This is looking good.
A couple of points:
1 As you can see a slight shadow on the lettering on the forground building, I would try and get some shadows on the front of your building - the sun screens should show them up well.
2 I would crop the foreground to eliminate the boring road.

The building sits well in the scene.

Regards

David

Plot-paris

I personaly find this sort of layer structure too complex. I guess if you are sharing information and working on medium to large schemes it will be important to structure the information. I found that, when I worked in an office trying to impliment this type of formal structure, getting people to adhere to it was very difficult - so the system tended to fall apart at the seams. (Do some CAD systems force you to organise in this way?)
I took a lead from one of the SU workshop lectures and now use groups to the same end, keeping it simple - just, 'Ground floor', 'first floor', roof, etc.
I find that manipulating information using groups and the 'outliner' facility in SU, allows sufficient control, and is something that was not available in CAD.
However, I think the main thing is to find a system that works for you and there are many ways to organise the model information.

David

Don't get me wrong. I didn't say I had given up CAD altogether.
All I have done is rationalise so that I spend less time undoing, or re-doing things already drawn in SU, and lots of things are easier drawn in SU anyway - especially using pre-prepared components
One of the main things in CAD is dimensioning so I do that in CAD, as well as assembling all the views and the detail work - very much as as Greg does in his workflow.
I have stopped using layers though, although you could easily set these up in a template.

David

Easy - the template set-up is curtesy of Kristoff - "How a pro builds a house" in the tutorials section.
http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=723#p4177

I just set it up to suite my needs e.g. metric etc.

I found that these templates can hold all sorts of usefull stuff, that to start with you keep revising each time e.g. 'location'
The template will also save your favourite Vray (which I also use) settings (VISPOT) and basic materials (e.g. chrome, glass, etc) saving a lot of time importing them later.
Templates are great!

David

Greg
This is a fascinating thread and thanks for starting it. I am fascinated by your incredibly organised approach.
I am an architect and have been using SU for about 3 years. It has taken me ages to get a workflow in place.
I only recently got fed up with preparing the design in SU only to end up re-drawing a lot of work in a CAD program (I was at least exporting the 2D stuff). I suddenly realised that with better preparation and a more disciplined approach in SU, then I could save myself a ton of work in CAD.
My first steps have been to create a template with the main views - plans, sections and elevations already set up. Then setting up some of my common components (e.g. doors) so that they view ok in CAD - with door swings shown for instance.
Also, compared to my earlier models, I am much more disciplined, creating groups and components, allowing these to be turned on and off as needed. I got this tip from the Google 3d basecamp sessions.
I am inspired to push on with the better structuring and workflow.
Thanks

David

Without an image to refer to we are all guessing here, but, I am wondering if you are using an image of the building as a texture and applying it to your model. As Thomas said, multiple copies of a large texture applied directly to the building could cause a large file size. Previously I assumed that you would be texturing the building in the 'usual' way with modestly sized textures (i.e. a bick texture etc.)

David

Pete
Great model, and you have got a good grasp of the renderings so far.
Applying the textures is easy, just create and apply them with the SU paintbucket. You only need to fiddle with the Vray materials (which in the latest version version 01.05.03, are created automatically) when you want bump, displacement, reflections or emmissive materials, and there are lots of VISMAT available to import for these.
If you want soft shadows, then you can increase the 'sun size multiplier' in the envirnment roll-out.
(The vray forum is a great resource for feedback)
I look forward to seeing this progress - as I said, it is a terrrific model so it should produce a very good render. Quality in - quality out!

Regards
David

utiler

You make no mention of Photoshop.

My usual process would be to set up the correct perspective for the model using photomatch, then render the model (I use vray). If you are not rendering then I guess you export the SU view.
All the other work is done in Photoshop - inserting the background photo, pasting in foreground layers etc. All you want from SU is the model with the correct persective.

Hope this helps

David

@unknownuser said:

I would really love to use Sketchup for this photomontaging but am a bit concerned as to its accuracy as it doesnt require camera location, focal lenght etc.

Personally I wouldn't hesitate to use it for small or large buildings.
Although it doesnt require camera location, focal length etc, the technique it uses is equally as good - matching persective.
It gets easier to set up if the photo you are matching is taken at approx 45deg on plan, but clearly this is often not possible - so you make do.
As photographs are often flawed in some way (barrel or pincushion distortion) it still comes down to making final adjustments by eye.
For the record, the process I use is:-
a) on site take several photos, guessing at where you will prefer your viewpoint for the finished montage
b) create the model and match it to the photo in SU
c) render the model (I use vray)
d) export the render (I use png files)
e) Using photoshop (or equiv) paste into a new layer over the photo - sometimes you need to create further layers and copy foreground info so it displays in front of the rendered model.

Its dead easy once you've done a couple of times!!

David

I am an architect involved with small domestic extensions and I am using it all the time. As thomthom says once you have created a model it is a bit tricky to then match it to a photo, but it is only a matter of technique. It is easier if you start with the photograph - but I nearly always forget to do that!

Here is an example
(the modelled and vray rendered part is the rear single storey extension)

David

Great for first render.
Couple of suggestions:

1. TV screen would give me neck ache at that hieght
2. I see that you have some sunlight in the corner of the room. I think the scene would be improved if the sunlight penetrated the room more (adjust the sun orientation)

Regards

David

Last images are renders!! Well OMG, OMG, OMG
I didn't realise that. I also thought they were reference shots. These are just amazing.
These are truly inspirational!

@unknownuser said:

trying to push sketchup’s limits more than I have ever imagined it would go

• you can say that again!
  Awesome modelling. If anybody again says that sketchup isn't up to it - let them look at this model.
  Thanks for the explanation too, it just shows how much you have put into this.

Thanks.

I've been using a Wacom for a few years. Initially it was to avert RSI, which it did very succesfully, as it is so light and natural to use. It does take a bit of getting used to after a mouse, but now I use it all the time, although I still have a mouse with a wheel, which I use with the left hand for scrolling.
Actually I am surprised that they are not more popular, especially in the design field.

David

I can see that you have fallen into a classic trap, and it is messy trying to develop the roof from where you are now.
Before you start (!), I have found it best to create the overhangs, on plan, before you start, so that the roof extends out to the overhangs from the outset. However, if you want to move on from where you are now, I would create the depth of the fascias on each gable end and pushpull it out 1'. You will still have to do some tidying up at the junctions.
Another thing is, whilst I think roofs are tricky and thus a good learning exercise, if you draw roofs often, then do yourself a favour and get 'roof.rb' - its free and it makes roofs in an instant!!

Its here http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=3470&p=74746#p17156

Good Luck

David

My advise - 'they' get your drawings (and invoice) - 'you' get the cheque - fair exchange.
The cheque in the post senario is a recipe for disaster (unless you are dealing with a company or corporation, where if they don't pay up you could always go and protest outside their office!!)
Works for me!
Regards

D

Ah well, why not!
This is my current favourite. It was prepared as a model for photomatching, and then I tried a night render for a bit of fun - pure fantasy!
Sketchup model, rendered in vray.

David

Tom

Thanks for the lower poly model, it will look good from higher viewpoints.

Its horses for courses.
1 Very close in - model individual tiles/slates
2 Low angle (medium distance) - use modelled roof (ie mine)
3 higher angle (medium distance to infinity (and beyond!)) - use material only

This has got me re-thinking roofs, as you have now modelled the eaves boxing etc. why not take another step and also model the gutter. I keep adding gutters seperately and modelling them into this component will save time (I may also model the brackets while I'm at it!)

David

Tom

Ah yes - 'infinity and beyond'. I see where you are coming from now.

On the other hand a day out in Malvern would be very pleasant!

My need is for photomatching the model, so the low level appearance of a roof is important to me, hence modelling the steps in the roof plane.

David

Tom

I don't know if this is what you are looking for. I modelled a section of roof (40deg) with a hip and hip tile. I insert this into my model and modify it insitu to suit.

David

roof_40 deg.skp