Hi everybody! I am back after a long hiatus for me, because I wanted to start a discussion about one of the newest features of Sketchup 2016.

I don't know if you found about it yet, but when you right click on the predefined tray you get a command that says: "Manage Trays"

When you click you get this window:

In this window you can create a defined set of different trays, which you can then assign to different functions.

When you create more than one tray, you can then go from one another with a series of tabs that show up in the lower part of the tray.

So you can have, say, a Tray for model information, one for materials, another one for scenes and so on.

I find this really nice, it gives me a 3DS MAX feel in Sketchup and I like it a lot.

I am still working on how to assign trays efficiently, and I'd like to know if anyone else is using them, and how.

Take Care,
Michael

Hi TIG, finally got around to make an Italian translation for this plugin. Tested it, seems to work fine.

Words with an accent in Italian (at the end of a word, sometimes we use è and à) have been replaced without that letter, because I don't know if they would be read.

Anyway, here's the lingvo:

latticeMakerIT.lingvo.zip

Hope it's of use to other Italian speaking users

You had to ask...

64 bit application, already!

I have noticed that there aren't any options for bump or diplacement maps in the new Vray Material.

Is that true?

I am downloading and installing Sketchup Make. Not good so far, because the application is still 32 bit!

It still installs in Program Files (x86). Please notice that windows 8 is 64 bits only.

Really? Only 32 bits? With new pcs that are 64 bits? Lame.

Installation is glitchless.

I am liking the new interface for toolbars, though.

Vray 1.6 beta automatically finds the new version though. I was expecting some issues here but everything is working ok.

Also, the render starts with no problems.

Just incurred in my first crash, while setting a camera..

So far, so good: render works ok. My only quip is the lack of a 64 bit version. The program is called 2013 now... make up to that name!!!

dkendig, I had a quick look, but I don't know if I'm being thick or something: where are the bump and displacement parameters for materials?

I am very excited about this, I have already been accepted and applied to the open beta. Only thing that bugs me is that I can't install the new version until tomorrow afternoon. What I will be doing will be reviewing the thing on my blog, as soon as I can

@unknownuser said:

Gus,

Now, I think I should maybe think about adding a tool to transform a flat contour map into an elevated contour set.

Fredo

If you manage that, you will be a GOD

@panixia said:

thank you. that's pretty nice stuff.. in addition i discovered that i'm just logged to it as if i used it in the past, but can't remember when or why i did it!

This happens to me so often, it doesn't bother me anymore

Those are some pretty nice visualizations! Nice job!

@andybot said:

@zylescozar19 said:

@andybot said:

you can set up a material ID mask. Here is my tutorial for doing post-process grass in vray. Good luck.

http://charlottesvillearchitecturalrendering.com/?p=127

Sir andy. I saw this grass of yours. Can i ask where did u get this? i mean is this a SU model? can i download it?
Thanks

Sorry - that's done in vray for blender

That's funny: an unofficial version of vray works better than the official version for Sketchup. Chaosgroup needs to address these problems..

Have you tried applying the material to negative [back] faces too?

A quick way to have reliable shadows is to do away with the face-me components, and put two copies of the tree group in the shape of a cross. For trees that are far away from the camera you can very often get away with it.

If this doesn't work, then you have to use a 3D model... Welcome to a world of pain..

@valerostudio said:

Not sure of his units settings but I use decimals (.) in all of my parameters with no problems. I have never seen anyone use commas (,)

We do, here in Italy.

Periods are used for thousands: 1.000.000

When you need to select the edges of a square, simply doubleclick on the face of the square: this selects the face AND the border edges. Now you shift click on the face to exclude it from the selection

I am responding here just for the sake of publishing a solution. Maybe it will be useful to others.

The problem Ale had, was that she could not change intensity values in the vray light editor.

This happens when you try to insert the value using a period like so: 4.00

What you want to do is, instead, insert the value with a comma: 4,00

Remember to click OK on the editor, and this value will be stored for the light you are modifying!

Happy rendering

A simple way to achieve a similar result is to use a nice HDR image as Global Illumination and Background (at least in Vray). You could try and look into that

Hi there!

Yes, there is, and there has been for quite a while: you simply go to ChaosGroup Website, register (it's free) and you can download Vray for Sketchup for Mac Demo.

Hi Alefabio, the problem is not very clear to me. You can contact me in private, and in italian, so I can help you better!

trad: se hai bisogno di aiuto in italiano, contattami con un messaggio privato

@pbacot said:

Maybe a camera tool can create a plane that is correct to project onto.

There is actually a plugin for that, but I forget the name right now..