OK,
I more or less figured it out.

I had the devil of a time accessing Properties until I realized I had to be in the In Model mode.
Once I discovered that I was able to re-name the component and fill-in the description.

At that point I then context-clicked on the component in my model and did a save-as.

I finally had to delete the old file from the Components folder in the SketchUp menu in Application Support.

Thanks TIG and Steve -- you were both right.

Danty

I've started creating an extensive library of 2d plant materials for use in my basic landscape plans.

I normally make a new component while working on a project -- and don't usually remember to give it a proper name at its inception in the component window.

I'm finding it a problem to re-name the component.

I've tried selecting it in the drawing and using the Outliner window to then go to the Entity Info window and re-naming it in the definition field.
No change.

I also tried re-naming it in its root file in the library>application support>Google Sketchup8>Sketchup folder.
Still not luck.

I'm on a Mac if that makes any difference.

Any suggestions?

Danty

I could have used this thread last night -- having stayed up for hours trying to get the text worked out in LO. Barry, thanks for the great tip on using the text in LO (while having the text in the original SU file on a different layer -- and then hidden). Worked great! Printed beautifully. I need to explore LO further.

Danty

Alan -- Your last boulder model just blew me away. Now THAT is what I have had in mind as the type of boulder I would like to be turning out.
Would you please clarify a couple of points:

Sampling:  By that do you mean the technique of holding down SHIFT while clicking on the Paint Tool which then turns into an eyedropper -- "sampling" the color or texture of a face?
Projection:  Are you doing what Solo seems to be doing? -- projecting the textures with different axes?  I just don't get how that works.  My experience with applying colors and textures seems to simply involve selecting a face and applying the color/texture.  What step am I missing?

So it seems your method is to create a spherical shape then explode the modified sphere so it can be edited.
Then you project a large format texture onto portions of the shape.
You keep turning it round to locate "streaks" in the texture and then use sampling to even them out.
Is that more or less what it consists of?

Thanks for your patience on this subject.
It is definitely a skill I would like to master.

Danty

Very nice, Joe. Thanks for the samples.

Alan, the rock is spinning so fast it is hard to see the details of it.
Did you create it all in SU?
Are you making this and others like it for Form Fonts?

Is there a tutorial or more data you can provide on how to make boulders such as this one?

Thanks,
Danty

I use lots of boulders and stone in my landscape projects.

Yet I have been disappointed in the 3D boulders I have created or found from other sources for my SU models.

I can model the shapes pretty well with modifying spheres and creating angular, asymmetric forms.

The problem seems to be the textures and colors.
Applying stone textures just ends up with very unconvincing looking stuff.

Any boulder components out there that you like?

Thanks,
Danty

Bob -- thanks very much.

Looks like a very handy tool.

I haven't used any scripts or plug-ins as of yet.

Could you kindly let me know the basic 1-2-3 of getting this one set up?

Danty

I've been working on curved walls for my landscape models.

Up to now, when I want the wall to curve in all (3) axes, I have been doing a model-intersect with a "wing" shape that has the desired curve in the 3rd (blue) axis -- and that has worked okay.

But -- it's slow and kind of clumsy.

Is there a faster way to do this?

Attached is an example of a well known wall that has the characteristics I'm looking to model.

Danty

Hi Stu --
I'm chuckling because although I'm usually hyperfocused on plant material (that being my occupation) -- in this model I was just happy to get the arbor built, the scene corresponding to the photo and the model presented in Layout.

I threw some plant material in a hurry to flesh out the scene more fully.

The large evergreen tree on the right side of the model is a California Redwood. I couldn't find either a 2d or 3d component from the SU library that came close. So I stuck in the green "blob" component.

I trust that as I transition to PR renderings there will be more trees and plant material to choose from.

And there is a gentle slope up from the road to the house -- so the stepping stones are actually stepped up.
In Sandbox that's how they came out -- since lowering them at all would bury their "noses" in the upslope.

I'm still on a learning curve with topography and steps.
The model on your website of the terraced planters stepping up to the house with the garage on the right side is my inspiration of where I'd like to get to.

Danty

This is my first crack at Layout.
Very pleased so far.
Printing actually makes a bigger image than directly from SU.

I couldn't seem to be able to upload either Layout files themselves or .pdf 2D exports of them.
So -- here are screenshots of my first Layout models.
The .png files work out better for the forums from what I've read on other posts.

Danty

Okay -- I couldn't seem to be able to upload either Layout files themselves or .pdf 2D exports of them.
So -- here are screenshots of my first Layout models.

Danty

I was asked to design an arbor for a home we have been doing plantings for.

It gave me the opportunity to refine my skills on SU.

And I took a spin with Layout -- which was a blast.

If you haven't tried it -- dive in.
The images actually print out BETTER in Layout than directly from SU or from an exported .jpeg.

Also included is a photo of the existing site -- which I used to model with.

Snyder - Arbor (GC) ~.layout

Danty

Gai -- Thanks.
Actually, I figured it out on my own.
You just click on "insert" then scale down the image to fit.
Then you move the image down where you want it in the Title Block area.

And it was a .jpeg file I imported after all.

Works great.
Layout is hot.

Danty

Hi Jeff
Well it seems you are doing double duty tonight -- helping me out.
Yes, there is no substitute for working methodically and with some care.
What's the point of a great model if there are flaws early on that could have easily been caught -- but later on are nigh impossible to fix?

I have started using line "color by axis" which helps out very well in catching errors.

Now that you have pointed these technical boo-boos out I will be more able to spot them in the future.

Thanks,
Dantyu

Jeff -- I knew the answer had to be a simple one. That's what I get for working on past midnight when I was already tired from being up past midnight on SU the night before. I can't help it sometimes -- I just want to get ONE more part of the model done -- and (2) more hours have past.
Much thanks, Danty

Many times in SU I find I have (inadvertently) created a face that somehow is divided into (2) or more faces. Is there any way to "heal" them into one -- like can be done with a line?

Attached is an example.

Thanks, Danty

Arbor lattice unit.skp

I have been working on an arbor and saving the various parts as Components.
While modeling a rafter I found that when attempting to extend it using the Push-Pull tool -- it wouldn't extend as one smooth unit. A line separated the "original" rafter from the "extended" one. What is happening here? Attached is a copy of the comp. Thanks, Danty

Rafter -- SGA (pp).skp

I'm on my very first Layout presentation.
I exported my model into Layout -- fine.
Selected a template with title block at the bottom -- fine.
Entered my text -- fine.
Then I selected the "Logo" box at the lower LH corner.
Is that for importing one's logo into?
I went to File and clicked on insert -- browsed for my company logo and hit "Choose".
The logo .pdf then was pasted right over the image of my model -- not in the box where it says "Logo".
Where did I err?

Thanks, Danty

I posted about this book on the "Getting Started" thread -- but not much traffic there lately.
Because this book was so HELPFUL for me in learning Sketchup I thought I'd start a new thread.

For me, the best way to learn is by actually doing the thing you want to end up doing. By that I mean, not practicing only -- but doing it.

So, if you want to bake a cake, you would learn by baking cakes.
You could practice measuring flour and milk into measuring cups.
You could practice turning the oven on and off.
You get the idea.
But eventually you would want to get down to it and bake a cake.

The genius of this book is that you are plunked right into the task of having to build a house -- complete!
By the time I finished the book (and companion cd) I KNEW how the tools of SU worked together to make a complete composition -- from the fundamentals.

The book is Dennis Fukai's 3D Construction Modeling.

In my initial learning phase of SU I was having enormous difficulties and nearly gave up.
Fortunately I found Dennis' book.

The whole concept of the book and it's format is terrific.
You construct an entire model house from the ground up in SU.
Dennis gives you not just the book which shows screenshots of the entire process but also included is a CD which has tutorials broken down for each phase of the model.

This book "pulled it all together" for me.
I learned very fully how to use not only the basic tools: inferencing, groups, components, etc. but how they all "fit" together.

Dennis has a natural teacher's style and voice. He personally narrates the tutorials and I actually felt like it was a one-on-one session with a SU tutor.
NOTE: If you like Aidan Chopra's tutorials -- you'll like Dennis's, too.

Plus (and this may not be the case now) he includes his phone # in the book so you can call him! I called him twice and he was very gracious each time. After that we exchanged e-mails.

So -- I cannot recommend this book too highly for someone who is really serious about learning SU well.

It's available from Amazon or other sources as well:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0976274108

Danty

Since I'm on this thread I would be remiss if I didn't promote my very FAVORITE learning tool for SU: Dennis Fukai's 3D Construction Modeling.
In my initial learning phase of SU I was having enormous difficulties and nearly gave up.
Fortunately I found Dennis' book.
The whole concept of the book and it's format is terrific.
You construct an entire model house from the ground up in SU.
Dennis gives you not just the book which shows screenshots of the entire process but also included is a CD which has tutorials broken down for each phase of the model.
This book "pulled it all together" for me.
I learned very fully how to use not only the basic tools: inferencing, groups, components, etc. but how they all "fit" together.
Dennis has a natural teacher's style and voice. He personally narrates the tutorials and I actually felt like it was a one-on-one session with a SU tutor.
Plus (and this may not be the case now) he includes his phone # in the book so you can call him! I called him twice and he was very gracious each time. After that we exchanged e-mails.

So -- I cannot recommend this book too highly for someone who is really serious about learning SU well.

It's available from Amazon or other sources as well:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0976274108

Danty