Having looked at your skp 'model', straight away I would say your problem is the rectangular light. It is so big, and entirely covers the area it is lighting that it will give the most even of lighting - so no bump visible!

Try using the sun or a point light to see the difference.

(You don't have to keep the files in any particular place)

David

Typically your diffuse and bump map should look something like these

cveti - you said you have used a rectangular light 'above the texture' - this will give a rather general and diffuse level of light, which may not show the bump up very well, whereas the sun is very directional (as per the two examples above)
A few things I've done in the past that messes things up -
a) ensure you have the bump map in the right place in the texture maps
b) ensure it is a 'grayscale' image
c) ensure it is the same scale etc as the 'diffuse' image

Its only by cocking things up that we really learn!!

(I'll have a look at your model)

David

Sometimes, if the surface is not lit by a directional light (e.g. the sun), then the bump will not show as in this example. This brickwork has bump, but it only shows when the sun is on it, and not in the shade.

David

DaveR
Yes, I'm sure that there have been lots of problems in the past with people not being able to get their head round the 'plugin' file structures required by some plugins, and so a more automated system is a welcome improvement.

However, "easier for users to find and install tools" - I would suggest that finding the tools is now NOT easier. I spent hours looking for 'solar north' and still ended up going out of SU and using the google search engine to find it - surely that says something. The system has become fragmented.

I suppose I have been using 'solar north' for so long under previous versions (before SU2013), that I had not realised that it was a plugin (or is it an 'extension'?).

David

Ok - did a google search to find it - its here
http://extensions.sketchup.com/

and sure enough there is solar-north, which I've downloaded. Just got to work out how to install it now.

I've been with SU since the @last days, and never had this trouble finding stuff before. Hey ho!!

EDIT
extension warehouse is in SU under the 'windows' tab, from there, after logging in to 'google'!!! I was able to download my 'extension' - success at last!

David

TIG, thanks for the reply. I know where the 'plugin store' is (which is where I couldn't find the 'solar north plugin'), but where do I find the 'Extensions Warehouse'?

DaveR, I agree about only loading the plugins you need, but when you have been used to using a plugin only for them to pull it without any advice about where they are, it is a bit irritating!

Thanks for the response guys.

Having searched for 'solar north' in SU2013, the only reference I can find is in the (possibly misnamed) 'knowledge Centre' where it says:-

"This plugin isn't installed by default in SketchUp Pro 2013. You'll need to open the Extension Warehouse from within SketchUp, locate the "Solar North" plugin and choose "Install" to add this plugin."

Searching for solar north in the plugins came up with nothing.

Seems like a step back to me, but have I missed something!

David

Rectangular lights always create soft shadows, as the light is generated by the whole surface - the bigger the rectangle the 'softer' the shadows.
You mention a point light source. If that's what you want then you need to use an 'omnilight' or a 'spotlight'

David

I'm surprised nobody has suggested a pen tablet. I used to suffer from RSI and found that by using the mouse (for scrolling mainly) with the left hand and the pen and (Wacom) tablet with the right hand the problem went away. The pen is sooo easy and natural to use.

David

I have been using a similar Layout set-up, including copying sheet one once I've added job title etc to avoid having to keep copying it. However your is so neat, comprehensive and organised, I just had to download it and give it a try.
Thanks for generously sharing. Cheers.

The BIM thing has been intriguing me lately. One of the other (!) software companies has been pushing their software to create BIM models, but having watched their videos, I felt that SU could do most of what was required,i.e. 1) a 3d model 2) able to render from the model 3) using 3d components 4) extracting component information for estimating. It was only the last item that I found a bit flaky. (I know that there are timelines and facilities management stages, but that isn't necessary for my domestic work)

For small, domestic projects a full-on BIM (using sophisticated layering conventions etc) seems way over the top, but it did occur to me that to assist the builder in pricing for the work, that I could lend a hand and extract areas and volumes of materials, lengths of beams etc, that a builder, without the benefit of the 3d model would otherwise have to prepare manually. The only danger is, me making an error!, so it does put the onus on me to double check the output. (most small builders don't have CAD software anyway, let alone a computer)

I've just given this a try out on my last project, preparing "QUANTITIES of Main Elements
(from model)" and with a hefty health warning about the data being to assist the builder etc. I will wait for feedback from the builder quoting for the work.

porch_unplugged - that is one sophisticated and comprehensive system you have developed - very impressive.
For my own work (domestic extensions etc), I like to keep it simple. I would be tripping myself up all the time with a complex system.

I export a pdf for each drawing needing issue, and print directly (if a print is required!) from the pdf or e-mail the pdf.
If there is a substantial revision to the scheme, then (if I remember) I make a copy ('save copy as') before proceeding with the amendments, but basically I keep the same SU file and the same Layout file throughout.
Having made a new pdf of a drawing which has been amended, I then move the superseded copy into a 'superseded' folder. This has worked so far (!), but it isn't infallible and I am sure your system (if meticulously maintained) is much more likely to call up earlier versions, should they be needed.

David

Easy-peasy
When creating the pdf export in Layout, one of the options is 'Pages' - 'All' or '1,2,3', etc. - just select the page you want. Probably because you end up with huge pdf files, but I always export each page (i.e. each drawing) as a separate pdf, with the file name as the drawing number.

David

dalayama

There are a number of threads on the ASGVIS forum site (http://forum.asgvis.com/index.php?action=forum) about photomatching.

Photomatching can mean a number of things. Personally I just use it to set up the viewpoint etc of a model, but I don't 'project' the textures.
(I merge the finished render with the photo in a photoshop type program)

If you have 'projected' the textures onto your model then to get vray to render them you will need to select each face with a texture on it and 'make texture unique' - vray will then render it correctly.

David

Thomas

One thing to watch, which I fell foul of to start with, is that visibility is determined by the order of the layer stack. Items on the top layer may obscure items on lower layers, so your stuff may still be there. Try turning off the visibilty of the upper layers and check. Also it is easy to inadvertently put stuff on one of those lower layers.

If it helps, I have just 4 layers as follows:

USER CONTENT (mainly for text)
VIEWS (for the model views)
DWG TITLE (as the name suggests!)
ON EVERY PAGE (again as the name suggests, this is the shared layer for title panel etc)

Also it helps enormously to lock layers after you have prepared them, as its all too easy to end up moving stuff by mistake.

Also I stopped using the 'vector' view of the model as it takes forever to regen.

Hope this helps

David

OK - this is all rather obscure (and no doubt interesting to those that know!), but going back to ThomThom's original question, what is this "are you using Sketchup-pro" pop-up all about?

David

Yep, I like TIG's 'roof' ruby too. It is quick and effective, but as with all things if you want more detail or complexity then you may need a different approach (mine being one such way). I need the complexity because I then use a section through the roof to illustrate the construction. But if you just want simple roof elements then TIG's is hard to beat.

David

As I draw roofs all the time I have made a 2d section through a roof, fascia, tiles the lot - all saved as a component. (You will need different components for different pitched roofs and they can be as simple or as complex as you need.)
I place this carefully in position, and then extrude it, either for the length of the building, as a simple gabled roof, or use follow me and it creates a hipped roof. Simples!

David

Took me ages to see past the women! Is it Picasso? He has a big nose!

David