SketchUp to Blender observations
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Hey folks. I've been wanting to try out Blender for some time now, esp based on the revelation SU is going to the cloud, which means I don't expect much in the way of modeling features to be improved upon anytime soon. I feel we're pretty much at a dead end feature wise for the as things I'm concerned with: UV mapping, decent filleting, GPU support for realtime renders, and a host of other modeling fixes and tools (booleans being one of them). Not to mention some standard features now found on just about every other modeling package like modifiers, lack of a no-snap mode, real splines, etc..
Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with the support of the plugin devs, but how much can be asked of them when it all moves to Javascript and the cloud?
So, my good friend Jerry Perkins and I are doing a series of tutes where I pose a modeling question to him and how I would solve it in SU and ask him to do the same in Blender. There are a ton of really good tutes out there on how to get started with Blender, but I find a lack of vids telling one how to "think" in Blender w/regard to modeling strategies.
As most of you know, modeling in SU is quite a different (and fun) experience compared to other programs. I also work in MoI3D, and it also take a complete mind shift going from SU to it. So, I hope this video, even though the audio and format is somewhat poor, can help some of you as much as it does me...
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Hello Chipp
Have you seen that free thing SU like ?
https://www.bricsys.com/en-intl/shape/Not yet tested because msi installer make me nuts!
even with these advices https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install-winpc/windows-10-error-message-another-installation-in/afc1a42b-a36d-46e7-a4ee-e86cf6fb9567?auth=1Else cool video of course!
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Thanks Chip, I look forward to your videos. I was working through a Blender tut just the other day. I was finally starting to come to terms with the UI. I am a 29 year (college and work) AutoCAD user and been using SU since r2. So I have a lot to unlearn
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@pilou said:
Hello Chipp
Have you seen that free thing SU like ?
https://www.bricsys.com/en-intl/shape/Hi Frenchy,
Yes I did take a look at it based on your post over in MoI (thanks!). Currently it doesn't look as powerful as SU with all it's plugins. -
Thanks Chipp and Blender-Man Jerry Perkins
Your side-by-side "translation" approach is an interesting idea - To make some steps which are clear for us SU-thinkers and then to see how Blender goes ahead with the same task using whatever Blender features. I can't count how many times I've tried and failed so far, not only because of the UI but mostly because of a chronically lack of time I think...
So thanks again and I am looking forward to this series
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Great idea Chipp!
After watching this comparison I have no doubt blender was built by aliens for aliens. I'm not sure it's suitable for Archviz. Are there any plans (in Blender community) to make some kind of fork that will look like conventional 3D software? -
Curious. While you're looking, why don't people consider Rhino? Haven't tried it but it sounds like another good solution.
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@unknownuser said:
It doesn't look as powerful as SU with all it's plugins.
The free version Shape UI (even DIrect Modeling) is not so easy than the SketchUp UI!
A little "tricky use" for some headaches !@unknownuser said:
why don't people consider Rhino?
or its little brother more intuitive Moi3D (third of the price) the SketchUp of the Nurbs!
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@pbacot said:
Curious. While you're looking, why don't people consider Rhino? Haven't tried it but it sounds like another good solution.
Rhino and MoI3D (made by the same guy who created the first versions of Rhino) are NURBS modelers, and as such are significantly DIFFERENT in HOW they build models. They are much more "CAD-like" than SketchUp, and are not easily used as a sketching tool. Furthermore, they don't create nicely formed meshes (for games or photo-rendering) as well as SketchUp or other polygon modelers.
They are better than SketchUp for 3D printing and creating "solid" objects. They typically have better filleting and boolean tools, but lack in the ability to "move vertices" around, which is something poly modelers do with ease.
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@rv1974 said:
Great idea Chipp!
After watching this comparison I have no doubt blender was built by aliens for aliens. I'm not sure it's suitable for Archviz. Are there any plans (in Blender community) to make some kind of fork that will look like conventional 3D software?Here under UI / Template, they are talking about Blender 101, so we will see if that would take some edge of that steep learning curve. These days I am trying to use Blender for UVs.
https://code.blender.org/2017/10/blender-2-8-design-document/
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Take a look also to FormZ Free!
A cool candidate for replace SU Make 2018 who is not existing in local!
Maybe a little more friendly and if you want more "organic" take a look to the free Hexagon! -
FormZ Free does have a good tool set going for it. Also one can use it for ANY purpose, "no restrictions for professional, academic, or home use...". Looks like the files from free are cross compatible with the Pro version as well.
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Helix can be made by this little trick from spiral stairs!
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FormZ Free laks of Sweeps, Loft, and fillets!
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