Sure, seems like PNG isn't a bad option, then.

Still, I should be able to do this in TIFF if I want to.

It's for print. TIFF is the golden-standard in lossless format, no?

Outside of that, not really sure.. I've just always used TIFF (over JPEG) for important images.

Thanks again, guys.

That process looks more complicated than it needs to be, James.

Anyway, I found a workaround (or maybe this is the process)..

Open the TIFF, select channels, apple-click the alpha channel (which selects all of the non-transparent pixels) then copy-paste into a new doc.

I'm sure it should be easier than this. I'd like to think it would just load into PS directly with transparency (and according to the youtube posted above, it does.. or at least it did).

If any mac/SU experts care to chime in, I'd still appreciate it. In the meantime, I hope that helps anyone who was wondering.

@thomthom said:

Have you tried the format PNG? It's transparency channel is visible in PS.
TIFF transparency is a bit different. It's like having a regular RGB with an alpha layer embedded.

Hey thomthom,

Thanks for the response. Yes, PNG works as desired. However, I'm still keen to get this working with the TIFF as I know it's doable.

Could you be so kind as to provide a step-by-step?

Just noticed the photo-match tutorial from The Sketchup School shows a TIFF being exported then imported into PS directly with the background transparent..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYvWXUYDhB4

@gaieus said:

Hi Home,

I am on a PC (where we cannot export images with transparent background) so I am not sure how much of help I will be until a Mac user chimes in but often it is not indifferent what bitrate you save your image with. If it is a 16 (or maybe even 24) bit image in PS, try to ave it with 32 bit and see if that helps.

Hi Gaieus,

Thanks for the response. I had a play around with the bit settings to no avail. I'm sure the answer is even simpler than that. The fact that when I 'quick look' the file the background is indeed already transparent means the solution is not far!

I just did a search and this guy has explained the problem very plainly:

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=27330

Thanks again.

I just made a new post detailing the same problem.

Can anyone help?

I'm obviously doing something simple wrong here.. I'm hardly a PS guru.

I'm exporting to TIFF from SU with transparent background checked. I preview the TIFF with using Quick Look (space-bar in Mac OS) and all looks as it should. Open the file in photoshop and the transparency is not transparent, but black..

I understand it has something to do with channels (potentially the alpha channel?), but before researching the topic I never knew of channels and have had no luck playing about with the settings..

I know I can simply delete the background but on more complex shapes this will prove difficult.

Thanks a bunch!

@honoluludesktop said:

Look here for help. Excerpt below:

"In Hidden-Line Output/In SketchUp

In Hidden-Line Output/In SketchUp fields are used to scale your model for export. The first measurement, labeled In Hidden-Line Output, is the measurement of the exported geometry. The second measurement, labeled In SketchUp, is the actual measurement of the object in real scale. For example, for a scale of 1/4" = 1', simply enter 1 inch In SketchUp equals 4 feet In Hidden Line Output."

ahh, thanks - but i'm not quite sure what you're getting at? i know all this. and i'm on mac, btw.

i just tried the workflow as described in my previous post on PC (not mac) lying about the house and it works fine. everything in scale, regardless of zoom.

what is happening here? i'm convinced this is a bug. i've never had this problem before.

okay. a case in point.

model A, parallel projected plan, relatively ZOOMED IN. export at 1mm (in image) / 100mm (in model).
model A (exact same file / model), parallel projected plan, relatively ZOOMED OUT. export at 1mm (in image) / 100mm (in model).

pdf's are at disparate scales. i can even lie one over the other in illustrator and they are way off. 'match' view size' is unchecked (although i have tried it checked and a multitude of other variations).

anyone!?

hi there,

i can't seem to export to PDF in correct scale. I've got a floor plate I'm trying to export at 1:100. It will export fine, but after it's opened in Illustrator and I measure a line for reference, it's an an arbitrary scale (no, not 1:10 or 1:1000; something random).

i've tried on a number of files to the same effect. i'm using the steps i always have. parallel projection in plan view. export 2d graphic. in options i've 1mm in image, 100mm in model.

the scale seems to be directly affected by how zoomed i am when i export. i thought by specifying 1/100 it would override. i've played around with the 'image size' concurrently, but still, to no avail.

am i going crazy? perhaps i'm just tired.

thanks!
anyone?

SketchUp version: 7.1.6859
Operating system: Mac OS X 10.6.3