For preview what you can do, is to change the render settings
Select a small width and height for the output image; click render to preview and to know the location of the car. I agree that this is a workaround.

Next version should allow you to see the HDR and the back plate without the need to make a quick render.

Regarding the car you are right, I just asked the person who created it, I was under the impression it was a sketchup model but it is not.

So here is a sketchup car rendered using SimLab Composer

Hello,

Here is a Car rendered using SimLab Composer 2.0
I thought SketchUp community will like buildings more.
But who doesn't like CARS ?

Simulation Lab Software team is proud to provide SketchUp users with a new option for Rendering their models, SimLab Composer 2.0

SimLab Composer presents a fast, high quality, easy to use and affordable rendering option for SketchUp users, but do not take our word for it. Please take a look at this quick rendering tutorial, and download the trial versionto see how it works with your models.

So what is unique about SimLab Composer?

SimLab Composerwas created for architects and designers not for artists (though some of them will love it).

• It includes the minimum number of options, we worked hard to remove any option not needed
• It is difficult to create a bad image with SimLab Composer
• You should be able to learn SimLab Composer in 5 minutes
• It runs on Windows and Mac
• Despite its great capability of taking advantage of all available processors in your machine, it runs great even on an average Windows or Mac machine
• Enjoy your final image in few minutes or seconds in most cases
• It includes direct support for SketchUp models

In addition to rendering, SimLab Composer allows you to create interactive 3D PDF files for your models.

Current users of SimLab 3D PDF plug-in are eligible for an upgrade option to get SimLab Composer 2.0

Ashraf Sultan
Simulation Lab Software

house.pdf

@kwistenbiebel said:

For the moment I am attracted to the Simlab one as it is reasonably priced..but I seem to have a problem running the demo.

If the plugin is still not working for you please drop us an email to support@simlab-soft.com
we will make sure you are up and running.

The second version of SimLab 3D PDF plug-in for SketchUp is ready; we worked hard to make sure that this new version gives you the needed capabilities to present your work with pride to customers and potential clients.
The new version includes an exciting list of features:

Control over the PDF page:
a. Size of the page
b. Margins
c. Back color (or image of the PDF page)

Control over the 3D Section:
a. Default light to be used
b. Render mode
c. Navigation mode
d. Back plate for the 3D section

Show or hide the 3D tool bar in the created 3D PDF

Use the optional password parameter to protect your documents

Merge with other PDF files, this allows you to append the generated 3D PDF file to the end of your project description file (generated using any PDF generation tool)

Add background music to make your interactive 3D PDF more interesting
Exporting the scenes from SketchUp. The new generated file will include all the scene views created by the user, so the recipient can navigate between the scenes easily. We also added automatic camera mode, which automatically switches between the different scenes

More control over the header and footer text. Now you can select the appropriate fonts for the header and footer text, also you can select the appropriate font color and size
Advanced users now have the ability to insert their own Java Scripts, for the document and the 3D sections

Click on the image to download a sample 3D PDF file generated using the new plug-in, please make sure you have a new version of Acrobat reader to enjoy all the features

We are truly grateful for the great Beta testers which helped us in improving the plug-in, and who provided us with many suggestions to start working hard on the next version.

The introductory price of $75 will end by the end of February. This release is e a free upgrade to all users of the plugin.

We hope you enjoy creating amazing 3D PDFs

@gaieus said:

Hi Ashraf,

Incredible feature list for sure! Congrats!

I already have one question regarding point 5 about merging with other pdf files (imagine Pro users of SU with pdf documentation from LayOut). So the question is - can you only merge the two files so that the 3D pdf will be at the end or could you do it somewhere in between the pages (or even more 3D pdf files in the same document)?

Also, please, check your PM's.

Thanks Gaieus,

In the next version, the 3D PDF file can only be appended to the end of another PDF document.
By repeating the process you should be able to append multiple 3D PDF files to the end of the document.

For example you have the document header.pdf and you add to it the first 3D Model, so now you have model1.pdf, you can add another 3D PDF model to the end of model1.pdf, and repeat this process to add as many 3D models as you want.

@unknownuser said:

That's an excellent plugin, especially for presenting.

Does the recipient of a PDF containing 3D model need any extras installed other than Acrobat 9.1?

Also, is there a student/educational price for this plugin?

The free Adobe Acrobat reader is all what the recipient will need to have, version 9.1 or later will be best to have all the new features supported
Regarding licensing we offer the following simple options

• Students and hobbyists who do not need advanced control over the generated 3D PDF file can use the free version of the plug-in.
• Commercial users need to get a commercial license, which allows the user to install the plug-in on two machines and unlocks all the features
• For students who want to have all the features unlocked we offer a student license at 50% discount

We are truly grateful for the great feedback we received from the users of the first version of the plug-in. This feedback was the main force behind this new version.

While the first version allows the plug-in user to create a 3D PDF file to share, the new version gives the user a full control over the generated file, so you send a document which really presents your work.
Here is a list of the major enhancements in the new release:

• 1-Control over the PDF age:
  a. Size of the page
  b. Margins
  c. Back color (or image of the PDF page)
• 2-Control over the 3D Section:
  a. Default light to be used
  b. Render mode
  c. Navigation mode,
  d. Back plate for the 3D section
• 3-Show or hide the 3D tool bar in the created 3D PDF
• 4-Use the optional password parameter to protect your documents
• 5-Merge with other PDF files, this allows you to append the generated 3D PDF file to the end of your project description file (generated using any PDF generation tool)
• 6-Add background music to make your interactive 3D PDF more interesting
• 7-Exporting the scenes from SketchUp. The new generated file will include all the scene views created by the user, so the recipient can navigate between the scenes easily. We also added automatic camera mode, which automatically switches between the different scenes
• 8-More control over the header and footer text. Now you can select the appropriate fonts for the header and footer text, also you can select the appropriate font color and size
• 9-Advanced users now have the ability to insert their own Java Scripts, for the document and the 3D sections
  Following are sample PDF files generated using the new plug-in. The generated files do not use the advanced Java script features, so do not worry if you are not a Java guru.

It is advised to have the latest version of Adobe acrobat reader to test the generated PDF file

If you are interested in being a beta tester of the new plug-in on Windows or Mac please send an email to support@simlab-soft.com

You may want to take a look at OSG Composer CAD
Capable of importing IGES and STL files and generating Collada files readable by Sketchup

http://www.simlab-soft.com/3d-products/osg-composer-main.aspx

SimLab released today a new solution for importing SketchUp models to 3DS Max.

the plugin is free for none commercial use, and it works with 3DS 2009 and 2010 (32 and 64 bit)

The plugin can be download from Sketchup to 3DS Max

OSG Composer http://www.simlab-soft.com/3d-products/osg-composer-main.aspx
is another option it is capable of reading Solidworks (up to 2009), IGES and STEP files and exporting Collada files readable by SketchUp.

@mike lucey said:

It looks that you obviously are trying out Sim lab 3D PDF on a Mac. If so is it working okay for you? I tried it on my MacBook Pro but it would not work. I have a feeling it could be a problem on my end but I am trying to get it sorted with Ashraf so time will tell.

Mike,

We truly appreciate helping us in identifying this problem.

There was a problem on some Mac machines, where the plug-in was not able to find a font configuration file.

The problem was fixed, so if you had a previous problem with the Mac Plug-in please download the new version and give it a try.

Ashraf

@kwistenbiebel said:

I just installed the trial version of Simlab 3DPDF.
Unfortunately, when clicking Plugins/3D PDF/Export, nothing happens.
Am I doing something wrong here?

This should be all what you need to do, after that the plugin should ask you for the location of the PDF file.

If this is not working please send an email with basic information like the sketchup version, the OS version, and a small description of the error you are getting to support@simlab-soft.com
We will make sure that you are up and running.

Regards,

Ashraf

juvard, we are glad that you are seeing the positive impact of SimLab Presence.

AL, Good luck in your release next week, we will be looking for those new and exciting features.

And finally for those who gave SimLab their trust, and partnered with us. We promise that everything existing that will be offered by RPS and more will be provided to you as a free update, in our next releases.

SimLab

Free for non commercial use is very simple.

You download the software and it works for you, you do not need to register it to be able to try it, you can start generating 3D PDF files out of the box.

You are free to use the software as long as you are not using it to communicate files with paying clients.

You can use it for evaluation, a student can use it to share his work with his colleagues and professors, a user creating 3D Warehouse to share them for fun is also welcome to use it.

We expect an architect sending his model to a client to get paid to pay the small price of $75. This will allow him to get two licenses on Windows and Mac (he picks 2 Windows, 2Macs, or 1 and 1)

For $25 more, you also can get OSG Composer CAD, our stand alone application, which allows you to add geometries from 3DS, Maya, CATIA, Solidworks, and many other applications.

It has an interesting list of supported file formats that can be found at
http://www.simlab-soft.com/3d-products/osg-composer-supported-3d-formats.aspx#supported-3d-formats

I know competition is good for users, and we ourselves are developers and users so we are looking for better and more features. We are glad that even by being here we are brining lower prices to the SketchUp community.

Simulation Lab Software

It is free for none commercial use (it also does not need registration)

The free version generates the following small text after the 3D PDF
Generated using SimLab Soft Plugin (http://www.simlab-soft.com)

Really not annoying

Simulation Lab Software http://www.simlab-soft.com released today a new 3D PDF Plug-in for Google SketchUp 7.

The new plug-in is supported on Windows and Mac.
It allows the user to create interactive 3D PDF files from the Google SketchUp environment.
Fully functional free version is available at http://www.simlab-soft.com/3d-plugins/3D-PDF-from-sketchup-main.aspx