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SketchUp is now free software

bpahe

bpahe

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Hi!

Ok, so SketchUp is now free software, thanks to Google buying @Last Software!
This is good news, because Sketchup, although not being all perfect, is a very good, and most of all, easy-to-learn 3D-design program. I used it to rebuild the main terminal for my latest project, and also designing small objects like groundlights (apron, rwy) is quick and easy. It is much more simple to place background images, and re-sizing them than it is in Gmax, in my opinion.

Now, there is a downside. You still need to export your models as 3DS to Gmax, before exporting them to FS. And, the Pro version is not free, and only that one has built-in 3DS export.

Any ideas on how you can work around this is of course most welcome! :) And I do suggest you download the software to try it out. I´m looking forward to your opinions!

/hans
 
Hi Hans,

That is nice news. I will certainly give this software a try and see how it works (not that I am not happy with GMax).

If I see it correctly the free version can export in the Google Earth format, so maybe it is time to add an import/export function for that format to MDL Tweaker or so. How does that sound? I had a quick look at the file format and it seems possible.
 
Hi!

Well, it´s an idea that I have not even thought of, I´ve only thought of the need for an X-model/file!
But I actually forgot one thing, I also do my texturing in Gmax, not in Sketchup. But if you can texture objects in SU for export to Google Earth then theoretically those should also be appliable in other applications.

Could this be something? :scratchch

/hans
 
I did not find any texture info by reading the specs for the KML (or whatever the TLA was) format, but it would not be the first time the format was ahead of the specification.
I did consider adding an import for the format to my tool as well, but probably won't rush it (none of the designers on my project use it as far as I know). What I am considering is to add a Google Earth export. Then the readme for our project would include 3D models for Google Earth - it already contains HTML links to the right positions. But there are probably more important things to do like fixing a few bugs. :)
 
Hi Lars,

I think about the same about it. Would be a cool feature to be able to import or export Google Earth. I did not check the specs in that much detail, but I assumed you can also use textures for your Google Earth objects. Maybe I am wrong there :).

As Hans indicated he is still doing part of the work in GMax. It might also be useful to use GMax for the attachtool script for example, so maybe the idea of direct Google Earth reading is not that useful (although it sounds like a nice technical challenge to me).
 
Hi both!

Well, SketchUp might not be the answer to all our prayers. My interest in the program lies in 2 thing: One - Gmax is discontinued and no more developed. Two - SketchUp is much less intimidating for the beginner, and it also has a wider import function (f. ex. you easily import both .shp, .dwg & .3ds).

It will be hard to do the building/designing without Gmax, but in my dreams SketchUp/Google/MS will make a plugin that allows Sketchupfiles to be exported to FS. Anyhow, if you want to export material from GoogleSU to Gmax, you still need a converter, unfortunatly. I just want to :stirthepo

/hans
 

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I've been playing around with Sketchup for some time now (the free trial version they had before). This is great news that they have a free version out, but unfortunately without the 3DS export it almost seems pointless.

Some things I have noticed about 3DS...

Good
  • Much easier to extrude
  • Making lines on object faces is easier
  • You can even make an inside border of specified width on the face of the object

Harder
  • Manipulating objects on a defined axis can be hard
  • Finding the right tool can be time consuming
  • Not as many built in functions

Of course if the new freeware doesn't have a way to export to Gmax it is all a loss anyways!

:scratchch
 
mattperry78 said:
Of course if the new freeware doesn't have a way to export to Gmax it is all a loss anyways!
Click to expand...

Hi!

Well, (ever optimistic I am!), as long as the Pro-version is offered in the 8-hour trial version, you can allways open your work made in GoogleSU and export it in the correct format. 8 hours is a long time if you only use the Pro version for this. :)

/hans
 
Hmm, after 20 minutes I gave up waiting for Google Earth to load my 45MB KML file. :)

A smaller version (only a building or two) did not work either, but that could probably have been fixed - I didn't want to spend any more time on it as it was obviously not going to work anyway.

The main problem for a Google Earth export as far as I can see is that the polygon format in the KML file is good for specifying an outline and height of a building, but it does not really like our triangle sets. :(

At least I now have a KML file showing the locations of all our models with descriptions of the (well, those I chose to include in the readme) so it wasn't a complete waste. :)
 
Hmm I use Sketchup in my 'real' job as a joiner/cabinet maker. Excuse my ignorance on this but if I understand correctly the paid for version of sketchup will export .3ds. Am I then correct in thinking that GMax just imports .3ds format files OK (I don't use GMax at the moment). So is it then just a case of exporting from Gmax to MakeModel and create the mdl files for FS or is there more to it than that :)

Thanks
 
Hi!

Basically, there is no more to it! Texturing (or re-texturing) is required, but say that you draw a box, then just export it as 3ds, import into Gmax, texture as usual, and export to FS. Done.

The but... if you start with a box and then stretch & split it, the polygons (as textures apply) tend to be weird. Don´t really know a way to get around this, there might be something in the export options that might help.

/hans
 
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