@gullfo said:

if the imported objects are "solids" then you could use "outer shell".

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.

I'm looking to use sketchup to print architectural models coming out of Revit. Is there a plugin available that will essentially wrap the exterior of a model comprised of several groups/components into a single solid form?

Essentially I'm wanting to shrink wrap the building so there is no "interior" anymore. Just a solid group that contains the exterior faces of the building.

Robert

Thank you so much. I definitely need to get some settings figured out because everytime I tried it it crashed my Sketchup instance. I'll keep going.

Just wondering if anyone knows of a plugin or tool that allows one to convert a texture (or image) to a sketchup mesh. I'm looking to get into architectural 3d printing and for things like brick textures I looking to print something with physical texture. I know I can go into sketchup and model each and every grout line manually but I was hoping there was something to convert say a displacement map to geometry.

Thanks,
Robert

Hey this is awesome, just a quick question. What do you typically use for tolerances between the nut and bolt? I know it depends on the printer but just wanted to get a baseline idea.

Robert

Just curious if you tried any of the suggestions above? Perhaps once you have the form you are looking to do a print of you can re-create a clean solid version in a new sketchup instance with the intent of 3d Printing it.

I would think most "Design Architects" would agree with the previous comments posted above regarding workflow.

Any chance you can post an example of a model you created so we could take a look at what your needs are?

One thing to check would be if the Pebble face is grouped or not. I believe VRray Displacement in Sketchup only works on grouped faces.

Looks amazing. For the peeled off paint was that textured or modeled? Looks so realistic.

Rob

I'm trying to import an OBJ. I want to keep the existing model scale but the plugin keeps asking for the height of the model. Is there a way to ignore that?

Look really interesting and details. Would be nice to see a real-life comparison when its all done. Good work!

Tig had created a plugin ages ago. Not sure if it still works or not, but you can check it out. Here is a link to the thread.

http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33310#p293698

Robert

Thanks for the tips. The issue is that when I export the revit model via stl it doesn't come into sketchup as solid parts. Perhaps I need export from Revit to SKP and then in sketchup export to stl at the end.

Hi,
I'm looking to print an Architectural model from Revit via Sketchup. I can export an STL from Revit and bring that into sketchup but it adds in numerous interior objects (ie partition walls) that I don't want to print. Esssentially I want to print the shell of the building as a solid. Is there a plugin perhaps that would allow me to create a box around the sketchup model then via boolean delete the model from the box and then finally invert whats left? To sort of "Shrink-wrap" the model into one solid?

Thanks,
Robert

]I think you are looking for V-Ray Wrapper Material see this https://docs.chaosgroup.com/display/CWVRAY3MAYA/V-Ray+Wrapper+Material

See image below.

Good morning,

I'm trying to create a Corrugated metal texture in VraySU and I have all the maps setup properly, but for the main diffuse layer I want a simple color map so I can change the color of the material as needed. The issue I'm having is that I need to be able to see the corrugated texture in SU in order to place it correctly. I tried creating a second Diffuse map using the height bitmap on top of the colored one and turning it off in VRAY but it doesn't seem to link itself to the height/bump maps so moving and scaling the texture in SU doesn't translate when rendering.

Any thoughts on how this can be done?

I know in earlier versions of VRAY this worked by making the top diffuse layer 100% transparent, but I can't seem to get that to work now.

Robert

That and using a Vray Toon Material that renders the subd'ed edges.

It truly is as they say "in the eye of the beholder".

Direct comparison, yes, Vray is more "powerful" than Enscape. But does that mean you get better renderings out of Vray than you would out of Enscape? Not necessarily.

It really is a subjective comparison, for example, in closer-up material rendering Displacement might be better for realism, but for most cases where the material is viewed at a distance you would be hard pressed to see a big difference between a displaced material or a bump'ed material.

More important than perhaps what software is being used to render is a) the quality of the materials and their maps and b) the quality of the model.

And finally, there is the Post-Process factor. I would say 80-90% of the "realistic" renders you see are 50% model, 25% render and then 25% post processing.

So to summarize, if you are just getting into rendering, I would look to start with a simple rendering engine to get the basics down. All these skills are transferable from software to software. If you get a 30 trial of vray you might spend 20 days just trying to get an understanding of all the settings whereas a 30 day trial of Podium or Enscape would have you up and running quicker.

Better yet, check out Twinmotion. Its a real-time rendered that is easy to use but you can work on materials the same way as you would with Vray and currently the 2019 edition is free.

Hope this helps,
Robert

Are you importing the PNG as a Texture or as an Image? Do you have a picture of the outcome?

@joydeep70 said:

With thea render there is a option called z clip. I think that will solve your problem.

Thanks for the tip, however this is the VRAY forum not the Thea forum and the last post is over a year old.

Is there any chance the wall in the mirror has a reversed face? Could that cause the issue?