Some useful sketchup tips on sketchup sandbox tools

SketchUp sandbox conception denotes a surface that is created and controlled through sandbox tools. A sandbox in SketchUp as well as other 3D modeling tools can be termed as a triangulated irregular network or TIN in terrain modeling jargon.

TIN is similar to a sandbox as it contains a boundary along with a sculpted surface (sand). Sandbox tools are available inside SketchUp which can be applied for generating and maneuvering TINs.

In TIN, there are various connected triangular faces which appear to be one continuous smooth surface if they are smoothed.

Besides producing terrain with the sandbox tools, one will be able to generate other organic shapes (the shapes like crafted manually) with these tools.

The sandbox tools are also compatible with polygon mesh which is another type of TIN-like surface. A polygon mesh is identical to a TIN, but having faces over three vertices.

SketchUp's Sandbox from Scratch tool and Sandbox from Contours tool only generate TINs, but one can import a polygon mesh as well as make a polygon mesh (by hand) applying other SketchUp tools.

Triangulation: Triangles in a TIN are adjustable in diverse directions. The orientation of triangles is denoted as triangulation. In a TIN some triangles can be adjusted vertically and at the same time others can be adjusted horizontally. It is vital as some sandbox tools facilitate the users to modify the direction of the triangles in order to further smooth TINs.

How to generate a TIN: The following methods can help a user to get a starting TIN as the basis of their model :-

• Produce or import contour lines and apply the Sandbox From Contours tool for generating a TIN.

• Import an image of a site plan or contour map and use the freehand tool to get its contours. Subsequently, fine-tune the contours to their exact elevation and apply the Sandbox From Contours tool to make a TIN.

• Import a TIN applying the SketchUp ArcGIS Plug-in accessible on the SketchUp Plugins index. ArcGIS is Geographic Information System for performing with geographical information like the location of buildings inside a world-wide global coordinate system.

• Import a digital terraIn Model (DTM) file.

• Make sandbox (TIN) with the Sandbox From Scratch tool.

How to alter a TIN: There are several tools inside sketchup which are useful for altering TINs. These tools range from Sandbox From Scratch, Sandbox From Contours, Smoove, Drape, Add Detail, Flip Edge etc. These sandbox tools are applied to produce organic geometry or geometry that looks like hand-crafted.

Functional terrain: The phrase functional terrain can describe a terrain having no portion bending back upon itself generating overhangs, underhangs, or caves. While sketching a vertical line through the terrain at any point as well as the line only touches the terrain at one point, the terrain will be in operation.

It is vital as some specific tools like the Smoove tool, can produce unanticipated results at the time of performing with nonfunctional terrain (the neighboring points incorporated in the sculpting operation by the Smoove tool are frequently unwanted)..

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.sketchup4architect.com

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SimLab Android / iPad exporter for SketchUp

Simlab Android / iPad exporter for SketchUp is a useful product for sketchup users through which they can export SketchUp models in *.zim file format. The sketchup users can read these files by applying free application like SimLab CAD Viewer for iPad / iPhone and Android.

The plugin is compatible with SketchUp 2014, SketchUp 2013, and SketchUp 8, on Windows and Mac.

SimLab archive files consist of all the data necessary for viewing the model involving geometries, colors, materials, textures, cameras, scene states, and animations. The users can export SimLab archive files (*.zim) from SimLab Composer as well as other SimLab Andrloid / iPad exporter plugins compatible with SketchUp, Alibre, 3ds Max, Maya, Revit, Solid Edge ,Modo, and PTC Creo.

Once the plugin is downloaded, it will be automatically registered in SketchUp, and there will be a new SimLab Android / iPad Exporter sub menu in the Plugins menu in SketchUp. The user can export models by selecting the menu Plugins -> SimLab Android / iPad Exporter-> Export. Then the Export to Android / iPad window will be visible. Now opt for the name and location of the new Zim file and press Save. It will result in producing a SimLab archive file (*.zim) transferrable toSimLab CAD Viewer.

To access the plugins, the user has to register a license.

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Published By

Tuhin Maity

www.sketchup4architect.com

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Sketchup Sandbox

Sand box refers to a collection of tool palettes for modeling terrains and other organic shapes. The sketchup users can utilize these tools to produce and control large surfaces (TINs - A surface consist of triangles derived from irregularly spaced points) with imported topographical data or contour sections.

The sand box tools contain Sandbox From Scratch Tool (to generate a flat triangulated TIN to be shaped into other forms applying other sandbox tools), Sandbox From Contours Tool (to produce a TIN from contour lines), Smoove Tool (to form an accessible TIN with the help of vertical movement of a selection of points, edges, or faces and their immediately adjacent geometry.), Stamp Tool (to create ideas in a TIN through pushing a copy of the base of geometry), Drape Tool(to project edges, such as a road to be defined on a flat surface and then adhered onto a rough terrain.), Flip Edge Tool (to physically fine-tune the triangulation for any pair of adjacent triangles in a TIN)

To enable the Sandbox tools, utilize the Extension Manager:
Open the "Window" menu (for Mac user choose "SketchUp" menu), and then click "Preferences."
In the left pane, click "Extensions."
In the right pane, click "Sandbox Tools."

Posted by Rajib Dey

for www.sketchup4architect.com