[Plugin] Physically-Based Rendering - v1.5.9 - 19 Apr. 2020

samuel_t

Version 1.2.4 just released

It's now possible to apply a metallic-roughness map to a material. Demos:

Textures : Free PBR
Renderer : SketchUp PBR plugin

JQL

I'd love this if I could eventually link a substance file to a sketchup material...

samuel_t

@jql said:

I'd love this if I could eventually link a substance file to a sketchup material...

You can edit a material with PBR plugin then save material as .SKM file.

See this tutorial: https://sketchucation.com/resources/tutorials/528-how-to-create-your-own-sketchup-material-libraries

Thus, it's technically possible to build a SketchUp PBR material library

In other words, .SKM (SketchUp Material) can contain Normal map, etc.

JQL

The problem is that a sketchup material hasn't got a direct link to textures residing on disk. So, if I change a texture like color, normal or metal-roughness map, it won't refresh. Or, will it?

JQL

I have tried the plugin and got the following errors:

Windows can't find 'nginx'...

windows can't find.PNG

I have installed the glTF export (and import) plugins:

glTF export and import installed.PNG

It's easier for most users to have a separated roughness and metallic maps as they are very common, instead of the metallic-roughness map required by the plugin. I can easily create the metallic-roughness maps as I use substance tools, but is there any chance the separated maps could be implemeted?

Also, I found you removed support for emissive materials, which would be a shame, as I use them for all my lighting applications in Thea for Sketchup and would find them cool to test on this pbr plugin.

samuel_t

@jql said:

I have tried the plugin and got the following errors:
Windows can't find 'nginx'...

Is it a first time install or an update?

If it's an update: Open SketchUp Extension Manager. Disable PBR plugin before uninstall it. Reinstall it.

Let me know if problem persists

JQL

@samuel_t said:

Is it a first time install or an update?

It's a first time. Pbr v1.2.4

Sketchup 2018

samuel_t

@jql said:

I have tried the plugin and got the following errors:

Windows can't find 'nginx'...

@samuel_t said:

Is it a first time install or an update?

It's a first time. Pbr v1.2.4

Sketchup 2018

Operating system: Windows 10?

Open Windows's File Explorer.
Goto %APPDATA%\SketchUp\SketchUp 2018\SketchUp\Plugins\pbr\Web Server
Do you see the file nginx.exe?

samuel_t

@jql said:

Also, I found you removed support for emissive materials, which would be a shame, as I use them for all my lighting applications in Thea for Sketchup and would find them cool to test on this pbr plugin.

I opened an issue for this: Emissive materials don't glow. It would be great if a GLSL expert could help.

JQL

I'm afk today (phone here) but I'm on win10 and I have checked before that the nginx.exe file was there, though I don't know if that was the exact path.

samuel_t

@jql said:

I'm afk today (phone here) but I'm on win10 and I have checked before that the nginx.exe file was there, though I don't know if that was the exact path.

Restart computer. Don't open SketchUp for now!
Open Windows's File Explorer.
Goto %APPDATA%\SketchUp\SketchUp 2018\SketchUp\Plugins
Delete pbr.rb file and pbr directory.
Download and install SketchUp PBR plugin again.
Close SketchUp.
Reopen SketchUp.

If problem persists: consider opening an issue here.

JQL

Will do...

samuel_t

@filibis said:

Hi Samuel, interesting plugin, nice to see PBR and Gltf related extensions

Hi Filibis Thanks for your interest in this plugin.

@filibis said:

But i couldn't operate normal map.

Normal map must be set in PBR Material Editor. Does this info helps you enough?

@filibis said:

And didn't understand where you put those 2 'base color' textures you provided.

Reef demo model is made of two faces, two materials and three textures:

Sea normal map texture is set on Sea material in PBR Material Editor.
Sea base color texture is set on Sea material in Materials Tray.
Sea material is applied to Sea face.

Undersea base color texture is set on Undersea material in Materials Tray.
Undersea material is applied to Undersea face.

@filibis said:

Also that would be great if you let normal map strength to be adjusted and option to add metallic & roughness maps as well if possible.

~~I see no problem about adding Normal map scale (strength) in PBR Material Editor.~~

Update: Since PBR plugin v1.2.5, normal map strength is editable and rendered

~~Metallic and roughness maps must be packed in one map. So it's not easy for user...~~

Update: Since PBR plugin v1.2.4, metallic-roughness (packed) map is supported

samuel_t

I'm very happy to announce release of v1.2.5.

Features:

Control camera with a standard gamepad in Viewport.
Plug. Move with left stick/pad. Look around with right stick.
It works with Microsoft Xbox One controller. Tell me if it works with other controllers
Normal map scale (strength) renders in Viewport.

Bugfixes:

Fix zoom (wheel) bug in Viewport impacting only Firefox.

As part of an update, remember to disable plugin before uninstalling-reinstalling it.

samuel_t

@jql said:

The problem is that a sketchup material hasn't got a direct link to textures residing on disk. So, if I change a texture like color, normal or metal-roughness map, it won't refresh. Or, will it?

No. Texture is embedded. You must update manually SketchUp material if you change texture on disk.

Linking textures can produce late errors like "missing file". I will think on this.

JQL

Hi,

I did what you suggested. Erased the pbr plugin and folder from my appdata's plugins folder, restarted everything and installed, following all your suggestions.

Still no good with 1.2.5:

samuel_t

@jql said:

Hi,

I did what you suggested. Erased the pbr plugin and folder from my appdata's plugins folder, restarted everything and installed, following all your suggestions.

Still no good with 1.2.5:

Hi JQL, please follow these new instructions:

Close SketchUp if it's open.
Open Windows's File Explorer.
Go to %APPDATA%\SketchUp\SketchUp 2018\SketchUp\Plugins\pbr
Right click on web_server.cmd file. Choose "Edit" in contextual menu.
Replace this line:


cd %~dp0 && cd Web Server

by this line:


cd /d "%~dp0%Web Server"

"File" > "Save".
"File" > "Exit".
Open SketchUp.
"Extensions" > "Physically-Based Rendering" > "Open Viewport".
Do you see SketchUp model in PBR Viewport?

samuel_t

@jql said:

Also, I found you removed support for emissive materials, which would be a shame, as I use them for all my lighting applications in Thea for Sketchup and would find them cool to test on this pbr plugin.

Today, I think it's better to implement glTF KHR_lights extension. So PBR plugin users could:

Add and place lights in SketchUp (Maybe as hidden geometry? I'm looking for solutions.),
Set light type (point, spot, etc.) and properties (color, intensity, etc.) again in SketchUp,
Export lights (embedded in glTF file) to PBR Viewport and possibly to other platforms...

samuel_t

@jql said:

It's easier for most users to have a separated roughness and metallic maps as they are very common, instead of the metallic-roughness map required by the plugin. [...] is there any chance the separated maps could be implemeted?

~~I agree it's easier but it's not so much long to pack metallic and roughness maps in third-party software. For example, it takes less than one minute in Photoshop following these instructions:

Open roughness map in Photoshop.
Convert Grayscale to RGB Color.
Unlock (roughness) layer.
Select (roughness) layer. Open Blending options.
Uncheck all Channels except G(reen).
Place Embedded... metallic map.
Select metallic layer. Open Blending options.
Uncheck all Channels except B(lue).
Save as... metallic-roughness map.~~

Update: Since PBR plugin v1.3.0, Metallic and Roughness maps are separated in PBR Material Editor.

JQL

@samuel_t said:

[*]Metallic & Roughness maps are separated in Material Editor.

Good news indeed. Will try it again.