Hi, this could be interesting for you:
a) I created simple tree object in frecle tree[d] - http://www.frecle.net/index.php?show=treed.about
b) Exported it via obj format
c) Opened obj file in marvelous program called Meshlab - http://meshlab.sourceforge.net/
d) Saved as 3ds
e) Imported into SU and did some quick rendering test ...
Meshlab can save and open .dae files as well, but SU imports them without textures ..
Hi, it seems that the development of the Windowizer plugin was frozen ... or accelerated towards full BIM behaviour?
Number 4 is a very nice toy, but there is no edit function. It would be very helpfull ... 
@unknownuser said:
this is funny. I only saw the first page, but
Whow this is cool stuff. You are really good.
very very impressed!
Thanks for your compliment, but in fact I am average modeler/renderer ... these objects are very very simple.
Whole "magic" is only in setting up illumination and the right point of the view ...
I tried to reproduce Anssis model and discovered something strange.
I used sun for scene illumination (scene was set to iso view).
Sun should be source of parallel rays and so the shadows of parallel objects should be parallel as well.
I was able to fit shadows edges to the edges of parallel objects in SU scene, but shadows generated in Twilight have:
a) different angle in reference to SU shadows
b) they are not parallel
May be that Twilights sun object is extremly distant point light?? .. or ??
Here is printscreen ...
@unknownuser said:
Escher is fun. . .remember this from a post a while back?
Hey, I have been just contemplating about this task 
http://www.bergoiata.org/fe/Escher-lego/MC.Escher-Lego-belvedere.jpg
[quote="olishea"]I made it but I still don't understand it haha
Nice ... it's isometric view isn't it?
@olishea said:
thats better! the illusion is complete!
i only wanted the model to look at, i know how it works; the shadow gave it away!!
The model is quite elementary dear Watson. You can make your own within few minutes 
@joppermann said:
Alright...I think I figured it out but wow did my eyes get messed up looking at it. Very cool.
Great, post your picture
It was fast sketchy work - 10min modelling / 5min rendering, no fiddling with lights and materials.
I wil not post the model. The solution is simple, try to figure it out 
Pilou: Nice job 
Btw here is my inspiration:
http://altvajd.com/index.php?id=96&item=foto&num=3
@unknownuser said:
Quite a step forward from my present solid modeler. My models are used in a design application for builders. The application engine uses a pretty obscure solid model engine. It is a great piece of code but a very poor modeling environment. So I use SU and convert to solid. I export the solid as a .stl file. My native solid modeler recognizes and validates .stl. If it cannot be validated it will return an error listing the incorrect primitives. So you can imagine the workflow when the models are complex. I have to make many iterations of the conversion process...back and forth sometimes for an hour or more, on a small component, patching holes or removing redundant geometry you could not otherwise see in SU.
I would be happy to just bring it in solid but I have no real solid skills. It would take some learning. In the new year I plan to look a little closer at solid modelers. I'll start with your suggestion. We start to slow in January so it is the best time for this kind of play. Thanks for you suggestion.
Do you know this?
http://www.bonzai3d.com
http://moi3d.com
@unknownuser said:
Looks good but I sputtered at "we'll send you a quote".
@edson said:
bohdan,
thanks for the explanation. i will definitely look into more integration between SU and VW.
Your welcome
Btw .. modeling in solid based modeler does not have to be such a pain ...
http://www2.spaceclaim.com/stream/video.aspx?v=SpaceClaim_Overview.flv
@edson said:
bohdan,
being a user of both sketchup and VW (i have been using it since 1995!) in my daily work i ask you: why do you need to import a sketchup model into VW? i find VW's 3D very awkward and would never prefer working on it.
Some pieces of equipment, complex shapes etc can be very quickly and efficiently modeled in SU (I didnt find VW modelig capabilities that bad, but SU is definitely faster..) . After importing into VW I can use them as semiproducts for creating plugin hybrid objects.
There is another way how to profite from interoperability of these 2 programs too. It is possible import well organized SU model into VW and create reports, elevations, section viewports, floor plans with hatches and dimensions directly from the model .... (great for conceptual study) ... and later I can utilize formed "dumb" SU model as scaffolding during creation of final BIM model in VW.
Modeling in SU is pretty fast and you are right - it is pleasure, but there are no solids, no NURBS, no BIM (I know about these wall and door scripts .. but there is still long way to go..)
One word - synergy
