After all these hardware discussions I've come to the conclusion that the only major upgrade possible for a Sketchup user that will have any impact is themselves... meaning re-training themselves to work smarter within the limitations of the current system.

I will say that it is not a particularly compelling POV to pro users who can move onto "greener pastures" with multi-core, 64-bit, etc. type programs out there... I have the sense that alot of that is marketing hype, but the problem with marketing hype is it tends to work.

For what it's worth I can use Sketchup well at very high poly-counts without any real issues -- but I also dedicate alot of my time to "upgrading" myself.

Best,
Jason.

Solid Tools seem to be faster and less prone to error than the Smustard Bool Tools plugin... I have Bool Tools but didn't bother loading them for V.8 because Solid Tools seems superior.

It is worth noting that they added the bool functions to the Ruby API and that is being used by the free OSCoolean http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=14773 Plugin.

I have no idea if there is a performance hit going through the Ruby API versus the Solid Tools.

Best,
Jason.

I'm currently digging into DC a bit more -- I previously only used it for really simple things like setting textures and opening doors... this isn't a terribly useful model but it does showcase some of the problems I'm working on solving right now.

Sketchup 8 DC.

Best,
Jason.

Yeah I got the right to left thing mixed up -- I have a hard time with right and left, when somebody asks directions I always use east, west, north, and south... which drives my wife nuts.

I think it's a byproduct of being semi-ambidextrous.

Solid tools are the fastest, but I assumed you didn't have those.

Best,
Jason.

Turn off perspective then pick one of the standard views and use a left-to-right bounding box selection technique.

Best,
Jason.

You could also use Layout to get much better exports.

Best,
Jason.

I had a hard time deciding but I set for myself the criteria of only selecting 3 free plugins that almost any user would benefit from having.

SketchyFFD: Massively useful and simple to free form distort geometry.
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=25801&start=0

RoundCorner: Simple but powerful tool for rounding and beveling geometry.
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=20485&hilit=Round+Corner

JointPushPull: Amazing upgrade to Sketchups native push/pull concept.
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=6708

Best,
Jason.

Yep, almost all renderer's will give a free trial period... that is certainly the thing to do before simply going off a recommendation on a message board.

The biggest mistake I see people make with their choice of software is going by the results somebody else was able to get -- in the right hands almost any renderer is going to produce excellent results... the question you need to ask is how much of what you see is just post-production adjustments(which can be very significant).

Best,
Jason.

The flip-side to that is it could be that some our best and brightest Ruby coders are here because of (rather than despite) the lack of overseers... that would make it too much like a job thus squashing the creative spirit.

I'm not a big fan of micro-management of anything -- I personally prefer to have people let me do my thing my way... if that doesn't happen then I find a new playground. I'm sure there are Ruby authors who feel the same way.

I mean the crux of it is they are dissatisfied with how Sketchup works and are trying to re-create it in their image. If you have to deal with oversight then you begin to take away the ability of the author to "dream out loud".

I understand your desire to make things easier, and that is certainly on the mind of the Sketchup developers, but developing for the lowest common denominator is why Sketchup needs plugins in the first place.

Best,
Jason.

Yes and yes... maybe you should use it before you comment.

It's a free tool -- take it and be grateful just like you would any other plugin... if you feel that you need/want the more advanced features then you can pay for them. They have the right to charge whatever they think the market will bear -- if they are wrong then the market will speak and they will change their policy.

Griping about their pricing policy is pretty pointless.

Best,
Jason.

Looks very interesting, in the right workflow this could be a very reasonable price -- I think I see the work of a former poster on this forum behind alot of this.

Best,
Jason.

Near the bottom here:

Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

(sketchup.google.com)

Doesn't mention Pro only -- but only mentions Pro... there are a few other links to coding forums that back this up.

Best,
Jason.

No doubt -- Thea would be my first choice if I wasn't using/couldn't afford Maxwell.

Best,
Jason.

According to what little info I can find on the subject the C++ SDK is a Pro version only feature.

Best,
Jason.

My understanding is the Maxwell exporter makes use of the C++ API in Sketchup Pro for mega fast exports to render... Ruby exports can take 10 times longer (or more) for the same scene. Since Maxwell is definitely a "high-end" renderer it seems reasonable to think that the user-base is mostly professionals where time wasted waiting for exports to render would be too costly to tolerate.

Best,
Jason.

I have noticed that the Mac users of Layout already have many of the features that PC users would like -- things like text drop-shadow effects, kerning, ligatures, baseline, rulers, tables, PDF import and CYMK support.

I'm sure that many (if not all) of these features are somehow part of the OS but the disparity between platforms is very striking. Clearly Layout is a far superior program on the Mac. I was wondering if the intention is to close the gap between the platforms or if the answer is simply to switch to Mac if you want those features.

Best,
Jason.

This is well outside your budget but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway becasue they are running a promo right now: Maxwell Render http://www.maxwellrender.com/

Pro's:

1. Incredible Quality.
2. Outstanding Sketchup plugin that is getting better all the time.
3. Stand-alone "studio" application for working with assets from multiple softwares and high poly assets that Sketchup can't handle.
4. Free plugins for many 3D apps so you can take it with you from program to program.

Con's:

1. Price
2. Requires Sketchup Pro

Here's a link to some tutorial videos to give you an idea of how it works:

http://think.maxwellrender.com/first10steps.php?categoryFS=15

Best,
Jason.

This looks and and even a little

Best,
Jason.

No, thank-you ... anything I can pass on is going to help make more sense of the separation in the tools and the "why" behind it.

Just fact finding and trying to make double sure I know what is really happening... you know what they say, "measure twice, cut once"

Best,
Jason.