I'm having this strange issue with my model. It seems like Artisan tool is locked so I cannot alter my terrain. But if I open a second SU model, the Artisan tool works perfectly. Did I press something to lock out the Artisan tool?

Nice, looks like a handdrawn drawing and coloured with pencil crayon.

Perhaps reference the door heights, the rail heights, count some bricks? IMHO, if you can model the castle to appear the same, being off a little won't hurt.

Geez, if I could only produce renderings half as good as you. Very Nice! Are the plants inserted within SU then rendered? Or is it a post production? Do you not find it laboring on your computer?

I have spent the past two days learning and playing with importing SU files into 3DS Max to complete the more technical work. I've read some threads from experienced users that they currently work by this workflow. I'm loving SU but like other posters have said, it's a 32bit program and lacks the computation 3DS Max 64bit offers. It's quite frustrating trying to render bump maps, displacements, grass, etc. in one scene within SU.

(I know this is not a 3DS forum, but I'm sure there are a few that can help)

So here's my dilemma, I'm attempting to import a piece of furniture from SU into Max. When it is imported it shows up as a faceted object with over 64000 faces and not smooth like SU. I'm trying to smooth out the object with modifiers but when I do the faces multiply, thus causing my computer to stall. Do I need to do something within SU to lessen the faces? Or is there something in 3DS I'm missing?

Thanks in advance

My brain just exploded. very good work FA

All the rocks and foliage, was that all done within SU? Or did you use another program? I have been researching high and low for good realistic foliage that won't burden the computer. What I've found is Forest Pro or Grow FX but only for 3DS Max.

Hello fellow Sketchers,

I'm just testing my limits when it comes to modeling and came across something I can't figure out. I designed a floor plan and when I render with VRAY in sunlight I have light spilling off interior cut walls? It doesn't look realistic since sunlight cannot enter my windowless powder room.

Is there a way of doing a section cut where the sun ONLY goes through the windows and the artificial lighting lights up the darker spaces? Or is this a photoshop thing?

Hello, this has been baffling me for some time and I'm sure there's a plugin somewhere out there that could make this work.

Is there a way you can change multiple IES lighting power with one click instead of clicking each one and changing them individually?

I was just going to start a thread like this as I am a beginner and would like to know what the experts use on a daily basis.

I don't really have a "top", but here are the plugins I use and work properly.

Soap, Skin and Bubble
Move to Origin
Artisan
Advanced Camera

Thanks Pilou!

I'm having major difficulties attempting to model this chair. I've tried using the Artisan plugin but I only end up with a clay looking chair (without smooth sides). Could somebody please share their expertise and the plug-ins you use to achieve a more rounded looking chair?

Thanks

Thanks for your feedback, it's much appreciated.

Would the lighting be more of a Vray setting to cast darker shadows? Or would I need to do this in photoshop?

@solo said:

What render engine? looks like Podium.

Sorry, it's Vray

I'm not sure if I post here or if there is an alternate area where to post. I have two images where I need some criticism and advice on how to make them more photo-realistic. I'm not sure if it's a rendering setting OR if it's a photoshop strategy. IMO, it looks flat, kind of cartoonish, and needs more depth. All i can think of is Ambient Occlusion...

Please offer your expertise.

@mitcorb said:

Hi, faemow82.
Welcome to the forum. When you run into a problem, it is best to have your profile information updated so that helpers can guide you better. They need to see if you are on Windows or Mac, the version, and, if you are using the latest Sketchup, free or pro. This helps narrow down some solutions.
Just click on User Control Panel to update.
Have a good time here.

Will DO!

@bocomofo said:

video here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fct3B09QPY

YUP! saw it 5 times and followed it to a tee....my rendering would get stuck. GAHH!

I dont' want to restart a thread, but since I cannot find it. How do I increase the amount of white boxes while rendering? Is this related to how powerful my CPU, ram and Vcard is? I've seen demo videos with 6-8 rendering boxes.

@thomthom said:

Refraction? For a thin object like a curtain?

I'd use the Two-sided material instead.

I tried the 2-sided material strategy, but it didn't blend the two sides. For instance, red on the outside, blue on the inside, and it would render purple. I guess I will continue playing with it until it works, haha.

I think my last strategy would be to render my scene without the shear and render another scene with an opaque sheer and photoshop the opacity, lol.

Greetings Sketchucation community! I am looking forward to some insightful advice, looking through the galleries and posting some of my work in the near future!

Something tells me that I will be on this forum a lot looking for help, lol.

I'm currently having an issue trying to create translucent materials. I'm currently using Sketchup 8 with the most current version of Vray. I found that SU materials and Vray materials do not at work together and freezes my rendering right at the start. When I say freeze, I mean black screen with a white dot grid. This ONLY happens when I'm attempting to render translucent materials.

Does anybody else experience this issue? I tried changing the transparency under BRDFDiffuse to gray, but it either freezes or takes a crazy amount of time to render. I tried the 2sided material approach, but for some reason it doesn't want to work.

My last method was to play with refraction and fog. This worked but I do not need my curtains to refract light, lol. I changed the Diffuse transparency to gray and it rendered fine. I removed the refraction, kept the diffuse the same and it rendered fine but slightly slower.

Does anybody else have a suggestion to speed the rendering up?