Okay I think I got a work around.

I took the (Human Model) Collada file w/textures, that sketchup didn't map the texture to the model and imported it into blender.

I then exported it out of blender as a Collada file, then import that into sketchup and it worked. The texture mapped to the model the way it should.

Here's a render(Rendered using Twilight Render)of the model. Looks pretty good, I just used some basic settings.

I'm going to compare the file and see just how there different in the code.

@rich o brien said:

Is the .dae/.3ds mesh triangulated?

If SketchUp has to triangulate the import mesh then UVs/Textures can fail.

Is the mesh triangulated? I'm not really sure, I'll have to check.

@dave r said:

Do you get the same result if you import a .dae from a Collada file downloaded from the 3D Warehouse?

A lot of the collada files I've downloaded from 3dwarehouse weren't things that had textures, But I tried a few that did.

When I imported them, The models would appear apparently without the textures. Now I looked in the Material>In Model and found the textures had been imported, But the opacity on all of them had been set to "0%" and when I upped it to 100% the textures appeared on the model.

Now the other Collada files from other sources I tried, I found had imported the textures and they were at 100% opacity but not mapping to the model.

I'm guessing maybe it has to do with how sketchup uses UV mapping and maybe the collada files prefs., Tags etc.and maybe their not compatible or set the same.

I was going to open the dae files in text editor and do some comparing to see how they differ.

Okay, I've already searched the forum about this subject and read the posts/replies (and links). I'm assuming from what I read you can't do it, But I'm double checking in case there's something I missed or new or a different option.

When I try to import a .3ds or Collada .dae file which comes with textures (all in the same folder and correct name), That I've obtained from online or created in another program (Ex. In MakeHuman I created a person exported it as Collada file or 3ds ). The model imports okay but the textures are not imported or applied with it.

I noted though that if I export a model I made in Sketchup as a Collada file with textures, I can import that file back in and it has the textures.

So do Collada (or 3ds) files from other sources need certain settings so they work with sketchup? or can you manually just map the textures to the model in sketchup (UV mapping??)etc.

@rich o brien said:

SketchUp Plugins | PluginStore | SketchUcation

SketchUp Plugin and Extension Store by SketchUcation provides free downloads of hundreds of SketchUp extensions and plugins

(sketchucation.com)

Play around with the settings and you'll get what you need.

Hi Rich, Thank you for the prompt reply. Tried the plugin a few times and it looks like it will do the trick.

Note Using SUmake 2017, Windows

Ques.Is there a plugin or simpler way to create a object array where the size of the object progressively increases (or decreases) to the end? Maybe have some inputs regarding how much the increase is (10%, 20%, etc.) or maybe set a target end size and let it generate the in between sizes.

In this example I did a normal array, grouped them and then used Fredoscale:Box Taper.
This result was okay, but the sides of the cylinders became tapered and I'd like them to stay parallel.

@dave r said:

@spreadcore said:

If it helps, Here's a plugin I use called ArcCenter.rbz

Are you still using SketchUp 8 as indicated in your profile?

There's been no need for a plugin for this for several versions as it's a native feature.

Yes, I am. I don't particularly like using programs that I have to be online to use. So I don't use the newest ver. SketchUp 8 works just fine for the little stuff I do.

Sorry the plugin is useless.

@njsanna said:

Thanks Box. Good solutions that I did not realize.

If it helps, Here's a plugin I use called ArcCenter.rbz
Right click on arc/circle select "Point at Center" in menu and it creates a construction point at the center. You just need to add the guide line

Arc/Circle center

Thanks to Fletch!

Fletch:If it were me, I would render with exact studio lighting I wanted to make my object look best, then render the Alpha Mask and photoshop the sky image background in post-pro.

I used this composting method and it worked great.

Here was a quick test, I need to make some tweaks. But it worked well Thanks!

@fletch said:

With Environment set to "Background Image" it will not contribute to light or reflections, so your metal is not reflecting anything but black.
See the rest of my advice in my post on Twilight's forum.

Hi, I was starting to wonder if maybe the materials being reflective, might not be reflecting anything. I go check your post out.

@rich o brien said:

Could be a multitude of reasons. Reversed faces, incorrect light setup.... the list goes on.

What is lighting scene in image#3? Try placing a point light near the object to see if materials are diffuse light.

No reversed faces.
Lighting used is the same in all images, the basic Sun lighting. There are no added lights.
Since just starting out I'm using mostly all the default settings in sketchup & Twilight.

I added a point light source right next to the model, No difference.

This appears to only happen with the (Twi.Ren)Metal and Glass presets applied to the materials and using a background image or color (using different image appears to have no affect.

Note: Using the Spherical Sky setting yielded this.

I'm using Sketchup 8 and twilight win32 V2 Hobby.(Yes I know their old versions)
In image #1 this is how it looks in Sketchup, no rendering
In image #2 this is how it looks when rendered. Materials have Templates set to them and the background is set to Spherical Sky with a background image called softlight.hdr
That looks okay.
In image #3 this is how it looks when rendered with Background set to Background Fit Image. The Model is all Black. Note: This seems to mainly happen when using the Glass and Metal template presets.
In image #4 this is how it looks when rendered with Background set to Background Fit Image and all Templates removed from materials.
While the model looks kind of okay, it's not as good looking as the render with the templates in image #2

What am I doing wrong?

Just a suggestion, instead of doing the "rotate it many times around that point" manual way.

Try D,burs Align plugin:DBUR_Align_v1.0.1_5.rbz it's a lot faster.
Find at extension warehouse here:
http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/align

I used it to make this sample:

Just had to right click on the bolt plate and select Align component/group and align the red &green axis on the part you want the bolts on and it would copy and rotate it into place.

@chris fullmer said:

Yup, its going to align the blue axis of your component to the edges of the curve. So you need to edit your component (double click to enter inside the component) and then rotate the geometry so that it aligns with the blue axis, in the manner that you want to string it.

Post the model here if you still need help aligning it.

Chris

Okay, the align the blue axis was the part I needed. just tried it and works.

Though it still doesn't show the labels "Start" and "End" at the ends of the path.

Not a big deal it still works, but curious why they don't show.

Thanks for the help.

SC

Okay what am I doing wrong? I'll assume it's my mistake.

I'm using the chain link in the demo video as a example of what keeps happening.

I made a link component and a arc and I followed each step and this is what happens:

The links don't line up right and are huge, also I don't get the words start and End at the ends of the arc.

I'm using
Sketchup 8 on Windows 7
Plugin: clf_component_stringer_1-3-1_0.rbz
Plus I went so far as to restall sketchup and only that plugin just to make sure there were no conflicts with other plugins.

@dedmin said:

@spreadcore said:

@dedmin said:

There is a problem with accuracy - see the picture:

[attachment=0:2epqhb5c]<!-- ia0 -->2013-09-20_184626.png<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:2epqhb5c]

I believe that is not really a accuracy problem, but has to do with the number of line segments used.

try increasing the number of segments.

Yes, I did this but no luck. With the same segments TIG's 2d circle touched the 2 guide points, but Arc Circle doesn't. With 3 point circle both plugins failed.

Okay I was able to get same result as you, what it was is one circle is slightly rotated on it's centerpoint and this caused the vertex's not to line up. try rotating one circle alittle bit.

But also increasing the segments fixed it too.

@dedmin said:

There is a problem with accuracy - see the picture:

[attachment=0:33yxjqs4]<!-- ia0 -->2013-09-20_184626.png<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:33yxjqs4]

I believe that is not really a accuracy problem, but has to do with the number of line segments used.

try increasing the number of segments.

example arc circle 2 points increased segments;

Is this what you want?
I just used the Bezier plugin and a couple of straight lines, traced half the seat, copied and flipped it for the other half

@s_k_e_t_c_h_y said:

just get a lot of options in big fonts as Arc reported.

You said the default 'tetrahedron' does nothing. The 'icosahedron' should be default, but I'll have a look more into it.

The tetrahedron doesn't work for me also. When selected and I hit generate it just cycles back to the beginning.

The other two options work though and I haven't had the large font problem.

A suggestion for a possible future addition.
The option to include a center point guide for the hub centers.
example:

@s_k_e_t_c_h_y said:

Hi Spreadcore,
Could I ask what your default browser you use is?

My default browser is:
Mozilla Firefox 23, I also have IE 10.

I downloaded Version 0.1.2 of your plugin, while I still get that same script error when I launch the plugin.

Once I dismiss it and continue on, the generate button now works and I am now able to generate a dome.

In regards to your question "I don't suppose there are people in this world that run their browser with Javascript "DISABLED" is there?"

There may be quite a lot. Java is considered security risk by many and it is recommended that it be shut off. (I have mine enabled though)

Thanks for all the hard work.