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    Blender+Sketchup Modeling a Carvanserai

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    • majidM
      majid
      last edited by

      Caravanserais have been an important part (backbone) of the Silk Road for millennials. Recently I did a commission job remodeling a caravanserai. To speed up the modeling, I used Sketchup and Blender for the appropriate part of the job. The inner spaces were modeled using Sketchup and the roofs were modeled using Blender 3D as it provides more flexibility with the organic shapes.


      Capture.jpg


      top.jpg

      My inspiring A, B, Sketches book: https://sketchucation.com/shop/books/intermediate/2612-alphabet-inspired-sketches--inspiring-drills-for-architects--3d-artists-and-designers-

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      • Bryan KB
        Bryan K
        last edited by

        Nice!

        See my portfolio at https://delphiscousin.blogspot.com/

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        • majidM
          majid
          last edited by

          Sketchup is really fast and intuitive for hardsurface modeling, on the other hand, Blender is capable of organic modeling. So the majority of the model was done in Sketchup and the roofs were modeled in Blender. There was no need for interiors to be modeled.

          My inspiring A, B, Sketches book: https://sketchucation.com/shop/books/intermediate/2612-alphabet-inspired-sketches--inspiring-drills-for-architects--3d-artists-and-designers-

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          • jo-keJ
            jo-ke
            last edited by

            Nice.

            I stayed some nights at Abassi Hotel in Isfahan. Beautiful architecture.

            I tried to learn Blender over 15 years now... still in process next 15 years.... 🤣 🤣 🤣

            http://www.zz7.de

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            • Rich O BrienR
              Rich O Brien Moderator
              last edited by

              @jo-ke said:

              I tried to learn Blender over 15 years now... still in process next 15 years.... 🤣 🤣 🤣

              I hear your pain. I would consider myself semi-adept using Blender but its a rabbit hole you don't want to go down. Amazing tool considering it's open source. But I imagine operating a submarine on your own has less buttons than Blender.

              Download the free D'oh Book for SketchUp 📖

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              • majidM
                majid
                last edited by

                😮
                You are kidding Jo-ke! were you in Abbasi Hotel? I used to go there when I was in Isfahan. it is a really lovely place to stay.
                About the Blender...
                I think one may challenge themselves to learn Blender in 30 days. It won't be that deep but will lighten the mental pressure and fear.
                The interface of V.3x has changed and is more friendly. I also had the background knowledge of 3Ds Max and compared to it, the blender is at the same level of easiness/difficulty except for lack of an up to date help.
                I may help you learn it.

                My inspiring A, B, Sketches book: https://sketchucation.com/shop/books/intermediate/2612-alphabet-inspired-sketches--inspiring-drills-for-architects--3d-artists-and-designers-

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                • jo-keJ
                  jo-ke
                  last edited by

                  yes I've been there in 1992 with my rug dealer group when we were on a carpet buying trip in Shiraz, Isfahan and Teheran. Long time ago at a time, we were able to sell oriental carpets but time has changed.

                  Blender.... I know I will love it but the first steps are the hardest since 2005 😉 But somedays I will find my time to start. Good to know, that you can help. Thank you.

                  http://www.zz7.de

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                  • jo-keJ
                    jo-ke
                    last edited by

                    @rich o brien said:

                    @jo-ke said:

                    I tried to learn Blender over 15 years now... still in process next 15 years.... 🤣 🤣 🤣

                    I hear your pain. I would consider myself semi-adept using Blender but its a rabbit hole you don't want to go down. Amazing tool considering it's open source. But I imagine operating a submarine on your own has less buttons than Blender.

                    👍 I know... but interface gets much better over the years and we got more and more friends... may some better friends in future... I open blender every week to convert files and somtimes some corrections and I see how amazing it could be for me.

                    http://www.zz7.de

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                    • G
                      Glenn at home
                      last edited by

                      @majid said:

                      😮
                      I think one may challenge themselves to learn Blender in 30 days. It won't be that deep but will lighten the mental pressure and fear.
                      The interface of V.3x has changed and is more friendly. I also had the background knowledge of 3Ds Max and compared to it, the blender is at the same level of easiness/difficulty except for lack of an up to date help.

                      This AND you have to stay on it and keep using it. This is my problem, I just don't stick with it.

                      Great model by the way!

                      SketchUp Pro 2025/2026 Dell XPS 8950 i9-12900K 64GB Ram RTX 3080

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                      • pilouP
                        pilou
                        last edited by

                        Blender don't love me! You must be genetically modified for use it! 💚

                        Frenchy Pilou
                        Is beautiful that please without concept!
                        My Little site :)

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                        • majidM
                          majid
                          last edited by

                          Then fingers crossed for the next version.. 😄 😄

                          My inspiring A, B, Sketches book: https://sketchucation.com/shop/books/intermediate/2612-alphabet-inspired-sketches--inspiring-drills-for-architects--3d-artists-and-designers-

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                          • Bryan KB
                            Bryan K
                            last edited by

                            Start with this guy's tutorials. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIoXOplUvAw

                            I'm chomping at the bit to get a new laptop so I can do more with SketchUp and Blender.

                            See my portfolio at https://delphiscousin.blogspot.com/

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                            • majidM
                              majid
                              last edited by

                              Bryan, I wish you good luck with your adventure.

                              Here are the final result renders.


                              yegane (2).jpg


                              yegane (3).jpg

                              My inspiring A, B, Sketches book: https://sketchucation.com/shop/books/intermediate/2612-alphabet-inspired-sketches--inspiring-drills-for-architects--3d-artists-and-designers-

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                              • ntxdaveN
                                ntxdave
                                last edited by

                                @bryan k said:

                                I'm chomping at the bit to get a new laptop so I can do more with SketchUp and Blender.

                                Me too, what are you looking at? I would like some recommendations.

                                Press F1...thank me later

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                                • majidM
                                  majid
                                  last edited by

                                  If the task you are intended to do is just 3Dmodeling then I think Blender does not need a strong machine.
                                  @ntxdave; I will give it a go.

                                  My inspiring A, B, Sketches book: https://sketchucation.com/shop/books/intermediate/2612-alphabet-inspired-sketches--inspiring-drills-for-architects--3d-artists-and-designers-

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                                  • ntxdaveN
                                    ntxdave
                                    last edited by

                                    Thanks Majid. I appreciate you doing this for me. Since my laptop I’d dead, I cannot try it myself. In this particular incidence I think the painting needs to be a little darker but I still think it is kinda neat.

                                    Again, many thanks for doing this for me. I wish I could play with tool.

                                    Press F1...thank me later

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                                    • majidM
                                      majid
                                      last edited by

                                      My pleasure, Dave.
                                      I think it could be way better if I could export several images and combine them in Photoshop. I might give it another go!
                                      The situation is really tough, even tougher where I live; our national currency exchange rate is experiencing its lowest exchange rate as it equals 0.000024 United States Dollar!
                                      I may hardly save some money, and my saving does not let me move somewhere else! 😆 😆 😆

                                      My inspiring A, B, Sketches book: https://sketchucation.com/shop/books/intermediate/2612-alphabet-inspired-sketches--inspiring-drills-for-architects--3d-artists-and-designers-

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                                      • ntxdaveN
                                        ntxdave
                                        last edited by

                                        Well, FotoSketcher is free. 😎

                                        Press F1...thank me later

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                                        • majidM
                                          majid
                                          last edited by

                                          You are right. I use photopea or Gimp instead of PS.

                                          My inspiring A, B, Sketches book: https://sketchucation.com/shop/books/intermediate/2612-alphabet-inspired-sketches--inspiring-drills-for-architects--3d-artists-and-designers-

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                                          • Bryan KB
                                            Bryan K
                                            last edited by

                                            Those are gorgeous! 👍

                                            See my portfolio at https://delphiscousin.blogspot.com/

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