@wyatt said:

I'll check the cost to step up to an i7 ...

Just to be clear... the i7 and Xeon E3 (for single CPU systems) are basically the same for each generation (Xeon has some more features like ECC, but they are not needed. And you get them without the internal graphics). So there is no need to switch to i7 now, if they offer you a faster Xeon. Maybe they are only selling Xeons in this product line...

Thank you, Alan. That's what I was thinking, and after searching "virtual spec building" I found lots of examples and information. Thanks.
Wyatt

As Cmdr Lovell [aka Tom Hanks] says in 'Apollo 13', when he's interviewed before the mission and he's asked what he foresees in the future: "I see a computer that will fit in a single room...".
😲
There's also the bit when they have to calculate their emergency reentry angles etc using a pencil and paper and slide-rules... Then the guys at mission-control recheck the answers the same way calling check, check, check etc... Their 70's on-board computer was less than an 80's pocket-calculator and way below a modern cell-phone, let alone any modern computer..
🤓

There must be something wrong. Also Martin reported some bugs...
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=382229#p382229

Glad that worked. I don't think I ever discovered which one came that way. If I remember correctly, sketchup.rb used to live in the Plugins folder but it was moved to Tools in V6 or 7. I suppose the plugin was from before the move and having it included was no big deal then because it would either not get installed or would overwrite the original file.

Ya I do most my models in SU7 because it tends to crash alot less combined with SketchyPhysics.
I'm not sure what exactly happens in the transformation to SU8, but atleast fixing it is quick.

Hi, Wyatt:
Quote:
"Are you talking about the native Position Camera and set Field of View tools, or something different?"
Yes, that's what I meant, but it doesn't matter now. I am glad you were able to find a solution.

Dave: Thank you for the detailed explanation and examples. That is very helpful.

Broomstick: Thank you for sharing the file. I'm not using Vray, but I am sure I can modify the file if necessary to work for my purposes.

dir.length/=5 simply divides the pulling vector length/strength by 5, that way the pull is more gentle and the starts are smoother( a more car like movement), greater the number gentler the pull.
But going too far with speed and smoothing can cause rubber banding.

thomthom created a plugin called "Bitmap To Mesh" that you could use to actually deform the road a little but keep the solid color.
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=31339
I guess it depends on what style you decide on. Personally, the minute you put one texture in, I bet your client will ask for the whole thing to be done-up.

Well you can run a SP simulation with shadows, but it will be considerably slower.

If you however record a SP simulation and play back the animation then shadows won't update, they remain static it seems.
You could use Window -> Shadows -> Use sun for shading, that does seem to work with animations, and it is a whole lot faster.

But for any sort of real shading I would say look up Twilight rendering.

Would be great if the modifications for camera recording (Mr.K.) could be integrated in to the improved version of SP by AntonS, if it isn't yet.

Note that these 3D trees work perfectly (without poly reducing) in Kerkythea or Thea. You will need to adjust the materials though but than after saving, they are just fine.

Hi,

I have searched for a way to cut exactly the terrain parts. I made in each group, at the exact same position, a rectangular area and have intersected with the terrain inside. Then I removed the overlap and put together the two groups again. This seems to be the easiest way. There remain though still small irregularities, which are seen but rarely.

Charly

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Thanks, Chris. Like I said, everything seems to be working since reinstalling 8. I didn't get any errors when I copied my plugins back into the new install. I'll reply back to this topic if I have any more similar troubles.

I received a PM from someone who explained that the errors I was getting can occur when SU is closed unexpectedly while Saving Toolbar Locations is in process, or when a bunch of plugins with toolbars are closed all at once - I guess by unloading them out of the directory(?). It's possible that the first is what happened to me today. 8 does seem picky and even a little sluggish on start-up and shut-down so maybe it was cranking away on something and I got impatient. Wouldn't be the first time. 😳

Nice work Wyatt.

Awesome. I knew there was an easy solution. Thanks for the help.

Let's see theses links

http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibraryDepot/Ruby/Newest_scripts.html
try to find : Lens_correction.rb ( thanks to the author)

or with an external program ( to perform before using SketchUp )
http://research.graphicon.ru/image-processing/gml-image-undistorter-2.html

or this one ( but limited in use )
http://www.epaperpress.com/ptlens/

MALAISE friendly 😄