Dear Fredo6. I use curviloft extensively (for boat design purposes) and am very grateful for it. But there is an issue that I would like to address: When making hull sides for boats, I create two compound curves. You can see it in the attached images. The upper line is the deck- line, the lower one is the so- called chine. The left side is where the transom is, the right side is the stem. In the middle, there is a line that defines a flare in the bow- sections of the boat. Ideally, Curviloft would create a smooth panel from these lines, but no matter how I do it (skinning, path or lofting), Curviloft seems to do it in a different way than expected, the result being a dented surface.

For example, if I selected the middle line first or last, I would expect a different outcome then when it is selected subsequently from left to right or vice versa. Curviloft seems to think of it like two surfaces instead of one, just like the colors indicate. Occasionally the color is the same for the whole panel, but it still appears to be dented.

I may be asking too much of Curviloft, but if there is a way that I have not detected yet, then I would appreciate that.

PS I have installed latest (January 2011) versions of Curviloft and Libfredo

Best regards Teo

Hull side lines.skp

@gaieus said:

You can define your paper size any time you want. Or export as dwg/dxf OR pdf (both vector based so no question of "resolution").

Um.. I do need to ask if your reply was an answer to the SU to PS question or SU to Layout? So far I did not find out where to a create .pdf file either. And Layout is a disappointment so far

Thank you a lot for your hint, Gaieus. Sometimes all that is needed is a clue where to start or what to look for. You have been helpful before, so thanks again;-)

Best regards, Teo

I think I need to be more specific.

I am used to work in photoshop. Sometimes, I export images from PS to SU, and this works perfect. Say that I have an image in PS that is 500 x 500 mm. What I do is that I create a square in SU with the same size and then I import the image from PS into SU. I place it in the left corner of the square and pull it diagonally until it fits. If the square (or rectangle) has the appropriate size, then the imported image fits perfectly. Is there a possibility to go the opposite way, from SU to PS? It is so convinient to use photoshop for printing purposes, I am so used to that program so I would hope that it is possible. What I need is to export a flat 2D image (lines drawing) from SU to PS in order to print it and build a model in MDF (Medium densed fiberboard) so the lines must be as clear and correct as possible.

I hope someone can help:-)

Best reg. Teo

Hello all.

I have prepared a "sheet" 292,8 X 1151,5 MM that I would like to save on a memory stick and print it in DIN A0 at the printshop in town. Today I then downloaded SU8 in order to give Layout a try. I was somewhat disappointed with that program. The lines get all jagged and there does not seem to be a choice for A0, only A1.

Can anyone recommend a good, easy solution for exporting my file into maybe a tiff or bitmap file in a reliable way (scaling being correct and all), because those file formats are preferred at that printshop..

Maybe Layout is suitable after all, only I have not tried hard enough to find out of it?

• Teo

Ok, I figured out that it belonged in the color folder in the program files. I tried it, but it does not receive shadows.. Oh, and I just discovered that the shadow which is present at 100% opacity (it should read 0% btw.), goes away at 99% opacity not 70 in my version of sketchup (7) anyway. Maybe that is the problem. Thank you anyway. -Teo

Thanks for the superfast answer Gaieus. But I cannot seem to open that file, it does not show up as one of the supported image file types.. FYI here is the image. I would like shadow on the "water" from the boat that takes off of it. Do you think it can be done?

Best reg. Teo

Hello.. Does anyone know if there is there a way to set the ground? Say if you have a surface, terrain or other.. can that be set to be the ground so that shadows reflect on it. In my case the surface I would like to use as ground is translucent, so when I have shadows, then the ground shadow is cast on to 0 level but there is no ground there. Is there a solution to this? I searched the forums but could not find anything yet.. Thanks for answers.
-Teo

@dave r said:

This stuff is cool. Now someone needs to come up with a plugin to do all the hyrdodynamic calclulations.

Yes, that would be nice!

@unknownuser said:

Hi Charly. Do not know if I have better ideas, just want to confirm that su+ curviloft and bezierline are good for designing boats (or ships). Love your experiments with the rings. -Teo[attachment=2:2yk4n3il]<!-- ia2 -->Sketchup klipp båt copy.jpg<!-- ia2 -->[/attachment:2yk4n3il][attachment=1:2yk4n3il]<!-- ia1 -->Sketchup klipp båt2.jpg<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment:2yk4n3il][attachment=0:2yk4n3il]<!-- ia0 -->Sketchup klipp båt3.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:2yk4n3il]

Btw I have borrowed some (in the first image you see it) from van dam woodboats website (it´s the 26´ Hacker- craft) and the rest I make it like I want it. Just for fun. I\m not gona build this boat. But you need very little information to make a pretty good copy of something like that if you find some info on the lines in 2 projections. I´d say they give away too much info here.