Sketching 3D Blog

Graphical Relationship script sequencer on Sketchup

2011-04-27T08:56:00.001-03:00

Author: Eric C

Description: "WIP graphical relationship script sequencer for Sketchup. Ruby scripts can be placed into containers and these containers can be connected. The graph can then evaluate and create a sequence of these scripts based on what has changed. Simple demo showing graph to sketchup and sketchup to graph callback when entity changed and induce re-evaluation of its related containers in the graph." says Eric C.

More Info on his blog: Here

Also look at this video demo:

Also Eric C. says: "the bezier curve creation and manipulation shown in the video is done with a plugin by Fredo6". You can find that plugin Here.

Measuring time spent on SketchUp models

2011-04-17T07:30:00.000-03:00

Tracking time spent on Sketchup models and projects will be possible soon with the new Fredo6 "SUClock" Plugin.

If you are a freelancer you will be able to bill you client without estimating about time spent on the project.

Knowing how much time you spend on every project you’ll be able to work smarter.

Fredo6 upload a video showing some of the features:

"Sketchup Ur Space" Magazine - March 2011

2011-03-29T09:09:00.000-03:00

Author: Sketchup4Architect

The March Edition of Sketchup ur Space has launched today.

Download PDF Here

or you can see it online Here.

2D face-me People Components

2011-03-13T15:44:00.000-03:00

A collection of 2D face-me people for using in your SketchUp models.

More than 100 people free download available.

Download Here

Or visit the Categories: Man / Woman

SketchUp .obj Exporter

2011-01-21T18:14:00.001-03:00

Author: TIG

Description: SketchUp Pro has a native exporter for .obj files. With this plugin now you will be able to export them from the SketchUp Free version.

Download Here

If you also want to Import .obj files you can try with other plugin: Sketchup .obj Importer by TIG

SketchUp 8 Maintenance Release Available

2011-01-13T09:22:00.000-03:00

The Google SketchUp team has been working a lot... Some of the issues that have been fixed:

"Shadows:

The shadow bug has been fixed! Previously, when the eye was in shadow, artifacts that look like inverted shadows could show up over all or part of the screen and annoying flickering could show up during animations.
The “shadow strings” bug. Previously, shadows could show string-like artifacts. There is now a Shadow Strings Fix toolbar which allows you to toggle on and off a fix for this issue.

Here a video showing this important fix:

Performance:

In this release, SketchUp is now built using the /Largeaddressaware property on the PC. This change allows SketchUp to potentially allocate/address more memory on 64-bit machines. (Note: 64-bit users must have at least 1.89 GB RAM to see any improvement, and improvement is only noticeable in areas where memory was a limiting factor (e.g exporting images).

Ruby:

The View.pick_helper(x,y,aperture) method now respects arguments passed to it allowing the Bezier.rb and BZ tool plugins to work again.
Over ten fixes for Ruby issues and a few new methods for Ruby developers. Please see the SketchUp Ruby API site for details.

Known issues

The shadows strings fix will, in some models, make shadows look better, but in other models, may cause different kinds of shadow artifacts to show up. Because of this, the shadows strings fix is implemented as a toggle button on the new Shadow Strings Fix toolbar and is turned off by default.
(NVIDIA graphics cards only) Users with NVIDIA cards are more likely to see the “shadow strings” bug reported above, especially when the eye is in shadow. Toggle on the Shadow String Fix to work around this issue.
(PC only) If you have an English operating system set to a different language, you may have problems with Microsoft’s .NET installation dialog box. In this case we suggest installing .NET separately then restarting your SketchUp installation."

This is only a small list. You can read the full list at the official release notes: Here

You can read more about the shadow bug: Here

So the latests versions of SketchUp Free and Pro are:

For Windows is 8.0.4811

For and Mac is 8.0.4810

Antiprism Plugin

2010-11-14T17:49:00.000-03:00

Author: TIG

Description: This plugin makes an antiprism. "In geometry, an n-sided antiprism is a polyhedron composed of two parallel copies of some particular n-sided polygon, connected by an alternating band of triangles. Antiprisms are a subclass of the prismatoids." (from wikipedia)

Usage: "Type into Ruby Console:

antiprism number_of_sides, length_of_a_side

e.g. antiprism(3, 1.m)

It is grouped and made centered at the origin.

It is named 'Antiprism[3x1.000]'.

Height is calculated so its side-triangle edges equal its side length."

Download Here

BezierSpline Plugin

2010-11-08T08:25:00.000-03:00

Author: Fredo6

Description: "BezierSpline draws a variety of Polylines, Bezier and Spline curves, all in 3D. The present release gathers all extensions, including those published recently (Courbette, Catmull, F-Spline, DogBone, T_Bone, Polyline for Animation, etc…).

* All curves are based on a sequence of control points, which is entered by the user in interactive mode.

* A Precision parameter allows to adjust the number of segments when the curve is generated.

* For some curves, there may be extra parameters, accessible via the TAB key.

* All curves can be later edited. You can move, delete, add control points"

Download Here

Fredo6 also post some videos showing some features:

You can read a good tutorial for this plugin written by Scott Onstott: Here

ASIMO 3D Model / Component

2010-11-01T08:49:00.000-03:00

Author 3D Model: SeaGate

"ASIMO is a humanoid robot created by Honda Motor Company. Standing at 130 centimeters (4 feet 3 inches) and weighing 54 kilograms (119 lbs.), the robot resembles a small astronaut wearing a backpack and can walk on two feet in a manner resembling human locomotion at up to 6 km/h (3.7 mph)."

Download Here

Or visit the download page: Here

ASIMO 10th Anniversary was yesterday on 31st October: Read Here

Vali Architects Plugins

2010-10-30T23:08:00.000-03:00

Author: Vali Architects

Description of the plugins:

1- Instant Roof:
"* Create a complex roof in seconds - just select faces and edges; then run Instant Roof.

* Hip, gable, shed, dutch-gable, mansard, plantation, gambrel, open-trellis, combined, more...

* Eave types: boxed-in, exposed, soffited

* Hips and rafters with customizable ends

* Fascia, fascia-trim, ridge and hip tiles, shingles, or sheet-metal

* Complete mission tile or standing-seam roof

* Use default roof styles - or create your own

* Export and Import user defined roof styles"

2- Instant Road:

"* Automates creation of roads, pathways, and waterways on a terrain using either an outline or a centerline for input.

* Creates center medians and islands.

* Creates curbs, sidewalks, depressed road surfaces, or raised road surfaces.

And more…"

3- Instant Side Grader:

"* Merges terrain around a closed boundary.

* Similar to SketchUp’s Stamp tool, but boundary edges need not be planar."

If you purchase the Pro versions you get more functionality.

Visit Here

"Sketchup Ur Space" Magazine - October 2010

2010-10-29T12:25:00.002-03:00

Sketchup4Architect magazine update.

Issue October 2010.

Download PDF Here

or you can see it online Here.

Issue Sept. 2010: Here

Axsotic 3D Spheric Mouse

2010-10-28T18:06:00.002-03:00

SketchUp is not at the supported software list of the Axsotic 3D Spherical Mouse yet.

"In a normal 3D-Workflow, you need to serialize navigation steps to move, zoom and rotate, and then finally you can work.

With the 3D-Spheric-Mouse you can do all of the steps at the same time.

This is possible, because the 3D-Spheric-Mouse gives direct control of your 3D-Navigation, without any failure input.

Working with the 3D-Spheric-Mouse feels as natural as drawing with a pen tablet."

For more info:

Visit Here

What do you think about this?

Solar Panels "Skelion" Plugin

2010-10-27T12:36:00.002-03:00

Author: Juantxo

Description: "You can use this plugin for insert solar panels in any surface and for find out tilt and azimuth."

Download Here

I read about this plugin here

Silhouette to Plane Plugin

2010-10-26T08:52:00.001-03:00

Author: TIG

Usage: "Make or choose a 'WorkPlane' that is located on the 'plane' onto which you want to project your 'flattened' Geometry.

Select the 'WorkPlane' and the required Geometry [Edges etc, note that Faces etc will be ignored], and/or Groups, and/or Component_Instances.

Run this Tool from the menu 'Plugins' > 'Silhouette to Plane' or type 'silhouettetoplane' in the Ruby Console. (...)"

Download Here

You must also have #WorkPlane.rb:

Download Here

Caleidos4D Ribbon Toolbar for SketchUp Plugin

2010-10-25T07:50:00.000-03:00

Author: Caleidos4D

Description: "The Ribbon is a contextual interface that offers functionality based on the context the user is working in. The Ribbon GUI provides the user interface of an application with a large toolbar filled with graphical representations of control elements which are grouped by different functionality. The Ribbon can also contain tabs to expose different sets of control elements eliminating the need for a lot of different icon-based tool bars." (from Wikipedia)

"Caleidos4D Ribbon have only the calls of Plugins, the plugins are not distribuite inside .zip package, the plugins can be downloaded from their website."

To see the list and download the Toolbar:

Download Here

Goldilocks Plugin - Materials & Geometry Analysis

2010-10-22T09:41:00.001-03:00

Author: AdamB

Description: "Goldilocks analyses your materials and model with respect to the current viewpoint and produces a bar chart showing which textures are about the right resolution (green bars), and which are too high resolution resulting in wasted space/larger filesize, or too low resolution resulting in a blurry look - both shown as red bars." "Goldilocks v2.0 adds Geometry analysis."

Download Here

SketchUp Guide for Woodworkers (eBook)

2010-10-21T07:27:00.000-03:00

Author: Tim Killen

Description: "SketchUp Guide for Woodworkers is a comprehensive step-by-step manual to help furniture makers master Google's powerful 3-D computer-based drawing program. It's an essential guide for woodworkers who are new to SketchUp or users who want to improve their skills and results."

To get this e-book:

Visit Here

The future of SketchUp?

2010-10-20T06:33:00.000-03:00

The SketchUp Team recieve "innovative ideas to work with when building out our next release."

Top five ideas from the "SketchUp Questions and Ideas Series" series this year:

* Plugin Manager for Ruby Scripts

* Improve Texturing Tools

* Improve Toolbars

* SketchUp for Linux

* Improve Performance

To read the full article:

Visit Here

Tgi3D Plugins for SketchUp

2010-10-19T08:48:00.001-03:00

"Now it’s much easier to create highly sophisticated 3D models. Tgi3D SU Amorph empowers you while creating and editing free form curves and surfaces. It also improves Google SketchUp's extrusion capabilities.

Tgi3D SU Amorph requires Google SketchUp v7.1 or higher."

For more info:

Visit Here

Some videos:

Connecting SketchUp & LayOut

2010-10-18T08:32:00.000-03:00

"Connecting SketchUp Scenes to LayOut templates": Is an old article from the official Google SketchUp blog .

"This technique allows you to auto-populate a LayOut Template with a set of Scenes from a SketchUp file."

Read the article:

Visit Here

Play Grow Configuration - 3D Model

2010-10-16T10:20:00.000-03:00

Author: Google

"Explore Fort Fun's: 3 slides, plank bridge, tube bridge, monkey bars, fire pole escape, and tons of nooks and crannies to play and hide in."

Download Here

Or visit the download page: Here

SketchUp Tool Icons

2010-10-15T08:26:00.000-03:00

Author: John Bacus

Description: "Hi-res tool icons for SketchUp and LayOut"

Download Here

Strange that they don´t publish the Standard Toolbar icons.

Soon I will publish the 3D Models of the tools that I made (you can see a preview of them on the left image and on this .gif):

Boolean Plugin - "OSCoolean"

2010-10-14T11:13:00.000-03:00

Author: oscarlok

Description: SU 8 Pro include tools for additive and subtractive modeling (Solid Tools). For the ones using the free version you can use "OSCoolean". "This ruby tool can do intersect, union, cut, trim and split with groups only."

Download Here

Look Around Tool

2010-10-13T10:09:00.001-03:00

"Use the Look Around tool to pivot the camera (your view) around a stationary point. The Look Around tool behaves similarly to a person standing still while turning their head to up, down (tilt), and side to side (pan). The Look Around tool is particularly useful for viewing the inside of spaces, or to evaluate visibility after using the Position Camera tool."

More Info: Here

Convert your SketchUp Files Online

2010-10-12T09:42:00.003-03:00

"Babel3D is an online 3D file translation service. The input for translation to Babel3D can be an Autodesk 3DS, DXF, DWG, Rhino 3DM, SketchUp SKP, STEP, IGES or OBJ file. These files can be translated into the 3DS, OBJ and XAML 3D formats. Additionally, Babel3D also allows you to convert DXF and DWG files to 2D PDF format."

Visit Here

"Right now we are able to translate SketchUp 7 and below version files. We will start supporting SketchUp 8 as soon as possible. In the meantime, please see if you can convert your file to a lower version of SketchUp, and the then try translating again."