@tim danaher said:

This a model of a mannequin by a student of mine. We used Intersect Faces to carve out the shape from an original, push-pulled profile, but the outside edge is open... is there any quicker way of closing this face other than joining all the points? The Student doesn´t have access to the Solid Tools.[attachment=0:15hbpmyu]<!-- ia0 -->model from scratch.skp<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:15hbpmyu]

TIA

SU works more effectively with larger scale models. Meaning when u try to compose something so thin its best to mulitply all workings by
a factor of 10.

My quickest ad-hoc solution was to use the TGI3D plugin to create mesh from a closed loop that took me no longer than a minute.

Another work around is to use the free plugin mentioned above.

Another method is to create a small plane and have the "follow me" tool around the curve to fully close it

Alternatively, you could use SDS plugin to create this shape from scratch without even having to worry about chambering the sides.

Sorry about my curiosity but what are course are you teaching?

SU 8.1 or 8.xx will be something to look out for. The developer admits that su8 was released too soon.

The biggest drawback to SU is that it works well with 1990's hardware and gains little merit from
hardware made in the last couple of years.

Once the SU team get the approval from upper management to stop creating additional tools
already available for DL or purchase, and focus solely on developing a 3D CAD program that
can utilise newer tech, the chance of SU becoming the Apple for the CAD world increases.

If not, Blender might become far more superior than SU in 1 to 3 years.

Will it be possible in the near future, lets say 2 years from now where google street view
converts automatically everything into basic 3d The tech exists now to convert 2 pics into 3d.

To lazy to cut n paste.

72 frames displayed in 3.963sev
Avg. frames = 0.055 seconds
18.3 frames/sec

System spec

2 year old FX gateway laptop

64bit VIsta
6gb 1066mhz dual chan ram
centrino 2, dual core 2.33ghz , not sure about fsb
9800 GTS 1GB Nvidia card
Intel Chipset

There is one advantage of 32bit single core support - I can open 2 sketchup sessions seamlessly with a dual core

@jim said:

After you see the green dots, press the ENTER key.

That works ...You are a legend mate

Tgi3d amorph might help

@tak2hata said:

@fuzzion said:

@cupko said:

In rollout menu Make by Component select No instead fur_instance.

I tried that on both SU8 and 7.1 but it still does not work. I can click the 'make fur' button
a million times but nothing happens

Hi fuzzion.
now ,I couldn't find the solution for this problem.

I want to see the dialog of the "fur" on your computer.

and show "ruby console" before clicking the "make fur" button.
(showing "ruby console" is in "windows" in the menubar)
if it shows some error message when clicking make fur button,
I want to see it.

Thanks.

First I want to say thank you for making this plugin

Regarding Ruby console, nothing shows up at all.
Only green dots appear on the selected plane.

Should I install an older version of Fur?
I have tried re-installing plugin into folders, but
that did not help. Should i re-install
Sketchup? Do you think another plugin is causing the problem?

PS. Is it possible for future releases to include make Hair with gravity ? Like create cylinderical shape with taper at the end.

Below is the screenshot .

@cupko said:

In rollout menu Make by Component select No instead fur_instance.

I tried that on both SU8 and 7.1 but it still does not work. I can click the 'make fur' button
a million times but nothing happens

Fur used to work for me. I didnt use fur for a while.Since then, i installed various plugins including the tgi3d amorph plugin.

Now it does not work.

It installed fine.

It shows up in my tool bar

I select face and click make fur with default settings but nothing happens. Even preview doesn't work.

I tried it on SU8 where i have only installed the TGi3d plugin, and it does not work.

This is an important plugin so any help is greatly appreciated

PS. Every other plugin works fine.

@thomthom said:

@fuzzion said:

1. Does it work with vray 1.5 and/or the newest vray version?
   Yes and No. 1.48 isn't working well under OSX. But it does under Windows.

--> So both new and old Vray works with SU8 for windows.

@fuzzion said:

2. Does it work flawlessly with productivity enhancing plugins like Smustard SDS, fredo’s scale, extrusion tool, tgi amorph, etc…

There was an update to the Ruby engine in SU8 - but most plugins worked. The few that didn't has pretty much all been updated by now.

--> Sweet

@fuzzion said:

3. Can you import .obj files

With any of the OBJ importer plugins which you always had yes. But not as a native import option.

--> So nothing has changed

@fuzzion said:

4. Do your hot bars disappear like su7 ?

"hot bars"?

--> I meant toolbards. I think your answer in question 6 answered this with the new save and restore feature.

@fuzzion said:

5. Does it allow for smoother Frame rates when high poly scenes are loaded, or is it still welcome to the “Sketchup slide-show” ?

Haven't tested any numbers... but since 7.1 SketchUp has allowed me to work with models up to 1 million faces...
(are you talking about animation - transition between scenes?)

---> So SU8 did not increase this aspect of its program.

@fuzzion said:

6. Is the UI improved?

No real change. There was the Save/Restore toolbars feature that was added - but not working 100%.

---> Sweet

@fuzzion said:

7. Are complex plugin calculations like SDS faster on SU8 than on SU7.1?

hmm... good question. Haven't run any performance tests, but it's possible the new ruby core provided some speed increase. I imagine I remember someone talking about this. (but don't expect times to drop by ten or hundreds or anything like that...)

----> So no major upgrades.

@fuzzion said:

8. Is Smusartd’s Booltool better than the SU8 sort ?

Dunno - never tried it myself.

--> ANyone ????

@fuzzion said:

i.e, ability to assign individual line thickness through SU render engine.

No

--->

P.s. Is there a program that allows SU models to output like USPTO accepted patent drawings? That would be radical!

@fuzzion said:

10. What are the chances that a ver 8.1 comes out in the next 12 months?

If you look at the previous .1 releases - quite probable. Though this is something only Google can tell - and they never announce anything until it's released.

-->I wonder if we will see a real performance bump in SU8.1 ,just like what 7.1 did over 7.0 or maybe this is a pipe dream.....

10 Questions regarding version 8 if any can answer -

1. Does it work with vray 1.5 and/or the newest vray version?
2. Does it work flawlessly with productivity enhancing plugins like Smustard SDS, fredo’s scale, extrusion tool, tgi amorph, etc…
3. Can you import .obj files
4. Do your hot bars disappear like su7 ?
5. Does it allow for smoother Frame rates when high poly scenes are loaded, or is it still welcome to the “Sketchup slide-show” ?
6. Is the UI improved?
7. Are complex plugin calculations like SDS faster on SU8 than on SU7.1?
8. Is Smusartd’s Booltool better than the SU8 sort ?
9. Does SU8 have the function to make rendered drawings look like patent drawings that mimic accepting drawing standards of the USPTO ? i.e, ability to assign individual line thickness through SU render engine.
10. What are the chances that a ver 8.1 comes out in the next 12 months?

@simon le bon said:

Dear Thomthom and Gaieus,
Hope you feel good.

It seems that Photosculpt is the solution. (30 days free trial)
And/Or you can buy this one for 5.99€ (yes it is "not given" )

simon

So it renders a 3d image that you then import into SU ? I have never had to import
a .obj file before, hows SU with complex .obj files?

Will it work well with vray 1.5? These are the output maps - displacement map , Normal maps
Ambient occlusion maps , Specular maps , Diffuse maps & bump maps

I actually think this "lets make SU the Windows for 3d cad" is a good idea

if they then took the opportunity to make the SU Pro version a real

Professional version with quad core compatibility,greater polygon hold and workstation friendly

graphical acceleration. For now the Pro version is as enticing as broccoli

Sketchup is good at creating basic shapes. IT is NOT 3dsmax or maya. However, when you want organic shapes, nicely chambered edges, twisting and radial bending
and other sorts done quick yet look professional on par with 3dsmax, you incorporate plugins.

Ofcourse skethcup can do these to some extent I love SU too, but lets be honest, the Plugin industry for sketchup is a brilliant idea since it could follow the same model
of app stores for droid.

My favourite 3 are (excluding vray)

1- Round Corner (Almost everything in life has some rounded edge too it. This program chambers everything you select like 3dsmax)

2- SDS ( everyones talked about what this is )

3- TGI3D for SU Amorph ( Organic modelling toolset. One of the best feature is upscale. Although primarily aimed at organic modelling, i use it on downloaded models from warehouse and increase polygon count by up to 100x making them look superbly sexy) http://www.tgi3d.com/index.php?Page=Amorph&VideoID=15705085&field=content6

This one

Although note, SU uses only one core. But maybe like me , you may have 2 SU open at the same time.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/malibal-nine-x7200-geforce-gtx-480m-core-i7-980x,2773.html

I bought it specifically for SU after watching Ironman
Was a waste of money even after 30days of forceful use. You
are more productive with a mouse and key or what Solo suggested above.

Free Sketchup Loop Subdivision Smooth Plugin (not SDS, but similar)

Sketchup Loop Subdivision Smooth Plugin | guitar-list

This is a free opensource Loop subdivision plugin for Google Sketchup. Loop subdivision smooths hard edges to give a more rounded organic looking shape. This plugin has not been tested extensively, so please save any important Sketchup models before using this plugin on them.

(www.guitar-list.com)

EDITED by moderator for clarity.

This is my last post. All made in SU.

This one is for star trek fans

I find technical drawing on SU challenging. For technical designs I first imagine what my final shape is and then craft the pieces individually. Like lego
Oh and you may want to get Smooth and subdivide plug

Btw i have been trying this for the last two weeks and it looks promising

http://www.tgi3d.com/index.php?Page=Amorph