Don't know if this is related, but today SU crashed several times when I tried to export a animation. I tried other smaller models, etc. to no avail. I finally uninstalled SU 7.1.2 (my own numbers) reinstalled 7.1.1, and again 7.1.2, both times with no success. I noticed that in some cases, the failed export left a empty *.avi in a folder at a higher level then the data folder. So I moved the model to the Win desktop, opened, and successfully exported the avi. Maybe SU has problems (in some instances) with long path names. My data folder name- C:\Documents and Settings\Atelier\Data\Job\Gfh Gary Hokua\Models renders\Furuta Hokua Desk The folder I found the empty avi on crash- C:\Documents and Settings\Atelier\My Documents The desktop subdirectory (folder)- C:\Documents and Settings\Atelier\Desktop **Adenda 1: I just finished the export and the file ended up in C:\Documents and Settings\Atelier\My Documents ???? I must be doing something s*$&^d** Adenda 2: Of course, the default folder is the above, I just had been assuming that it was the data folder. Everything works now????

Don't forget to check the manufacturer's website. Sometimes a company will provide models for download and not post it on the wharehouse.

Hi! I have s FF (v 1.x) standard license: the program is well done and powerful, the best thing is the huge user filter library (something like 7000+ filters). I thought I would have used it more often than what I'm actually doing, but I can say it was worth the (discounted) price I paid. I'd suggest you to deeply test the demo before buying (as usual...), keep in mind that for most users the standard license is enough (you can upgrade to pro later) and that they use to have some huge (40/50% off) discount sales in a year... if you're not in a hurry it's worth to wait for the next one if you're looking to FF as a procedural texture maker only (FF has many brilliant image-editor filters too and can be used from within PS or standalone) and you're a Win-only-guy, you may want to try the free MapZone from Allegorithmic: http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/index.php?PAGE=HOME it's not in development anymore but still a great tool for free... finally, if you need to create normal/bump/refl/etc. maps from your textures take a look at ShaderMap: http://shadermap.com/ - it's not free but very cheap (20$ for the "pro" GUI version). also win-only but works fine in OSX under VirtualBox cheers, Alessandro

About those challenging materials, fortunately there are several renderers that can handle complex materials and light in physically accurate way, where materials rough or no. http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?p=6614442

@gaieus said: If you had purged the file, could have been about 5-600 Kb Well, your component was not set to glue and cut opening first of all. Then it was just a little bit misaligned and the component axes NOT set correctly for cutting a hole. In order to cut a hole, a component must have a closed loop of edges (not necessarily with a face or with only one face) that will actually "cut" that hole. Making sure that the component axes are correctly set is the most crucial part of such components. [attachment=1:1nr2cmpk]<!-- ia1 -->Comp.png<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment:1nr2cmpk] The best and most fool-proof strategy is to first draw a rectangle, double click and immediately turn into a component. In this case SU makes it a gluing/cutting component by default and places the axes correctly (they cannot even be placed differently on a 2D entity). THEN edit your component and add the details. Thanks heaps for correcting my model and for the advice. i originally created the whole model from autocad layers that were a bit messy. i made the whole model again from scratch to make sure all the faces were aligned. cheers!

Interestingly, the more I use Sketchup the fewer plugins I use. For new users I suggest the following. Start a text file in your Plugin folder, and every time you install a plugin record the following information Name of plugin Date of installation List of file and folder names associated with the plugin URL links to usage (YouTube, SketchUcation etc) The really useful plugins will become obvious, and those you hardly ever use can be tracked and moved to a 'just in case' folder, the 'just in case' being just in case you decide you need the plugin after all. It is important to list of the files and folders so that you remove the plugin cleanly. Regards, Bob

@gaieus said: Most probably CloseOpens would do it for you. Not free but if you work a lot with similarly "sloppy" CAD drawings, it will pay itself back pretty soon. thats just what im looking for- thanks!

@numbthumb said: Oh, no, not again... http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=27923 thanks for the link- interesting discussion.

@d12dozr said: @comatose said: Is the $7 plugin much better than the free one? I've never used either of them so I can only go by the description on each plugin's page, but it appears the $7 one has more options for focusing the camera. Why not just try the free one to see if it does what you need, and upgrade if necessary? Maybe somebody that has used the scripts could answer better? It's already a while when I used one of free camera patch scripts (sorry cannot remember the script). There was some hard (or impossible) to control accelerations - so I finally did gave up (Kerkythea produced better results). Never tested FlightPath2, but it seems to have crucial camera target options. I think Ecuadorian have played a lot with these... maybe search his posts.