_model.entities.to_a)
[or a Sketchup.active_model.entities.clear [edit]]
Then .purge_unused for all model components, materials, layers and styles before adding the new image into the now sanitized model.
Surely image.explode will do the desired extra step ?

sdmitch

Added a .clear! to make sure the new file is empty. Exploded the image and hide the edges.

Image2Model.rb

TIG

The 'entities.clear' only erases the instance of Susan [and any other stuff placed in the default template].
BUT the definition still remains in the SKP, as do any now-unused related materials, layers etc.
It's best to have a '.purge_unused' for these after the '.clear'...