When I use Vray to render geometry generated with Sketchup Ivy, the leaves don't render the same size as they appear in sketchup.
I've seen this issue noted by others here, when using Thea render if I'm not mistaken.
Other than exploding all the leaf components before rendering, I haven't found any other solution to solve this issue.
Exploding all the leaves causes model sizes to be quite large.

Is there any way to render the ivy without exploding? (I've combed the forum here, and all over the internet, so forgive me if I've missed something).

Attached are 2 images illustrating the issue.

Thanks for an amazing plugin!

@gordy_z said:

Thank you Pierreden for all the work you've put in on your ivy generator and thank you Gilles63 for providing different shaped leaves.

In order to understand how the different variables affected the morphology of the ivy, I tested each variable on separate white walls. After doing this I modeled the ivy for the model I'm working on by choosing the best starting point for any variable by looking in the "ivy library" then exploring the nearby values of that variable on a test wall with my model's texture on it. I've uploaded the model that shows these first two steps so that you can see how the variables behave.

Then I mixed and matched variables to get the final look for my model (not shown in the upload). I think mixing and matching gives unexpected results, so if you use the library, please use it only as a very general guide.

It's an approximately 45 MB file, is at DropBox address https://dl.dropbox.com/u/79073930/Sketchup%20Ivy%200pt6pt3%20Tests.skp , and seems to work better with View/Face Style set to as simple a style as you can (you probably don't need to see the textures on my test walls). I tried to upload it here but couldn't, presumably because of the file size. If a file this size can be included here, let me know how and I'll do it. I hope it helps!

Gordy_Z

Hi,
The library looks very useful, yet the dropbox link above is offline.
Any chance for a re-up?

@tig said:

You cannot drag-and-drop files from Windows Explorer onto a program's window if that program is running as administrator.

An application with a lower privilege cannot talk to a higher [admin] one.

And weirdly Windows Explorer never runs as admin !

So try changing your SketchUp.exe properties > compatibility to NOT run as admin !
This might cause other issues [like permissions etc if you didn't initially install it as an admin] - BUT it will then allow drag-and-drop of Image files onto SketchUp !

I just came into the forum to tell you I solved the issue by unchecking "run as admin", and lo and behold, you've beat me to it! You've already replied.

Thanks Tig! It works!

I'm having the same problem with sketchup pro 2015 on windows 10. I can't drag and drop images into sketchup.
I've tried what it says in the pdf (which was for windows 7 and 8 but tried anyway). I added the interactive group, and it worked for a while... I later accidentally unchecked one of the permissions for the new interactive group, and since then I can't get it working again...

How does one view the model attributes? what do you use?

@driven said:

I don't see the triangle if I import those two models directly into a new model...

I do see it in your zipped file, which also contains 19387 words stored by Vray in the model attributes [317 kb]...

it may be yet another thing that Vray adds...

john

It appears that it doesn't happen with all components.
The little triangle appears if:
I bring in either of these components from the 3dwarehouse into a new model:
https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=u26da5e0e-57f5-4e8a-b1eb-9ac23d42a83d
https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=37c03bd2337c5642f28b9459ae3635d3

No triangle appears:
If I import this one:
https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=uc4ebeb07-811e-4484-8b93-44902a941c74

Note that the little triangle isn't part of the component. It appears as 3 separate lines at the origin, no matter where you place the component.

I wouldn't waste my time writing about this "feature" if it wasn't an annoyance, and it is. It adds unnecessary geometry to my models, sometimes damaging other geometry if it is in the model space (not in a component) it starts connecting to other lines and faces, sometimes erasing them completely.
If I don't erase the triangle every time I save a model for my component library, I will have triangles within every single component, and not only in the model space. Little annoying triangles everywhere...

See attached file. The lines were generated when I dragged in the two chairs.

model with generated triangle

Hi,

I've noticed lately that when I bring in a new component into a model, if through the component browser or by dragging the file directly in, no matter where I place the component, a little 90 degree 1X1 inch triangle made of simple lines is created at the origin axis of the model. (See image below)

It doesn't always happen... if the component was already loaded for example, it doesn't happen with that same component again.

It is quite annoying really! I was wondering what may be causing this, and how it can be disabled/averted/fixed...

I am writing this in the vray thread, since I believe it is vray related. It doesn't happen when vray is uninstalled... though I may be wrong...

Oy, a bug!
Glad I could help. Hope it gets fixed soon.

@tedvitale_cg said:

Unfortunately, you sir, have found a bug. I've logged the issue and it will eventually be resolved in future versions of V-Ray For SketchUp. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!

Sure, will be emailing shortly.
I have tried this with rectangular lighting... and then it seems to be fine. Maybe it's something with the settings with the vray sun?

@tedvitale_cg said:

Could you please email support@chaosgroup.com with the heading ATTN Ted USA office. I would like to take a look at this particular issue further. If you can also share this model, that would be vary helpful.

I'm rendering a smooth surface (a cylinder in this case). On the surface are a few textures. Each of the textures have bumpmaps applied to them. (except for the gray ring which is just a color).

1. When I render the cylinder I get a very sharp shadow line all along the cylinder where there is a light/shadow transition. Notice that the shadow is nice and smooth where there is no bumpmap applied.

(Notice on the upper texture the shadow sharp on the shadow line, only on the top part of the round bumps and not on the bottom parts...)

2. When I turn off the bumpmaps for each of the textures, the shadows are all nice and smooth all along the transition area.

3. At first I thought it had to do with how many faces the cylinder has, but that is not the cause for the line... it's something with the bumpmaps...

• I'm using vray sky for lighting with vray sun size at 5.0 to exaggerate the smoothness of shadows)
• The textures with the bumps are mapped to the surfaces.
• using vray for sketchup 2.0... with sketchup pro 2015.

I find this a real big problem... I cannot use bumpmaps on curved surfaces...
Suggestions? Anyone else have this problem?

@roland joseph said:

@unknownuser said:

GTX 980

Be aware that if you are going to assemble images for a video or animation that even a 980 will feel a little hobbled under the strain of an application like Lumion, Twin Motion, of other real time (like) rendering applications. A bargain at the moment is the geforce780 and 780ti both more robust and faster than the Titan family and cooler than the 980s. Yet you can buy a 780 for as little as 200 bucks.

Hi,
I'm about to purchase a new machine too, and I was thinking of getting the GTX 980 for Sketchup, Lumion and Max... And I just saw this post. Is it really slower than the 780 using Lumion?
On the passmark website the GTX 980 is rated at 4th place... And the lumion website recommends any card above 6000 points.
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html

I know that benchmarks aren't true to reality... So I'd like to know from your experience... Is it really slower with Lumion?

Just tested the new version (v1.3.4) on Sketchup Pro 2014. Works wonderfully in and out of components!
I'll check on Sketchup Pro 8 on Sunday.
edit: works on 8 too!
Thanks a lot Dan

@dan rathbun said:

OK now I have something to work with.

(#5) FYI, in SketchUp all primitives (edges and faces, etc.,) should be on Layer0.

See the tutorials. Layers in SketchUp are only for display purposes. Having primitives on different layers will not prevent them from interacting with each other. (ie, edges splitting each other or edges splitting faces.)

They need to be in groups or component instances to separate them.

I am fully aware of the "best practice" of working with all primitives on layer0, and everything grouped into groups or components. That is actually exactly how I always work.

In this case, I was thinking of using the layer-isolate function for helping me to sort out messy dwg files that I import from autocad. Instead of cleaning the dwgs from within autocad, which can sometimes be a real mess and takes lots of time, I like importing everything into sketchup and I then turn off bothersome layers with your, or similar layer plugins and then delete all the turned off layers, or I inverse the layers, or hide/unhide what ever I need and delete all the rest... (I think you get my drift)

I was hoping that maybe the layer isolate would kind of leave the selected lines in place, while shutting off all other layers... basically isolating them so I can then easily select and copy them, or whatever needs to be done with them...

So I understand now that what the layer-isolate function does in this plugin is isolate groups or components that are on certain layers, correct?

Thank you for the kind explanations!

@dan rathbun said:

@halroach said:

@designerbursa said:

SketchUp 8 isolate command does not work.
... for SketchUp 8.

Same here. Isolate command not working for me either. Ideas?

How about giving some information that I can act upon ?

WHICH Isolate command ? (there are two)

How about your OS platform and version ?
SketchUp edition and version ?

Did you read the Release Notes on page 1 of this thread ?
Do you understand that there are edit situations where "Isolate" is invalid ?

Under what circumstances does the command "not work" ?

Is the command "greyed out" when you try to use it ?

Are there any error messages in the Ruby Console when the command fails for you ?

1. "Isolate selected layers" not working

2. windows 7

3. Sketchup Pro 8

4. read the release notes - If you're referring to the points listed under v.1.3.0 - Still not sure I have fully understood what those situations mean.

5. I am trying to isolate a bunch of lines from a specific layer, while there are other lines and faces in other layers. nothing nested. also when trying with lines within a component, nothing happens.

6. not greyed out

7. When selecting a few lines and faces from one layer - run "Isolate selected layers" error message in ruby console:

Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined methodmap' for nil:NilClass>
C:/PROGRA~2/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/IntrepidBear/VisTools/VisTools.rb:197:in isolate_layers' C:/PROGRA~2/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/IntrepidBear/VisTools/VisTools.rb:577

@designerbursa said:

SketchUp 8 isolate command does not work.
May I have your update.
or Can you recommend a different version for SketchUp 8.

Same here. Isolate command not working for me either. Ideas?

@fredo6 said:

NEW RELEASE: LibFredo6 v6.1a - 21 Sep 14

LibFredo6 6.1a is a release mainly for VisuHole 1.0.

See main post of this thread for Download of LibFredo6.

Fredo

Hi Fredo!
Visuhole Looks like an amazing plugin, though I can't find where to download the latest Libfredo from. The download button doesn't appear for me on: http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=LibFredo6
Nor on the sketchucaiton plugin store from within Sketchup.
Can't wait to try it out!

Genocide mumbo jumbo!
Look up what the word means before you use it so freely. If Israel were into genocide The Palestinians would be long gone, a long long time ago.

The article below, might help you understand at least one little part of the story, or maybe you'll get an idea of why you think Israel is so evil, when it really isn't so bad.

I live here, knowing it is one of the most wonderful free and democratic countries in the world. I see it. I feel it. I live it. I live among Arab Israelis. I pay my rent to an Arab family. I have good Arab friends. The story in this country is so much more complicated than what you guys can imagine. So spare the blind hatred without knowing the full story. Come to this country... visit it. See it with your own eyes, take a tour... Maybe even live here for a while! maybe... you'll understand a little about the situation more than what the international media agencies spoon feed you their one sided stories with a clear and boring narrative, and maybe you'll understand that there is no simple solution to the problems here. I wish it were simple... If it were, it would have been done a long time ago.

There may be some similarities between the problems here and what was between northern Ireland and England, but yet it is soooo different. The Islamic hatred is a whole other cup O'tea. Just look at what's happening in Syria and Iraq now, beheadings, killings in the name of some imaginary friend.

Imagine people with that kind of mentality and brutality, knocking on your door with mortar shells every day of the week for years... And nothing being done about it.
If it would have happened to you, be it in England or Ireland or where ever in Europe, the imaginary genocide you so freely speak of, would have been long been done, but not by Jews or Israelis... but rather by...

It hurts to see the blind sightedness of highly intelligent people here.
Read these two articles... maybe they will shed some light on something.

1. An Insider’s Guide to the Most Important Story on Earth
   A former AP correspondent explains how and why reporters get Israel so wrong, and why it matters.
   http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/183033/israel-insider-guide?all=1

2. Why Don’t I Criticize Israel?
   http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/why-dont-i-criticize-israel?utm_source=Newsletter+subscribers%26amp;utm_campaign=7e5060b69b-JTA_Daily_Briefing_7_29_2014%26amp;utm_medium=email%26amp;utm_term=0_2dce5bc6f8-7e5060b69b-26838273

I agree.
Sketchup 8 is still more comfortable than 2014 with regard to customizing shapes of toolbars and locking them in place. I find that in 2014 when you try to move a toolbar it is way too sensitive and things start flying around... And really, not much new in 2014 to justify the switchover.

BUT, I seriously think you can forget about all that trouble by installing thom thom's super duper [anchor= goto=http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15491:39dvbm3b]vray tools plugin[/anchor:39dvbm3b]. I imagine you don't even need vray for it to work. You can see, and export any size picture you want without the need to adjust toolbars or screens.

Good Luck

@scostumatu said:

never mind - figured it out... i had to de select the forground option in the styles menu under match photo... it was making it lag

That seems to solve the problem of the unbearable slowness.
It appears it is a bug then, cause in previous versions - sketchup 8 - that problem didn't exist. You could freely work with the forground option on and with transparencies both of the model and of the photomatched photo.

Anyone aware of this bug?

Hi Thomthom,

I've been using edge tools for a long time. It's great!

A little idea that could be a great time saver.
It would be nice if you could add to the 'Inspect & Close' function, an option of dragging the mouse over a bunch of edges to have them all fixed at once.

(... Like when there is a long staircase imported from dwg where all of the steps aren't connecting... drag a selection all around them... and viola - all taken care of).