Hi Box, thanks for your suggestions. I did actually use copy and array to make the grids in my pics. I have to make a lot of grids in different sizes, on an ongoing basis.. so Im just looking for a smarter solution. That 10mm colour panel idea of yours is very clever. Cheers for that.

And thanks Cotty for your pointer. I didnt know there was a repeated copy option on the move tool.

Thanks for the edge colour tip Pilou. Id never heard of that. Exotic! Thats what Im looking for! I will definitely check that out. Not sure about the round grid though

Many thanks

Mal

Hi Pilou,

Thanks for your response and sorry for creating the confusion.

I would like to find a quick, easy and flexible method to make a grid that accommodates wall thickness. All the grids Ive seen are just squares. In the diagram below. I would like to be able to adjust the size of the larger and the smaller squares.

If I could configure the grid to complex shapes, that would be a bonus, but a simple adjustable rectangle would be ok.

If the grid lines could be a different colour to distinguish the grid from the model, that would be a bonus too.

If the bigger squares have faces, it will create a shimmer problem for me.

If the grid lines are guides it will create a "delete guides" problem for me.

Thanks again for your input Pilou.

Cheers

Mal

Hi Sdmitch, Thanks for the response. Much appreciated!

Yes the "basic ceiling grid without the faces" is what Im looking for.

I had a play around with the plug in and deleted the t grid and the tiles and whats left is great a 2D grid without faces on the tiles.

Sorry to be a pest, but can the tile size and t-grid width somehow be edited to other sizes? Eg 2000mm x 2000mm tiles with a 100mm grid width?

Cheers

Mal

Thanks Box for the suggestion and the link. I have the workplane plugin. Im not sure that it can be edited to show the grid with a "tiles and grout" pattern as per the pic (That is pivotal to what I would like).

Cheers

Mal

Hi All,

Im fairly new at this and Ive been searching for something, but Im not really sure what it is.

I would like a simple grid to help with design. A grid that has squares and separators (see attached image). It could be a tool, or a plug-in, or a component or just a SU method, Im really not sure, but what I would like is something that:

• I could place modules on, then move them around with referencing
  Could be edited to change the dimensions of the "tiles" and "grout"
  Doesnt produce shimmers (z fighting), ie no faces between the lines
  Hopefully could be coloured lines
  Hopefully could be configured to any size or shape

I found something that was very close but not quite what I need, which was the amazing Ceiling Grid plugin (by sdmitch I think his name was).

If anyone could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated.

Mal

Hi Gai,

Thanks for the advice. I used your curviloft method from the link and it works really well! I made a solid group with a contoured top in 5 minutes... after a few failed attempts ofcourse. When the penny drops its quite simple.

Cheers

Mal

Hi Im still learning sketchup techniques and Im looking for some tips on terrain modelling. Ive struggled a bit with this process, particularly on sloping land which is something I have to deal with a lot. Ive had good results by turning contours into a solid group and then melding the building into the land by using the solid tools.

Ive attached a couple of pics to explain what I mean.

The problem is, it took me an eternity to create the solid terrain. In fact it took me that long I forgot how I did it. Basically I used the "intersect face with selection" tool then some erasing, then finding its not a solid object yet.

If someone could point me in the direction of a quicker, smarter and easier technique I would be very grateful.

Im using Pro now by the way.

Cheers

Mal

Gai, U R the Man!

Your tutorial is exactly what I was looking for. Wall thicknesses tend to be constant so no probs there, quite happy to re-load on a different wall plane. I would have been happy with fish-tanks for windows.

Im yet to work my way through it all but hopefully I can blunder my way to a result of sorts.

Many thanks!

Mal

Hi Im trying to make (or find) some easy windows for architectural drawings... ie windows that:

will cut their own openings in two faces of a wall;
can be moved around the wall and take their openings with them;
can be copied without losing their cutting powers and
hopefully are scalable

is such a thing possible?

Ive gone through a few tutorials here from Gaieus and Sorgesu but I couldnt seem to make it happen.

Any tips anyone?

Im more than happy to use someone elses components. They dont have to be amazing looking windows, simple boxes would be ok.

Cheers

Mal

I may be wrong here but the original question, I believe, was about the extension line (the perpendicular bit) being inconsistent with the dimension line. The extension line positions itself relevant to the actual point being dimensioned, so dimensions can look all-over-the- place, (because they look different when the dimension line is above or below, or left or right or closer/nearer to the object).

Is there a way that all dimensions can be configured so that the extension line is constant to the dimension line throughout an LO drawing? Its a better look!

Good idea CC, I may well use that method. I would also like to reserve the right to use the word "persnickerty" on all of my sketchup drawings.

Thanks for the tips

Mal

Thanks for the tip Edson. Sounds like a good plan. Cheers

Thanks Peter pbacot, the wedges are gone. I even have some dotted arcs showing doors to be removed.. Happy Days

Mal

By the way, I had a go at the Sonder Method, thanks Nick , and it was just a breeze. Just push pull and poche, and thats it. The jobs done. Maybe if Im going to use SU, I should use its strongest attribute (3D graphics), rather than trying to bang it into shape to suit my old technique.

I did the door swings in layout using the arc tool but they turned out like potato wedges... Any tips on avoiding that?

Cheers

Mal

Dave!!

That is amazing, and so easy! Thanks for the seamless instructions. Just what I needed.

Much appreciated!

Mal

@dave r said:

In LO, I would create two, overlapping view ports one for each of those scenes. I would render as vector or and then explode the one showing the demolition. After that, the lines can be turned into dashed/dotted lines using the Shape inspector box.

Hi Dave, thanks so much for your suggestions on the Dave Method. Ive been trying to put it into action and managed the easy bits in SU but Im struggling a bit with everything that came after "in LO". Drawing new dotted lines in LO seems easy enough but I wonder if you could elaborate a bit on your comment. What I would like to know is: How do I render as vector? And how do I explode and change the lines to dashed? I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure it out and the only thing that exploded was my tiny mind lol.

It seems quite an interesting method, and any suggestions you have would be much appreciated

Mal

Hi Guys, thanks so much for the response. Im blown away actually.

Dave R... thats a great idea with the two separate scenes. Very simple and effective. Thanks for the LO tips too, I get a bit Lost in LO, like entering the Twilight Zone.

ArCad... the mask tip looks like a very handy technique, Thanks for that. Im sure I will use it often. (I use a lot of "white-out" in my office... A lot!)

Pbacot..thanks for the example and the layout tips. Thats fabulous. And I think you're right about the amendments issue, anything that eases the dreaded and inevitable has gotta be good.

Sonder... Wow! The shadowing and materials certainly gives the drawings a lift when compared to line work. Maybe if I "fog up" the walls to be demolished, give them that ghosty look, it could be quite funky. Somehow I dont think I'll be cranking out a plan like yours this afternoon but its definitely food for thought. Cheers

Thanks again for the tips people. MUCH appreciated

Mal

Hi people, I had an email exchange with Mayor Mike and he suggested I post my questions here to get some tips on architectural drawings, (and he promised me you wouldnt laugh

Im having a go at preparing my first set of construction drawings in layout and Im struggling to do really basic stuff, (Ive actually spent my entire career on the drawing board which probably doesnt help).

The project is a renovation and upgrade of a little beach house. Ive given the client the design (in sketchup)and theyve given it the thumbs up. I would normally start the documents with an existing conditions/demolition plan.

Please correct me if Im doing this wrong:

Ive cut a "plan" section slice through the model of the existing building, set up a scene in wireframe and sent it to layout. I have it at the required scale on a title block in LO.

I now want to change some lines (existing walls) to dotted lines (demolished walls). Is there a smart way to do this? Because my method is very slow and painful.

Any tips would be much appreciated, including line weights or any funky display techniques

Cheers

Mal

Dear DMS, I thought it was a simple question with an easy answer but apparently not. Whether it be too tiresome a topic, totally taboo, or trembling trimblitis is a mystery, and I expect will remain so in this here forum. If you hear a whisper please let me know. Cheers. Mal

Hi, my first newbie post:: When I try to export an animation, the avi movie shows the active section cuts quite different to what appeared on the sketchup model. The model animates perfectly, but the movie shows an unwanted section cut on every scene. Ive updated the scenes, and the active section planes, and the styles of each scene. I saved the file before exporting, but still no cigar. Any tips??