Old thread that i just came across.
I have a need to export PNG with Transparent background.
Found this goodie, but i get an error at load now (SU 2014).
Any ideas?

@rich o brien said:

The Component Library Panel allows you to set what you need

Components Window, in my version.
Thanks the Always Face Camera setting is there.

Can you access the settings, particularly Always Face Camera, and Set Component Axes after you've created your Component?

There are 2 ways to make a Component and only one of them leads me to the Create Component panel with those 2 settings.

• I have a hotkey setup to Make Component and this takes me the Create Component panel.
• Use the Right Click menu to Create Component, but this does not open the Create Component panel.

In my scenario I have spent time cutting out areas and drawing lines on a Plane that was flat against the ground.
When done I Group it, stand it upright, explode, then use my hotkey to Create Component and set Always Face Camera and set Axes.

But this time i can't explode my Group, when I do I loose all faces, the all just disppear.
It would be time consuming to try and redraw them all.

It would be great if I could just convert my Group to a Component AND access the two settings i need..

@glenn at home said:

You could always download and use the Bluebeam Revu trial. It allows you the measure PDFs. You can even set the scale or calibrate to a known distance. Once the trial is over you can continue to use it in "Vu" mode. It's a very slick tool.

Thanks.
I used to use BlueBeam Revu years ago, mostly for the one click PDF conversion and a few Markup tools.
Looks like they've added functionality.

I guess i could use a door as a known dimension.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!An4TIiBt2x9fnDlj8TAbtJZBkpTJ?e=Pi0f6S

@l i am said:

If you do not have a high res converter try this it works online with no fees or sign up

PDF to JPG Converter | Convert Your PDF to Image Online

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And if you are using SUP it does support PDF's

It's the scaling down within SU where the quality of the image drops.
Makes sense because 36" x 24" is a small area in SU for a Plan that has 4 elevations within it.

@l i am said:

Like I said, scale the page in SU to 36 x 24 inches. then scale

Ok I think I follow you.
I can save the PDF as an image file.
Drag that into SU, scale to 36" on the long side - but then my image looks pretty crude as it's been scaled down (is that due to my current unit settings?)
But that's probably ok for now.
Use Tape Measure Tool to determine how many inches wide this elevation is, then do the math and punch in the result..

@l i am said:

Are you aware of how to scale in sketchup?
If so you could scale the page in Sketchup to the said dimentions and then do simple maths
1/4" = 1'-0" 1:48.........imperial......sheesh'
Or stating the obvious by asking the supplier for one know dimention
Beware, when you scale the 2 different scales do them in different sketchup models and bring one into the other after scaling or you will be in trouble as SU does not scale the item but the whole world scale.

Yes i know how to scale in SketchUp.
What i don't know however, is how do I determine what 1/4" is in the PDF?
Or even 1 foot for that matter.

@l i am said:

Are you going to be using the plans in sketchup?
Does is say 1/4" = 1'-0" at A1 or A2 ect? does it nominate page size?

Yes to the first question.
I don't see a page size, but the PDF file properties says:
Page Size: 36 x 24 inches

So it must be "D Sized Paper for Architectural Plans"
https://www.engineersupply.com/Drawing-Size-Reference-Table.aspx#:~:text=D%2Dsize%20paper%20for%20architectural,course%2C%20other%20drawing%20paper%20sizes.

If someone sent you plans for a house in PDF, that included Front, Left, Right, Rear Elevations and a RoofPlan.

But there were no dimensions included at all and the only information you had to go on was a scale ruler sort of information under the elevation title that says:
FRONT VIEW
1/4" = 1'-0"
(one quarter inch equals one foot).

The other Elevations are a different scale:
1/8" = 1'-0"
(one eighth inch equals one foot)

But you don't have a large format printer to print this PDF and a scale ruler to use

Photoshop somehow?

When i export as a PNG, the shadows are showing up as a gray opaque that's follwing the horizon line guess.
You can see the shadow on the ground is ok, but what's with this gray?
It's not in the model

Nevermind it's working!
I had not clicked on a little button on the Shadow Settings window

Here is the file

test-scene-shadows.skp

Here's what my settings look like.
I don't know why it's grayed out on this part.

I have a new performance laptop and find Shadows are not working.
SU version 2014.
Laptop is MSI GS65 Stealth

I checked all the objects in scene to insure they are all set to cast and receive shadows.
Have tried changing various OpenGL settings but no luck.
Any advice?

Hi i'm not sure how to phrase this.
But i have a Front and Rear Elevation and it shows the roof pitch 12" / 4"
So i think that's a rise of 4" of height for every 12".

But based on this, can i figure out what the roof would look like for a Side Elevation?

I really like the look of this rendering and it looks like an SU image export with a sketchy Style and materials.
http://app.resrc.it/s=w2048/O=95/http://facit-homes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/03-First-concept.jpg

What do you think they did?
Background photoshopped in?
And the trees, they look genuinely hand drawn so maybe it's done post processing.

Actually, i take it back about Revizto.

It costs €399 for stand-alone license.
While Theaa for SketchUp bundle costs €320.

@krisidious said:

Also to the OP Revizto is an external render/walk through program and it recognizes changes made in SU back and forth. Their quality of renderings doesn't really rank with some of those you've been talking about. But for price and speed I really like it.

(revizto.com)

I didn't see this until now.
Not as amazing looking as Thea or Vray but if it's quick, simple and clean.. it's worth a look.
I wonder how it compares in rending times with SUPodium.

Wow!
It reminds me of Vue in certain ways.

They're placing 3D trees in SU and it's showing the render window in real-time.
What Thea product is that?