Thanks for such a fast replies!
One additional question about plugins. Do you know if there is any plugin that would create some kind of lattice wireframe inside the object, see image below? I am just thinking if there was an easy way to do this maybe the 3d lattice structure could be created by trimming and thickening the wireframe with the help new functionality in Profile Builder 3.0 (Build Along Multiple Paths).
I am using Sketchup to create some functional parts. Do you know if there are any commercial or paid Sketchup plugins for creating this kind of 3D lattice structures, see links below?
How important it is to make the part single solid object (no components or groups) when preparing the object for 3D printing?
I have been 3d printing my Sketchup models multiple times. The last time I noticed that I had forgot to make the part a single component and it was still printing just ok even though it was including components.
When trying to learn Blender displace modifier and also noticed that Blender Tissue Add-on could be really powerful tool in my case.
Some examples of Tissue Add-on:
http://gappyfacets.com/2015/11/06/blender-tissue-add-on-elementary-experiments/
@rich o brien said:
Blender can do this with the Poke tool.
Also displacement modifiers can help.
Thanks for these tips! The poke tool short screen capture tutorial was perfect. My Blender skills are really rusty because I have not used Blender for years. With the Poke functionality and Loop Cuts I can already create really nice parametric surfaces.
The displace modifier could be a really powerful way to create these kind of parametric surfaces. I will need to examine it more. Is it so that I should be able modify the surface geometry to match the displacement texture with the help of this modifier?
So far I have not been able to get it done but I assume that I will need to have the UV mapping and subdivisions correct to get it working.
I am using Sketchup for modeling my 3D prints. Do you know some essential tools, extensions or plugins (free or paid) that could be used for creating kind of parametric forms for the surface of the objects, see example below. Or do you know some good other software to create this kind of geometry that could work together with Sketchup?
This is one tool that can be used to create special geometry on top of model surface: http://www.voronator.com/
I my case I have this rounded box with opening and I would like to create more artistic surface on it because it is more decorative item in bathroom.
I still have not found a simple and good solution even though I thought that this would be a kind of "must functionality" in Sketchup especially when talking about 3D printing.
Now I have decided to create the lines/structure in Sketchup because you can't beat Sketchup in easiness to do this and take the the geometry to Blender and use Skin Modifier. The below link to discussion (comment 6) explains how to do this. But still there is no cylinder profile in this solution.
https://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/3149/how-can-i-render-an-edge-only-mesh-as-solid-lines
This Plugin (s4u Make Frame) seems to work quite efficient in my case even though this is still not the plugin that I remember to use earlier.
Thanks for suggestions. Luckily I have Profile Builder 2, which could a little with the task. I need to do some more testing because I was not able to get systematic results yet when trying to trim the pipes. Also, Didier Bur's Lines to Tubes makes individual objects and seems that it is not possible to make those solids easily.
Somehow I remember that there had been some plugin that was doing this kind operation and I even think that I have made a copy of this plugin somewhere in my old computer but I just can't find it. I also think that when using this plugin the "handrail/ladder structure" needed to have faces and when using the plugin the faces were removed and tubes were created. I will keep searching and do some more testing with Profile Builder.
Is there a plugin that would convert lines or wireframe to single tube/frame?
I would like to create handrails in my model and finally use 3D printer to print the model. Therefore it would be essential to create handrails easily and make it solid automatically. There are few plugins that convert lines to tubes but with these plugins multiple components will be created. Do you know any free or paid plugins that would do this?
Plugins to create tubes from lines:
Draw pipes from lines
Line to tubes
Has anybody any experience in creating miniature or scale model out of Sketchup models? I would need to create different size scale models, lets say size: 30cm x 30cm x 30cm or 50cm x 50cm x 50cm that are industrial equipment or heavy machinery/vehicle models. I would say that the material should be plastic, aluminum, etc.
Do you know any companies who can make these from Sketchup models?
In Affinity Forum I was able to get the answer. This kind of effect is possible to make with the help of Inner Shadow, 3D Effect and the Bevel/Emboss Effects in Affinity Designer.
Could somebody to help me with the first steps in painting 3d effect in my render?
I would like to pain the 3d effect in my final render (bunkers) but my skills in Photo editing are really poor. Are there any tutorials available that would show how to do this? Or are there any simple applications/tools/plugins to do this?
My current render:
img host
This is what I would like to achieve:
img host
This looks really interesting. I have been wondering why there has not been this kind of tool (SKetchup modeling functionalities inside Unity) developed earlier.
EDIT: Subject modified
Earlier I was testing different software for controlling my desktop computer with the help of laptop in my living room. I found the best one to be Anydesk when considering performance and quality. I actually use Sketchup and Unity3D with help of this remote software. Anyway, I have not really tested Anydask over the internet.
I am not a real expert with image editing and I have earlier been using Paint.net for editing and fine tuning my renderings. I never really learned to use Gimp and Photoshop has always been too expensive for my needs.
Affinity Designer for Windows (beta) was just released and it seems really simple and efficient tool for beginners. So far it has been really quick and easy to learn. The Mac version price is 50€ so finally there seems to be a good tool for my needs with reasonable price.
@rich o brien said:
Use Vertex Tools on the selected boundary and extrude it on Z.
Or SDMitch Terrain Skirt tool.
Thanks! I have so far tested Skirt tool and that works well in my case at least.
I have terrain modeled for golf hole and I would need to take this model into game engine. I would need to select the outer edges of the current terrain model and drop/project these lines to 500mx500m terrain plane, a kind creating a skin between terrain model and terrain plane to create a square terrain model.
Do you have any suggestion for tools/plugins that I could use to make it quick to do? I have to do it 18 times.
I was planning to do it by selecting outer edges of the terrain and using Drape tool but this requires flat geometry to be projected. I also tested Curviloft plugin but I didn't get it working. Do you know any other plugins or technique to create this kind of skin?
Thanks for the tips! I already downloaded Draftsight and it looks quite handy and simple. Thanks also for that dxf import plugin I didn't know that this is available.
Skatter looks really interesting! One question, where do Skatter users get all the vegetation and especially trees that they use in the example pictures?
I am just wondering if I still need to spend 3-4 times Skatter price to have decent and comprehensive set of vegetation and trees.