Hi TIG,
I am doing a model which has got a lot of curved faces. To reduce the file size we did it in low faces. Then I had to export it to some other software to put it on browser. But I find that the curved faces with low number of faces show some graphic artifacts which is not desired.
I then manually added more lines on the flat parts of the curved face . Now it works fine.
Now I got to repeat this solution everywhere.
So, what basically I need now is a plugin which can add lines on a face. Its like subdividing a face.
I tried the 'subdivide' plugin but it works on a component and curves the corners which is not desired.

Any ideas??

thanks TIG

Hi everybody,
I was wondering if there is any plugin which can join splitted faces.
I have a curved object whose faces were split and now they have become individual faces (lots of them).
Is it possible to rejoin them manually??
Is there any plugin to do it since I have such situation in a lot of places in the model?

Any help is appreciated.

Regards
Pritam

Hi , I took this attached render in KT with following settings.
PhotonMap Fine AA +0.3

I used all KT original materials. What am I doing wrong here?

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@honoluludesktop said:

It appears to me that SketchUp will forever be linked to its roots, that is a easy to use architectural building modeler.

I think it would be even easier for architectural modeling if curves are introduced (A sketchup newbie still thinks that the curves are real till he sees the 'input sides' option. By that time he has already spent 3-4 days into sketchup and gained some level of proficiency). Also, import and export to and from other softwares would be seamless and it would not split the 3D max models into ten thousand triangulations.

I often wonder why the people think that the absence of curves is what makes sketchup easier.

@unknownuser said:

I'm one of SketchUp's biggest supporters but I recognize there are some programs out there that do some things better and I think for those who need to do those things, they need to look at those other applications.

To be honest I do not think that sketchup is the best architectural modeling software. Older softwares like autocad microstation can handle the job better and with 100% precision. But still we have shifted to sketchup because of the amount of fun it offers, the cost and time equation, the shorter learning curve. Sketchup is still not THE software for any PARTICULAR purpose so why cant it just serve every purpose in the best way it can.......

@honoluludesktop said:

It would double (I think) the physical size of every new model in the Warehouse, and on Google Earth. Wounder if that could be a problem?

I think the size of the NEW files would actually be smaller. Suppose with the CURRENT sketchup if you have a curvy architectural model worth 10MB, then with the NEW sketchup the file size would hardly be 4MB.

@alan fraser said:

However it's difficult to see how the SU inferencing engine could be made to work with NURBS surfaces which effectively contain nothing to inference off. You have to remember that the inferencing engine itself is at the very core of SU's functionality.

Thats a great point worth pondering. But if you look closely sketchup's inferencing engine works best with flat surfaces only. I do not think it works accurately with curved faces as you do not know which is the BASE POINT of any curved surface. (for example- sketchup circle's do not have any quadrants and nor can any TANGENTS be made). So, as per me inferencing for curved surfaces is never 100% accurate.

When autocad was started back in 80's , I do not think that they had concepts of splines. When 3D MAX was launched , did it have nurbs modeling.... I wonder.
All these softwares have progressed to their current level NOT because they had to do it someday, but because it was the DEMAND of the industry and they HAD to meet it......

Thanks everybody. I was able to get some good outputs.

Yes , as the name says sketchup is for sketches. But sketches need not be just straight lines, a sketch also includes curves.

Anyways.. whats in a name. When sketchup was introduced , the developers probably never expected such huge usage. Today, thousands of professionals are doing serious stuff with the software. Let not the name restrict its progress.

I am in the favour of keeping the free version of sketchup as simple as possible. That is how sketchup has made such huge user base. And it is growing at higher rate than any other software.

Sketchup has patented the push-pull bar and most other features which makes it easy to use. In no other software you will find such navigational capabilities. Since they are patented, the other softwares will have to wait for years to introduce these features.

If one is addicted to sketchup, then he will find it very difficult to use any other software. (And I think all the professionals here on sketchucation are sketchup addicts)

I say why not make the Pro version a box as well as nurbs modeler. Just imagine how wonderful new features SU team will introduce to nurbs modeling. You will be able to model complex characters in minutes. Imagine how easy would be the life of a CG fellow (a CG fellow spends 14 hours a day working, so thats his life ).

And most of all, we all would be able to extend ORGANIC modeling to our profession. Now...isn't that tempting

sorry for being so abstract.
Yesterday I was working on a model of a small ship (4 MB file) . It has some difficult curves. And then suddenly sketchup started moving at a speed of 1 frame every three seconds (during orbit).
Sketchup is well know for its inability to handle curves. But here is a fact . If you have a small file where you have curved faces going in many directions then sketchup hangs. Whereas no other software has such problems.

This is because sketchup cant really generate CURVES and it uses segmented faces to give illusion of curves.
Sometimes these segmented faces range in hundreds or thousands, even for a small model. And thats when the model stops moving.

This also limits sketchup in many more areas.

1. The concept of architectural photoreal rendering inside sketchup has never really taken off. This is because you cant use high poly landscaping elements.
2. character modeling
3. Landscape modeling.

There are many more limitations which you people might have faced.

So, isn't it high time that sketchup introduced real CIRCLE and real CURVES ???

should sketchup introduce 'CIRCLE' ?

Thanks Freidreik,
that tutorial was lot of help. I successfully replaced many trees. Since the widths of the original trees and new trees are different , lot of empty spaces are created between the new trees now. I would like to just copy a tree and paste it wherever I want. Is that possible in KT(copy, move and paste.)

I started using KT since last Wednesday. Kt gives great results and has great library of materials and models. bad for me that I am not able to navigate . A lot of my problems in KT are because I was used to the ease of sketchup.

pritam