At university we were told 65 degrees is the maximum before things starts to look really silly but it depends on the size of the subject.

@unknownuser said:

I created my Samurai Sword Edge style for SketchUp!

Great style Craig!

The Pink eraser was destroyed. Bryce would be erased no more.

Does sketchy physics work with vista yet?

well that's my plans for today altered

I did this with the blade of grass brush in Gimp - same brush is in PS.
Some sort of fur or grass I suppose. Style builder is very easy to use though.

fur or grass.style

Perfect images

Do you know you can run SU on Ubuntu Linux? I'm going to try it on my old machine.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3855156

There is proof of this on you tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKcepdfm5C8

drivers:
http://aksels.de/software.php#sketch

I've never used Linux before but it fits mine and my colleagues business philosophy - it's free so worth a try. "Is it free?" should be our slogan.

Yeah, it is a bit phoney. Did you watch the demo? It doesn't appear to make modelling any faster. It must be useful for people with disabilities though. I also thought it might be useful for education or demonstrations on a projector.

http://www.speak4cad.com/SketchUpProduct.html

http://www.amazon.com/Chevrolet-Cavalier-Pontiac-Sunfire-Automotive/dp/156392403X

Have you considered getting the Haynes manual? see link, they normally have very detailed isometric drawings, it might help if you are going to model it.

Chris

As we have just started to provide a GE building modelling service, I have really carefully read the GE license agreement and emailed Google staff to ask questions. I think that this method could be illegal. It would be good if Craig D or Brad could find out for us all.

IMO it seems a bit unethical. OK, Google modelled NY, so no individual is being exploited if you create a 3d massing model of Manhattan (but it might be illegal). But the vast majority of other modellers are modelling GE stuff on a client - per building basis at a local level. In one shot this software can create a city model that represents hundreds of hours of work, therefore exploiting all those individuals.
Surely this software will be used not just by architecture students but for commercial means.

GE modeling is a very hard service to sell anyway because so many willing modellers do it for free, but from the research that I have done, I believe that there is a growing professional demand for it. The risks that this software poses could really deter commercial clients.

Jackson,

@unknownuser said:

@unknownuser said:

Jon Wood wrote:
Dual core not supported by SU? I'm told I'll still see faster because windows functions will operate on one while SU is using the other?This is definitely NOT TRUE (although I've also heard "experts" say otherwise).

I think you mean Tom.

@unknownuser said:

I know this because I had an HPzd7000 Pentium4 2.4GHz lappie which died and was replaced by a HP dv8000 Centrino Duo 1.83GHz and although it is a better machine in every way, much better nVidia graphics card, bigger HDD and more RAM (only 1.5Gb though), runs multiple programs brilliantly, runs some programs (especially render progs) faster and runs way cooler IT DEFINITELY RUNS SKETCHUP SLOWER.

In this case I'm probably just seeing SU run faster as I have a newer machine - not because of dual core.

Stu said:

@unknownuser said:

So, so far, Vista isn't quiet as bad as I feared,..........

I agree, I haven't said a good word for it, probably unfair, it isn't un-useable. I don't feel so frustrated with it that I'll be switching back to XP, although I have had to stop using a few useful older programs but I can run all the essentials.

Yes from what I have seen so far Caddict I think it could be a very useful app for me.

Edsun, yes I have used Vectorworks in the past but as I'm now self employed cost is a big factor. In the past I have used most of the big cad players; Autocad, Revit, Vectorworks etc. I have only ever really been fully proficient with AutoCAD though.

I have suggested before that Sketchucation has a freeware / alternative software forum as I think alot of people could benefit from it.

Good idea Csaba!

I think that will work. Definately worth trying. I'll do an experiment.

Hi Edsun

Cycas fits my criteria straight away as there is a fully functional free version for non commercial use (to license that is 98 euros, Pro version is 288 euros). Download below.
http://www.cycas.de/down.php?s=en&sys=win#top

I haven't delved too deeply into Cycas yet but the tutorials are good and it looks like the potential is there. Cycas has a totally different interface to any cad program I have used before but its simple and fast. I spent ages trying to track down a serious program on the internet that would let me draw in 2d plan view but at the same time create the 3d geometry. Cycas does this. It also integrates well with V-Ray and Pov-Ray but I can't use these functions as V and Pov won't run on Vista.
You also get much cleaner import and export from and to SU than you do with AutoCAD.

I think I'm correct in saying SU will export textured models but won't import textured models. I don't think the DXF exports include textures anyway, just the geometry. I have started using Cycas too, I think it could become my main CAD tool.

Hi Bert, you obviously know your push pull from your follow me.

I have had this same problem, I'm not sure if this is correct info across the board but I've had results by correcting the following aspects;

1. Basic errors like you might have two faces on top of each other
2. You need to optimise your model for GE - look on the Google Earth homepage under "Modelling for Google Earth".
3. There are too many textures in your model for GE to deal with.
4. Try exporting as a KMZ and viewing that in GE instead of the sketchup model - it fixed all my problems, this and optimising.

What do you mean by contours? Do you mean the stringer? If so you can do it like this with the "follow me" tool. There is a problem though in that your tread lengths and the curve angles are not uniform so you don't get an attractive curve to the stringer, although if you fiddle about with the axis you can improve the way it looks. I just did it quickly. Maybe you could curve the top of the stringer. If you actually want to build this staircase, check your local building codes, usually stair treads all have to be the same length.

Thanks, Susan, Gidon, Edson.

I had tried this before but could'nt really get the hang of it. I have a project to draw a fountain that will involve lots of concentric circular arrays. I can't wait to get on with it now! I'd struggle to draw a box if it wasn't for this forum.