Tim,

Modelhead is being modest - you will be hard pressed to find better feedback than he has provided. The only info that I would add is what I always reference when looking at the scope of paying work. What is the client expecting? What is your deliverable? Is this a one-off model or will you be working on a whole series of similar appliances. I think Modelhead's time estimate is pretty accurate if the intent is to provide an efficient native sketchup model that is of comparable detail to the cadd file. For one model - probably not worth it. But if you will be doing multiple and can share common or similar components - working from scratch in SU becomes much more practical. Two more things I would share with you;
1 - Ruby scripts can do a lot of the time consuming tedious work and they should be carefully considered. Looking closely at the ones available to you may provide you with new methods to model, and you can often learn new tricks just by looking at how some scripts approach specific tasks.
2 - While other applications may be quicker or slicker at certain modeling functions (like organics) in general - SU is a very capable and efficient modeler where the only limit to the level of detail you can achieve is your skill and patience it may take to "get there".

Good luck and have fun while you are doing it!
Bytor

Second group of Artifort armchairs. Please use them and show us your work!

Bytor

ARTIFORT_ARMCHAIRS-2.zip

tIM,

You have your work cut out for you with these. The cad file is pretty detailed, and will require a lot of work to get the files down to an acceptable size. I have done a lot of this with different cad models in tha past - and in my opinion these would not likely clean up very well. I tried several things, but still ended up back in SU trying to reduce it. I did a quick test and eliminated as much of the interior geometry as possible (assuming you didn't want to peek through the window to see the drum) and it still is around 1.2 mb

The biggest culprit is the countoured front. Objects with curves in both directions don't play nice on file sizes. The linework cleanup is easy enough with softening the edges. You may want to test using the imported cad file as a reference only, and modeling only want you need s new in Sketchup.

Bytor

I personally think that the 3DW site is exactly what Google wants it to be. And yes - there is a higher percentage of junk there, as would be expected for a free software. While there are some nice collections, including those from manufacturers - it is not a professional site. I don't fault any users for the quality of what they post. I think it is great that they feel good about modeling something and sharing it, but I don't expect much from the masses that post there.

Take it for what it has become, and if you find something usefull in the time you search - good for you.

The couple of things I would like to see improved are:
1- No files should be posted without an adequate thumbnail (please - no more "ants in a blizzard" views)
2- 71,000 files name "Untitled" and counting (what - you don't like your work enough to name the file?)
3- A way for persons to filter what they see. For example, I would love to be able to block my searches from seeing content by any modeler I identify and add to an "exclude" list.

Bytor

Yes,

I was thinking the very same tyhing the last couple of studio renders I have done. I didn't want to go with all white walls - so I will try different materials. Here is the overall and two closeups with a cork back wall.

Bytor

Thanks Gaieus! That is incedible, and a little bit freeky at some points..............

A collection of some classic Herman Miller tables for your enjoyment and use. Converts from the manufacturer's files rendered in Kerkythea 2008. If you can use them - post an image!

Bytor

HMI_TABLES.zip

Fred,

That is absolutely wonderfull!!! The color mix and suble movement of this one just capture me.

Bytor

Kerkythea 2008 lighting test scene - including some ies files. Noisy - used mlt and let it run out to about 40 passes. I was attempting a dusk setting for mood. Test scene is an old one with a few model additions amd material changes from what I have run before.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome!

Bytor

ARTIFORT furniture components - mix modeled based on the manufacturers cad files.
First in the series is Group 1 of the Armchairs - some great designs ranging from the 60's to this decade. Hope you can use them!

Bytor

ARTIFORT_ARMCHAIRS.zip

Thanks Mike!

Very nice collection you hve completed - much appreciated for you to share.

Bytor

Great Work! An amazing attention to detail makes the difference for me. That hall of fame suggestion sounds right to me!

Welcome Gistman!

Very nice design work and rendering! I know there would probably be a lot of light pollution from the ssurrounding environment, but I prefer the way you have chosen to highlight the project so it stands out from the surroundings.

Bytor

Update 3 of 3!

Piero Lissoni chairs and ottomans!

FRITZ_LISSONI_CHAIR.zip

Second update post of 3!

Piero Lissoni tables

FRITZ_LISSONI_TABLES.zip

Back Again!

Converted to a new pc @ home since I had to return my laptop to work.....back to cleaning up some model libraries - so here are a couple of updates for the Fritz Hansen stuff.

Lissoni Collection by Piero Lissoni - Lounge Seating

FRITZ_LISSONI_LOUNGE.zip

Fred,

That first group is growing on me now....so I think you may be right about the texture not being the problem. Plus - I would love to have a little 1' high solid model of the "dinosaur rib cage" sculpture on my desktop! I would promise to turn it slightly every day so I would be able to peer into it from a different persective.

Bytor

Stinkie...........that's really funny

I will second the previous vote for GroupWise and expand it to anything Novell related!

Bytor

Hi Fred!

Nice to see some new work. I really like the last one the best. The middle one is a little bland. The first one is interesting, but i think this method doesn't mix as well with the texture you selected. I think it is because the geometry of the model is so connected - the texture just seems to be fighting that.

Thanks for sharing.........and please keep experimenting!

Bytor

Pompeyfan,

There can be multiple reasons for your speed issue - so it is hard to be too specific. But generally speaking - the following might help, and are based on some broad assumptions.

While working in sketchup: - the video card and memory are critical, as your processor should be sufficient. All of the comments regarding the on-board intel accelerators apply. A seperate nvidia or ati chip based video card with dedicated 256 mb of memory would make a difference. More than 1 Gb of ram would help for larger files.

While rendering with the V-ray plugin: - the video card play no part with the exception of showing you the progress and end result on the screen. There are a couple of potential causes and solutions
1- Vray likes to take all of the processing power of the chip - so you will not likely be able to do much else while rendering with a single core chip. also - Vray can take advantage of running multiple cores to help with this.
2- Your memory of 1 Gb is low for rendering - jumping to 2 Gb should help your system with some breathing room
3- Vray has some very efficient pre-sets for rendering that I would suggest you stick to till you get more comfortable with what can and should be tweaked.
4- File optimization can never be over rated, all of us can always do better.

Hope these help - I know how frustrating it can get waiting for the renders at times!

Bytor