Brief introduction of sketchfab, a web based platform to share 3d models easier

Rajib Dey - Editor-in-chief

3D modeling plays an important role in the technological advancement of the current era. France based Sketchfab make it easy for internet users to access 3D models from anywhere of the globe. Sketchupfab is a useful platform where the users will be able to upload their 3D models either through any web browser or directly from any 3D editor devoid of any plugin and distribute these models with others via leading social media platforms like Facebook, Behance, LinkedIn, Kickstarter, DeviantArt, WordPress, and other forums. The users can view as well as edit these models in web supported 3D editor and utilize the models which were uploaded earlier.

Sketchupfab is compatible with 3D Studio Max, AutoCad, Blender, Cinema4D, GrassHopper, Inventor, Maya, Minecraft, Modo, Sketchup, Solidworks, Unity and ZBrush.

Sketchfab had started its service in March 2012 and at present over 100K users consider it as a universal go-to platform for circulating 3D models through web.

Sketchupfab is providing support for a wide array of 28 formats of models. In January, it has tied up with Adobe that facilitates the users to make 3D models in Photoshop and adequately distribute their design through Sketchfab.

The users also get the ability to explore through a catalog of numerous models produced by others. Any interactive 3d model can also be implanted.

The users can access Sketchfab at free of cost but the free plan is valid for uploading 50mb at a time or applying basic tools. For unlimited usages, the users have to pay $10 per month (for individuals) or $29 per month (for businesses).

Some leading investors like Partech Ventures, Balderton Capital, Borealis Ventures, and a mass of individuals provide financial support of $2.5 million to Sketchupfab.

  

By applying Exporters plugins of sketchupfab, the users can directly upload their 3d models from inside their 3D modeling software.

The material editor can be applied to polish up the rendering of each material of any scene in real-time through Sketchfab viewer. The users can access it from the edit panel, situated at the right side of the viewer. It catalogs all your materials with the names assigned to them. Picking a material will place the camera view in center on it and choose its area on the model. All your textures are also scheduled there. The users can substitute them or upload fresh ones, and opt for a color with the color picker.

How it performs:-

Sketchfab is completely browser supported, and the users don’t have to download or set up any supplementary 3rd party software for executing any work. The users should require a browser well-suited with WebGL to get the models in their full 3D atmosphere. The users have to open a free account and upload a 3D model in 28 supported formats. The available server in sketchfab will process the file, and demonstrate it in real-time in any browser through some recognized web technologies like WebGL and HTML5. The Sketchfab 3D viewer uses the WebGL JavaScript API to present 3D models and is built with the open-source OSG.JS JavaScript library. The users will be able to include meta information and distribute their model on the web. The users can also take out the models which are already uploaded at anytime from their dashboard. The users can implant the viewer on any web page, similar to a YouTube video.

Mobile compatibility

WebGL is well-suited with the following mobile operating systems/browsers:

• Android 4.0 with Firefox beta and Google Chrome
• Blackberry default browser

For mobile phones that are not compatible with WebGL, along with iOS, the Sketchfab viewer applies a 2D fallback showing a pre-rendered 3D model with 360° view.

  

The application of Exporters:-

• Download an exporter situated on the left side of the sketchup website
• Set up it on your 3D software,
• Provide your API token (given in your Password settings),
• Export your model.

Sketchupfab provides following benefits to the users:-

• Provide secured way for displaying any work online
• Contain the features like easy distribution, magnificently comprehensible surface, intuitive navigation
• Superior in-browser 3D technology that allows the users to create great products and glimpse all the great designs
• An online 3D viewer to exhibit all the models for unlimited time

Some days ago, Sketchfab launched the second version of its 3D platform. On the updated website, the users will be capable giving comment on 3D models as well as following people to curate a newsfeed of 3D models and more. The total browsing interface was completely revamped. Categories, folders and tags are fully updated. One can look for users by locations and skills, browse content by folders or categories. The upload procedure becomes uncomplicated. Lastly, it’s a responsive website compatible with your phone, tablet or computer.

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.sketchup-ur-space.com

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Toolbar Editor 1.1.1 – An exclusive sketchup extension for making custom toolbars & buttons

Aerilius has developed Toolbar Editor for sketchup. This sketchup extension is compatible with SketchUp 8, SketchUp 2013, SketchUp 2014.

The plugin facilitates the sketchup users to make custom toolbars as well as buttons from any other plugin. The users can generate toolbars which have only buttons to be utilized in reality or integrate buttons from diverse plugins.

The sketchup users will be able to rapidly include new button for ruby commands and valuable code snippets devoid of transforming code into a plugin on its own.

Application:

• Menu Window → Toolbar Editor

• Select the "+" button situated at left side to generate a new toolbar. The name of the toolbar can be edited and the toolbar (“-” button) can also be eliminated.

• Drag and drop items from the list of existing buttons to the left into a toolbar panel. The users will be capable of reorganizing the buttons, shifting them into other toolbars or taking out them by placing them out to the right. After making necessary modifications, press the apply button to save. All modifications will not be reflected instantly, some only on next start of SketchUp.

• The users can sort out the list by providing some keys into the search field.

 Press the "+" button on the right for getting a new button. After that give your own Ruby commands or put  on a piece of Ruby code that is available on the forums.

The sketchup users can download it from the extension warehouse or sketchUcation forum.

 

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.sketchup4architect.com

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Landscape Designing in Sketchup

 was recently contacted by the owner of a landscape design build company in Long Island. He wanted to know my thoughts on using Google SketchUp as opposed to other types of landscape design software. What I told him about this terrific 3D design software would apply to both professionals and homeowners. SketchUp is that easy, not to mention fun!

SketchUp provides the ability to draw in 3D so that a design or concept can be easily visualized. For the homeowner, drawing this way requires no intricate design abilities, while the landscape designer or architect has more sophisticated choices. They can draw directly in 3D or draw in 2D with such programs as AutoCad and turn it into a 3D design. The way it is done is that the AutoCad 2D drawing can be imported into SketchUp. That then becomes the base design for accuracy. All of the dimensions and locations are maintained in the 3D design.

When I first started out with this software, I did not get the basics of following the 3D “planes”. For some reason I missed it, but it’s actually very easy. SketchUp provides you with three colored lines that are guidelines. You must draw your lines parallel to these lines in order for everything to work. As you draw, your line will become the same color as that plane if you are doing it correctly. As an example, draw a vertical line. Vertical planes are blue. If your line is blue, you are good to go. If it is black, you must adjust the direction until it turns blue. Easy!

I’ll focus here on landscaping, since landscape design is what I do, yet SketchUp is great for interior design, architecture, mechanics and more. You can draw patios, walkways, swimming pools, ponds, houses and so on. Along with being able to draw these objects directly, you can also just add components into your design, such as plants, cars, people, etc. There are companies where you can purchase these or you can go to Google Warehouse where there are many components that are free.

Here are some of the things that I find not only helpful in creating a 3D design but fun too:

• Create a patio and show it with different paving materials. Not sure if you want brick or bluestone? Look at it both ways.

• Placeplants in the design at actual sizes. Although Plants will never be exact,they will be close enough for you to get an idea of what the planting design will look like.

• Cast lighting at different times of day and year. You can enter your location, choose a date and time, and see how the light is cast along with shadows.

• Show slopes and changes in elevation. This is trickier to learn how to do. However, it is an excellent SketchUp feature to help see your land and grading modifications if it is not flat.

 

You can try SketchUp for free or purchase the professional version. If you’ve never used it, you might try the free version first. However, do read up on the SketchUp Pro to see if there are features that are important to you. The free version is probably adequate for homeowners while professionals would probably benefit from the SketchUp Pro.

Susan Schlenger is a landscape designer who offers design services online to homeowners in all areas of the U.S. To learn more about her online design services, SketchUp, and get advice on all areas of landscape design, please visit  Online Landscape Design. New Jersey residents should visit Landscape Designer

   

 

 

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.sketchup-ur-space.com

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New foldable smartphone that can take up a sketchup model and make it 3d printed

A researcher group from Canada has made the world’s first ever foldable smartphone alias PaperFold that can be transformed to a tablet and a notebook through a set of screens and hinges. The users can utilize the individual screen separately or as a solitary system.

The device can be customized as per the requirements of the users. As for example, it’s display can be folded inner to structure a phone as well as size can be folded outward for making the size bigger for reading maps, and it can be transformed to a makeshift laptop along with a keyboard.

This mobile gadget will be very useful for 3d modeling professional as well as sketchup users as it can provide the following benefits:-

• This shape-shifting smartphone facilitates the users to bring in three flexible touschscreen displays. The users can straighten three displays and transform view to a Google map that covers all screens.
• The users can present the map in Google Earth view by outlining PaperFold into a convex globe.
• While positioning PaperFold into the form of a 3D building after viewing a map will take up a Google SketchUp model of the building and change the gadget into an architectural model to be 3D printed.

The developers do not the reveal that when the product will be ready for commercial application.

 
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Published By
Arka Roy
www.sketchup4architect.com
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SketchUp Free and Pro version (2013 & 2014) Released

SketchUp Free and Pro version (2013 and 2014) is a collection of Video Graphics authored by Jean-Luc Clauss. This training video is highly useful as it helps in mastering drawing and communication with SketchUp 3D 2013 and 2014.


It is essentially very useful for users of the free and pro version. The collection presents Earth and its environment that includes screen interface, toolbars, settings, etc. It also aids in learning how to shape concepts starting with simple 2D drawings before moving quickly to 3D. Users can also see how to make and change modeling. The modules reveal the art of establishing an orderly and hierarchical modeling with precise routes. The modules are devoted to the optimization model and users can also see techniques to monitor and control at any time each step of the work.

SketchUp Free and Pro version (2013 and 2014) also discusses visualization techniques like how to select a point of view or a mode of representation and save, dress the 3D texts and quotations model several methods for a successful record, with the Styles dialog boxes and Match Photo. Users can also know how to export their reports. Several sequences detail the techniques professional layouts listed and wide through the LayOut extra software included in the Pro version of SketchUp.

The main steps of this training ends with a practical: the modeling of a house will serve as a common thread, the first sketches of modeling the final presentation. Using Style Builder, included in the Pro version, will be explained by an application step by step, showing how to create his own style of drawing freehand and how to apply the model drawn in SketchUp.


The collection concludes by presenting the user in a specific module, the latest of the 2014 version of SketchUp. All the examples in this training and all source files are available for download so that the user can perform all the manipulations presented in this video. Modules Video includes:

• Introduction to SketchUp
• Models
• The work environment SketchUp 2013
• 2D Drawing
• Exploration, selection and masking entities
• Drawing in 3D
• Travel and modifications 2D and 3D
• Ranking groups and components
• Control and optimization modeling
• Display Model
• Dress Model
• Model Rendering
• Export Model
• SketchUp Optimization
• Drawing lines and shapes in Layout
• Inserting and Managing Files in Layout
• Management and pages Layers
• Publishing and available features in Layout
• Wrapping paper in Layout
• Layout of the document in Layout
• Style Builder
• New Earth 2014.

Published by Eni Eds SketchUp Free and Pro version was released on April 2014.

   

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Published by 
Arka Roy
www.sketchup-ur-space.com
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Debugging SketchUp Extensions Now Easier

Debugging is now no more a trouble for SketchUp Ruby extension developers. With a Ruby Debugger for SketchUp 2014, debugging has got easier.

The Ruby community enjoys debugging with Integrated Development Environments (IDE) like RubyMine, NetBeans and Aptana RadRails which usually rely on different gems to be installed for remote debugging. Getting these gems to work within SketchUp’s embedded Ruby is usually difficult. But now, at 3D Basecamp 2014, an open source Ruby debugger framework has been announced which currently supports Windows only but it is expected to support Mac soon. Installing it is very simple:

• Copy SURubyDebugger.dll from GitHub into the SketchUp installation directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\SketchUp\SketchUp 2014.

To launch SketchUp with the following command line arguments must be followed:

• SketchUp.exe -rdebug "ide port=1234"
• The port must match the remote debugger port setting configured in the IDE.
• SketchUp will start up and appear to be frozen while waiting for the debugger to show up.
• Launch remote debugging in the IDE, SketchUp should continue running. It is required to observe breakpoints hit when Ruby code execution attains the specified lines.

If the user is not familiar with installing and configuring the IDEs, some step-by-step instructions can be attained from the GitHub repository wiki. The source code for this project hosted under our GitHub account is https://github.com/SketchUp/sketchup-ruby-debugger.

 

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Published By
Arka Roy
www.sketchup-ur-space.com
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Plugins Para of SketchUp

Sketchup is the excellent tool for the design of the 3Dmodels. Plugin always helps the functionality of SketchUp by making it more compatible and realistic.  For various purposes there are plugins for SketchUp help add new features and shortcuts for modeling. There are various useful points of Plugins. There are too many Plugin listed in Google SketchUp for Business Performance Analysis plugin, Film and stage Plugin, Photorealistic Rendering Plugin, etc.

Sketchup Plugin also generating simple 3D models that is easy to use and well organized also easily edited. Plugin always make the simple design to process the SketchUp and this is includes tool that display the information in different ways that helps you to guide the proper way to design the 3D models.