Thanks for the comments Bryan and Alexandre. Will have another look at it for sure.

I tried out the new update for LightUp on a current project. It's the remodeling of the interior of an old barn (furniture not included). In my proposal it would be more open plan. Work in progress, the clients are deciding which design option to choose.

Still learning LightUp so a lot to improve. The stills don't really do it justice - real time walking around in the 3d model does. Calculation time around 14 minutes. C&C, tips are very welcome.

@unknownuser said:

Is this only when you render or also within Sketchup?
It's not visible in SketchUp but only during the LightUp walkthrough (LightUp runs in Sketchup - no seperate program).

@unknownuser said:

I'm preparing a version with new improvements regarding managing multiple trees in a model, with grass features. Cant wait to show you a preview result

Looks great!

@jiminy-billy-bob said:

I think you missed something.
In a layer-based workflow, the layers are only used to manage the geometry visibility. That's what you do with hidden geometry and scenes.
But navigating in the group/comps hierachy is still done the same way: Using outliner if you like it, or double-clicking if you don't.
Layers have nothing to do with navigating in the geometry and how it is nested. They're just a matter of controling its visibility.

I understand your point. At the moment I only have to name all my groups and components (everything is on layer 0) and drag them into the right 'tree'. You're suggesting to use layers for controlling the visibility and, if I would like to avoid more double-clicking, use naming as well for quick picking in the outliner. That could get messy when re-arranging objects etc.
I rather wish if the original problem could be fixed somehow: being able to control the visibility of nested groupsin scenes.

I tried out the new version of LightUp. To be able to switch to a section during a walkthrough is really great! It helps the clients to understand the design and looks nice as well.

@charevir56 said:

This is another video about model organization from the same author
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rSxMRJp8Zc

I just watched both videos. He has put quite some time in thinking about a workflow and I can imagine why people will want to use it.

But, I still prefer an Outliner based workflow because I can directly open the group / component I want instead of having to click through the entire nested groups hierarchy. This way, I save quite an amount of double clicking on objects:
Layer Based: double click on first floor -> double click walls -> double click on conceptual etc -> <group>
Outliner based: single click on plus sign in Outliner to open a particular tree -> look for a named group in the hierarchy -> double click on that group.

Also, the Outliner presents me a visual hierarchy of the project: I can immediately see if objects are in the right structure or not.

Its all a matter of habit and type of projects I think. For now I will stick to the Outliner based workflow and cross my fingers the SketchUp team at one point will have a look at preserving the visibility status of nested groups in scenes.

Edit: could a plugin 'fix' this problem or is this beyond Ruby's reach? Given the popularity (or lack of) the Outliner, I'm not sure if this issue will be on Trimble's to do list soon.

@jiminy-billy-bob said:

Why are you reluctant to try a layer based workflow? Is Layers Panel missing anything that you need?
Why do you thing an outliner-based workflow is better for you than a layer-based one?

Your JBB Layers Panel is a very nice addition to SketchUp. I tested it twice shortly but I still preferred using the outliner because:

1. the outliner workflow served me well until now. Just one problem in my POV(see first post).
2. Outliner is a native sketchup option - available in every Sketchup install (also at my clients) so I can show / alter my design quickly without the need to download additional plugins.
3. Its easy to copy and make alternatives: if I have a nested tree for a design option, I copy that tree, rename the top group and start working in the sub-groups. No problems with layer-states etc.
4. easy re-arranging of objects in the tree.

I'm curious if the latest version of Layers Panel can do 3) and 4). Maybe I will have to switch and just do 2) whenever I need it. Still curious though if the Sketchup team intends to 'fix' the Outliner.

Thanks for your reply charevir56.
I think I have already seen a Basecamp2014 video with Mike and he uses mainly layers for his workflow. I would prefer sticking to my Outliner based workflow but I will keep an open mind while looking at the videos you suggested.

Just 'discovered' this plugin. Added an array with often used groupnames (SFB codes) which is displayed in the dropdown list instead of the layer names and this speeds up my workflow quite a bit. Many thanks for this gem Thom!

I use the Outliner all the time. I started using it 4 years ago so I could create logical hierarchies (there was no JBB Layers Panel plugin at that moment).

What always bugged me a bit is the logic in controlling the visibility of nested groups in scenes (see image).

I would like to be able to hide nested groups in scenes. Problem is: if I create a scene and 'temporary' hide nested groups, these groups will be hidden in the rest of the scenes as well. Where is the logic in that? The base group is visible so why are some nested groups hidden from that moment on?

To get around this problem I sometimes make some extra layers for controlling the visibility but now I'm running into problems with that as well.

Inspired by Nick Sonders' videos and the trouble with projects getting larger and having too many scenes, I want to break up my projects into:

1. A base file where I do all the modelling
2. A file with the base file inserted as a component and scenes for doing all the layout scene management
3. A file with the base file and a terrain file inserted as components for adding scenes for presentations
   ...

And now back to the problem with my current workflow: the inserted base-file component in new files act as the base group so in scenes there's no way to control the visibility of the sub-groups....

Is this working as intended? Any way to get around this problem? If there's no solution I might have to ditch my current workflow (which I was always happy with) and switch to a workflow based on nested layers (JBB Layers Panel) instead.

Suggestions would be very welcome...

Max

@andyc said:

... I'm not talking about anything illegal, but just certain industries you feel ethically uncomfortable about.

I had the same problem twice. Both times I chose to do 'the right thing' and didn't accept. The idea of having to work (for a long period of time) on something that made me feel ethically uncomfortable was no option to me. Both times I could just afford financially not to accept and looking back I'm still very happy I didn't compromise my values.

My clients are always impressed by the realtime walkthroughs in SketchUp with LightUp. The possibility to show them a section with lighting as well is a very welcome addition to LightUp!

Another nice Basecamp 2014 video: 5 years working on the same model of ancient Rome

you can also put the section planes on several / different layers and by hiding a layer temporary get them out of your way.

have you tried http://www.smustard.com/script/ProfileBuilder which has a link for the manual?

@rich o brien said:

...He even took the time to explain some of the finer points of using LightUp like a boss.

Any chance you could share some of that wisdom?

THE selling points to me were:

• the lighting adds depth to the Sketchup model
• it's fully integrated in Sketchup: easy switching between evaluating and refining the design.
• LightUp doesn't calculate just a single image but calculates the lighting solution for the entire 3d model so you can evaluate / show the 3d design by walking around in the model.

@otb designworks said:

...I am paranoid that a dim will change when I move it and I won't notice.

That's why I do all my dimensioning in Sketchup. 'Smart' is a potential disaster for anyone who's responsible for the measurements in construction drawings.
Smart dimensions are nice but only when adding the dimensions. After that I want them as dumb as a doorknob - until I tell a particular dimension line to update.

@nomaa said:

I was advised to take a MSI GeForce GTX760 gaming for the graphic card though some people thought that was too much and advised a GeForce GTX750Ti.
Who's got any thoughts about this?

Pity we never know if the gfxcard is the bottleneck or the cpu.

But if you look at these numbers a gtx750Ti is not the way to go if you ever plan to load more heavy scenes. http://www.hwcompare.com/17292/geforce-gtx-750-ti-vs-geforce-gtx-760/

edit: I almost never have 100Mb scenes but when I do, my gtx560ti448 is struggling and that one has several better specs compared to the gtx750ti. Still, we don't know if my cpu or the gpu is 'killing' the performance...

Just noticed something in Layout2014:

If I zoom to some portion of my paper in Layout, switch (click or alt-tab) to another program and switch back to Layout (alt-tab or click), it reverted to zoom all. Would prefer if Layout wouldn't change zoom. New feature in 2014?