Hey guys, Style Builder is super cool! Using Adobe Photoshop and Style Builder (and the easy to use template .png), I created my Samurai Sword Edge style for SketchUp!

It's tons of fun! Enjoy!

Cheers,

 - CraigD

Samurai Sword Style

Hi guys -

Tom, thanks for making the changes! The model looks great!! We'll push them up as soon as we can.

Modelhead, I forgot to mention that I do not know what the magenta dots are... Could be jpeg artifacts from the surrounding color averaging gone wrong... Weird though...

Thanks again for the questions and the models in Google Earth!!

We really appreciate having the SketchUp pros create 3D content for Google Earth!! Keep these great models coming!

Cheers,

 - CraigD

Here's an example of the model that I created of our house... When I saved as image from Google Earth, the image had some words, a slice across the image, and a car in the driveway. So I tweaked the image in Adobe Photoshop, removed the words, the slice and the car and then projected that image as a texture on the raised base for the house.

Take a look at the attached images.

Cheers,

• CraigD

Hi Modelhead, using color textures is perfect. The problem I was pointing out is when Tom saved as image from Google Earth, the layer icons were visible. This will cause a model to fail, because (obviously) those big camera icons don't exist in the real world.

If you need to build a base for you model, you can easily use the colored terrain image from Google Earth to project onto the base. Spend some time tweaking the image so that it lines up with the terrain/image in GE and then save (and upload) your model with the image textured base.

It looks quite good when done with care!

Cheers,

• CraigD

Hi Tom, there are still some issues on at least one of the terrain platform images for your Hereford Cathedral.

When you save as image from Google Earth, you should turn off every layer so that the icons are not captured in the texture image you want to use.

See attached screenshot (BTW; when can we get this 800 x 800 pixel restriction taken off the forum? This causes extra steps and time I don't have)

Please fix this model as soon as you can.

Thank you,

• CraigD

Hi Tom, these models look very nice!

A few notes:

• Dilwyn Church has text on the model's ground imagery. Please remove this (you can easily do this using the stamp tool in PhotoShop)
• the Priory Church of St Peter and St Paul does not have textures on the roof. (there are some good roof textures in SketchUp with stone shingles that could be perfect!)
• The beautiful Hereford Cathedral is hovering above the GE terrain (could use some modeled terrain like St Mary Church) AND there are some missing textures on the back side.

If you fix these issues and re-upload the models, send me a PM and we'll get these very nice models pushed into Google Earth quickly.

Thank you!

Cheers,

• CraigD

P.S. Modelhead, I'm not sure what you mean...can you send me the URL to models that have the problem and I'll take a look. Thanks

Yes modelhead, we update the terrain data often. Google Earth is always changing, be it better imagery, better terrain, better 3D models, or new layers....plus Sky!!

Hey Gai, please get in touch...I'm interested in the work you're describing.

Cheers,

• CraigD

Hi Antonio -

One idea is to approach Resorts, or historic building associations in your area. You could show them 3D cities in Google Earth, such as Las Vegas, Nevada, or Boulder, Colorado. There would certainly be value in having tourists be able to see 3D versions of the resorts or historic buildings when making travel plans.

There are many buildings on the 3D Warehouse to demonstrate the popularity of the system, and a growing number of cities containing good 3D models in Google Earth. I think showing folks these two technologies together would be a compelling story.

I hope this idea helps you and others looking to offer services along these lines.

Cheers,

• CraigD

Hello Antonio -

Thank you for your explanation. I would be happy to help you. Let me speak with some folks and get back to you.

Please check back often, and also check your Private Message inbox, as this is where I may talk to you next.

Cheers,

• CraigD

Yes, Edson. Merge Coplaner will de-triangulate the imported geometry.

Model Units is another one to help preserve the proper scale. Make sure you scroll the tiny scroll bar in the Scale/Units: drop-down menu.

We're looking into the UI for these areas....for more easy discovery.

Cheers,

Discovery is a wonderful thing! I support all forms of discovery!

It's funny...that's one of the difficult things with a job in software testing...breaking out of a routine and staying in a state of constant discovery. This is why I truly love the incredible connection I have with all of you! You guys help me find new paths of discovery everyday, and it's the spirit of sharing that allows this!

So...thanks for sharing!

Cheers,

• CraigD

Merge coplaner....that's a beauty too. Options...gotta love options.

• CraigD

Hi Chemtech - that's not a bad idea. One caution is that 3D Text can weigh down a file because the extruded text entities have a lot of geometry.

There is also the Outliner browser (Window Menu > Outliner). In hear you can not only see your components with names, you can see nested components (or groups) AND when you select them, the component becomes selected in the model window.

Give it a try!!

Cheers,

• CraigD

We're looking at this....hold please.

Edit: Ok Karsten you're onto something here and we have a question for you... in Layout, in the Styles tab (within the SketchUp Model browser), can you check your "In Model Styles" for a second Style? You may need to select another Style library from the drop-down menu first, to show the second Style in the In Model Styles tab.

IF you do have two Styles in your In Model Styles library, please select each to see if your update occurs.

Also, make sure to update the Style in SketchUp whenever you make a change that causes the Style to require an update, then save the SketchUp model before sending to or updating in Layout.

Let us know what you find, and thanks for working on this with me!

Cheers,

• CraigD

Hi Scotty, welcome!

When exporting to 3DS from SketchUp, click on the Options button in the Export Model dialog, and turn off "Export stand alone edges", as that will add face data to all the edges. Try an experiment with a cube, export both ways, and import both back into SketchUp to see what I'm talking about.

You will find very accomplished, creative, and helpful folks on here!

Model well!!

Cheers,

• CraigD

Anssi is absolutely correct.

You'll see mention of this in the SketchUp Release Notes as well. ...there's a good reason to read them right there!

Here's a link: http://sketchup.google.com/gsu6/relnotes.html

Cheers,

• CraigD

There is no publishable date for Google SketchUp Pro 7.

The latest and greatest maintenance release for SketchUp 6.0 just came out, so that's the one to get.

Mac - SketchUp Pro version 6.0.1145

Win - SketchUp Pro version 6.0.1099

Get it while it's hot!

Cheers,

• CraigD

Some folks in the Boulder office gave Brad a special gift today...we packed into a tiny meeting room, phone conferenced in two other remote members of the SketchUp team and sang a very unorganized and off-pitch "Happy Birthday" song for Brad! ...Twice!! (We forgot to connect poor Tricia into the first song, so we had to connect her and sing it again!)

I only hope Brad was able to drink those songs out of his short term memory!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER!!!

 - CraigD

P.S. The Band of Brothers series was incredible! There's also the old classic "A bridge too far"!

Hi TommyG -

What you'd want to do is create a large terrain map model to start your buildings/city scape, and then save each of the buildings as separate .skp files for individual upload to 3D Warehouse for use in Google Earth.

Use descriptions for each building and save them in your own "Collection" in 3D Warehouse.

That should do it!

Cheers,

• CraigD

@gidon said:

Craig!! You crack me up!!

HAA Haa! I was a little bored so I broke out Photoshop for some fun. My wife kept asking me what I was laughing about! Gotta have fun...no one will do it for you!

Cheers,

- CraigD

P.S. And go eat a sandwich or something! You're too skinny!