Sketchup model to Viz

[Jason Matthews]

Hey all. I have recently began using sketchup for modeling and Viz for rendering. Can someone please post the settings to use for exporting the model. I like to export as a dwg file so I can file link it into Viz. The problem is that when I try to select the object by name there are tons of objects to select from.

 

I typically use groups and components, sometimes on the same layer and sometimes on different layers. How should I be modeling?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Jason

[Fernando Lino]

I usually use 2 SU files, one its the main file and the other one is for exporting file; This file has all the groups and components exploded then I use a ruby script (group by material), now you'll be able to export the file to 3ds format with all the materials and mappings....if you want to link the file thru DWG...I'd create layers in SU and move the groups there, so when you open the file in autocad they are in the same layer...SU only can export layer names with 8 characters ....if you want to update the file you do need to keep the same layer names because max link the info(materials and mapping) by layer

[Jason Matthews]

Thanks Fernando! Very helpful.

[syenilmez]

How can we use that Ruby script? I am very new so please forgive me if it was asked before.

 

EDIT: Yeah I got it

[AJLynn]

From the Sketchup forum:

 

http://www.sketchup.com/forum/download.php/6,2328/groupByTexture.rb

 

Download this file your your program files\@last software\sketchup (4 or 5)\plugins directory and restart Sketchup.

 

It shows up in the Plugins menu.

 

Note that it works with the material on the FRONT side of the faces (the beige side) - if you apply your materials to the purple side, it will not work as you'd expect it to.

 

Also I'd recommend 3DS as your export file format. If you use the same image files for texture maps that you want to have in your render, and make your Sketchup model so they are mapped correctly (they are the right size and they "line up") most of the time they will be correct in Viz as well - all you need to do is eyedropper the texture into a materials slot and make whatever changes you want.

[syenilmez]

Thank you very much AJLynn!

[aaron-cds]

The sketchup forums have finally been updated which invalidated the link above. I went searching for it and found it. Here's the new link for the group by texture ruby script.

 

http://forum.sketchup.com/showthread.php?t=41228

[siliconbauhaus]

I never texture in SU but I do almost all my modelling with it and here's my approach.

 

Build your model with everything on layer0 and make groups of all your pieces. Then make all the layers you need for each material and then change the various goups to their respective layers.

 

When you're finished with the model go to export 3d model and choose dwg and then under options select faces only ( no edges)

 

Open up vix and then either file link or import it and assign your materials and render....works all the time everytime for me and everything is on the correct layer.

[tcorbett]

My favorite method so far has been to make one group/component (or split seperate objects into multiple groups). I paint the faces with different colors to represent materials.

 

When I export to 3DS format and import it into VIZ, each group/component reads as an "editable mesh", and each face has a material channel number assigned to it. Then I just make a multi material made up of the individual materials I need and assign it to the total editable poly.

 

It helps to use the "Real World" dimensioning in your materials, and applying the Real World UWV Map modifier to the editable mesh.

 

This way, if I ever need to make edits to the model, I just make them in SU, re-export, re-import, and re-apply the materials & map modifier. Takes 3 minutes instead of 30.