SketchUp Section Cut or Floor Plan to AutoCAD

This tutorial will walk you through the steps of exporting a section cut from a SketchUp model to a 2D line drawing in AutoCAD.

1. Draw a large rectangle on the plane of where you want the section to be. It can be vertical, horizontal, or even at an odd angle. The reason for doing it this way instead of using SketchUp’s built in section cut tool is that this way eliminates the empty spaces where a mass has been cut, revealing the geometry below. Example: If part of a floor is cut through, the floor should appear to be solid instead of showing any lines from the top of the walls on the floor below. It isn’t that difficult to remove the extraneous lines from the section cut tool if your model is simple, but when it gets more complex, it can become confusing as to which lines should actually be hidden.

2. The next step involves intersecting the geometry, but before doing this, make sure all parts of your model are not grouped, but that the cutting plane you drew earlier is in a group. Now select all of the model geometry, and intersect the faces with the model (right click > intersect faces > with model). This will draw a line anywhere the plane cuts through the model.

 

 

3. Delete the cutting plane and you’re left with the model and the intersected lines. Now all of the geometry that is being cut through has to be deleted. The easiest way to do this is to switch the camera to parallel projection (camera > parallel projection), switch to one of the head one views, such as top down for a plan view, or one of the side views for a section (camera > standard views > top/front/back/etc…), and drag a box around all of the geometry that has to be erased. You may have to zoom in closer to some areas to make sure there aren’t any small lines left over.

 

Tip: Since this technique is not restricted to just one cutting plane, you can use as many as you want to create stepped-sections (when parts of the model are cut through in different areas). Example here (profile view of a cut of a floor plan)

4. Now that the model is cut at the right spot, it’s time to export it to AutoCAD. Your view should be set to one that shows the model in a head on orientation, and make sure the camera is set to parallel projection. If the cut is a floor plan, you’d select top down view in the camera menu. If it is a section, you’d switch to one of the side views to get the right angle.

  

5. Center the model in the view, and then go to file > export > 2d graphic, and select AutoCAD DWG file in the export type drop-down menu. You may have to adjust the AutoCAD version in the options menu depending on which one you have installed. Make sure that the full scale option is checked, assuming you want the scale of the drawing to stay the same when exported.

 

6. Save and then open up the file in Autocad. You’ve successfully exported a section or floor plan from your SketchUp model to AutoCAD. You can now adjust the line weights to your heart’s content.

 

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.sketchup-ur-space.com

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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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Nomeradona teaches how the UV mapping works in Vray SketchUp

 

I want to share my latest tutorial: How to create Pool water in Vray SketchUp. I do hope in this tutorial, you will not only learn about the Vray pool water material, but also how the UV mapping works in Vray SketchUp. I will also touch base about "effected material" in clay rendering.

Here is the model I will be using in this tutorial "Barcelona Pavilion" design of course by Mies Van Der Rohe. This was modelled by Fernando Perez Alvarado.

 

We are using this model in our September 2011 Challenge at Sketchup Vray Artist Facebook Group. If you have Facebook account and want to view some of the entries and join this group, Click HERE. Be mindful, this group was intended originally for the Filipinos who are using SketchUp; therefore from time to time, local dialect is used. But don't worry, the members are accommodating; if they knew you are a non-Filipino, they are more than willing to respond and talk with you in English.

Here is the setup view of the model that I will be using. I will render in clay rendering, only the water and pebble materials will not be effected by the override material function. If you want to do clay render in Vray SketchUp, go to the global switches in the Vray options and tick override materials.

 

Step 1: The Diffuse Layer 

1.1. Here is the displace map that I will be using here. It is a seamless texture I made with Pixplant. You can copy this image and use it personally. 

  

1.2. Here I applied the map in my water material using SketchUp

  

1.3. Once satisfied with the mapping scale, you can turn the opacity to zero (0)- meaning it is full transparent. Vray SketchUp will use the UV map of the top diffuse layer. So if we add displacement height, the displaced map will follow the UV of this layer. There are two ways how to adjust the map's opacity.

a. by SketchUp Material Editor 

 

b. by Vray Material Editor. White color in the transparency slot means 100% transparent. 

 

Step 2: The Reflection Layer

I added Fresnel Map on the reflection layer, with an Index of Refraction (IOR) value of 1.33 

  

Step 3: The Refraction Layer

For me this is one of the most important layer that anyone should focus when dealing with water material. Under refraction, I will share the three main items for this material: Tranparency, IOR and Fog Color. 

  

3.1. IOR Value.. in the IOR value (see the image above), I used 1.33. This is the IOR value of water.

3.2. Fog Color. Fog color controls the color basically of your water material. If you want an effect of pristine water for resort pools, then you might want to use light turquosie or light blue color tints. If you want a bit murky water, then use ochre to brownish shades.

The color multiplier, controls the thickness effect of the color. higher value makes the color more intense. For me my multiplier will vary from .01 to .03. If you want the shadows to pass through then you need to tick, affect shadows. If you want the color to pass through (like in stained glass) then you need to tick affect alpha.

ok let say, I will choose this fog color (RGB 184,174, 124)

 

Here is the render. Note: In this render I have added displacement, and grayish transparency color

 

If I want greenish color, I might choose this color

 

Here is the render using greenish color.

 

3.3. Transparency color.

Usually, it so hard to see what is happening below the surface, especially when using high displacement value and reflective valuer. If you want to see the material below, in this case the pebble rocks, you should learn how to adjust this. I have seen water that looks like metal or sea water, because this one was 100 percent white.

Here is an example. This one looks like seawater. (This render has displacement value of 1.0 and transparency color of white)

 

In the Barcelona Pavilion, the pebble surface is quiet near to the water surface, therefore the pebbles will be surely noticed. TO see the texture at the bottom, first you need to make the displacement lower and second you need to use medium to dark gray color in the transparency rollout. Below, I adjusted the transparency color with an RGB value of 81,81,81.

 

Here is the render (without displacement)

 

Step 4: Displacement

 
To create waves and ripples, all we need to do is to add displacement map. Be sure your face geometry for your water is grouped. If not, no displacement will occur. Here I used the same dmap , I used in the diffuse layer.

 

Examples of displacement settings. Note: Vray uses inches in displacement. 1 means 1 inch.

Displacement amount 0.1

 

Displacement amount 0.5

 

Displacement amount 1.0

 

Bonus: Effected by Override Material

If you want the material not to be effected when overriding material (for clay rendering) all you have to do is untick "effected by Override Material" under option.

 

See some of my WIP renders in this challenge using this tutorial. DAY 1, DAY 2. I have not updated it.

I hope this is useful.

Nomeradona

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.sketchup-ur-space.com

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