Sketching Ypsi

Reading Pagoda for Google Earth

2012-01-30T18:45:00.000-05:00

Hanford Mills Model

2012-01-21T18:44:00.002-05:00

Progress Hanford Mills WIP

2012-01-16T22:00:00.001-05:00

Keilder Reservoir valve tower

2012-01-16T18:09:00.000-05:00

For Google Earth

Hardware Store at Hanford Mills

2012-01-13T15:59:00.001-05:00

Feed Mill

2012-01-12T17:26:00.002-05:00

Screen grab from Google Earth making sure the terrain lines up.

John Hanford Homestead

2011-12-17T14:07:00.001-05:00

Progress on the Hanford Mills Museum Model

2011-12-14T20:05:00.001-05:00

Progress shot of modeling Hanford Mills Museum. Nine buildings completed, lots more to go. I need better photos.

Progress shots- geo-modeling a historic complex.

2011-12-01T09:49:00.001-05:00

Lots of terrain issues to deal with.

I need to check out LightUp again.

2011-11-30T20:26:00.001-05:00

I may have a need for an animated waterwheel.

Loving it

2011-07-22T18:43:00.001-04:00

Spacey Landscape

2011-03-13T16:15:00.000-04:00

Olmec Head

2011-03-12T17:13:00.000-05:00

Sculpted in SU using Artisan plug-in.

Experiments in theatrical stage lighting

2011-03-05T20:00:00.000-05:00

Pulling together a few concepts to see if this will work convincingly.

This is a very low res version, looks great on my computer.

Rendered in Nxt. Seven light channels, two frames, then blended in Windows Movie Maker.

Experiments in theatrical stage lighting

2011-02-27T13:07:00.000-05:00

I have been helping a friend draw up a stage plot for an up coming concert tour.

I decided I would try out some lighting features utilizing glow, etc.

Still working on this one, there are only 8 light sources in this scene, trying to keep the render time down and still get good results. Image was post processed in Nxt with some of the new built in filters which so far work great.

Airwar

2011-02-22T18:26:00.002-05:00

Whaleship

2011-02-15T11:15:00.002-05:00

the Whale Ship

2011-02-09T19:39:00.000-05:00

Working on another steam punk ship, trying to keep the ploy count down.

Snowday sketching

2011-02-07T17:47:00.005-05:00

I got inspired by this delightful print by the late Andrew George Brown offered for sale by Etsy seller Gingerbees and thought I would attempt to model it in 3D.

Roughing it in, I traced over a screen capture.

Adding more details, I made great use of the plug in, Tools on Surface and Vector Push Pull.

wires...

The shot below is straight SketchUp, no rendering software used.

It is actually a rather low poly model, but there is plenty more to do.

Straight SU with fog...

Thank you Boing Boing and Gingerbees for the inspiration. Go look at her site-- there are many more interesting ships.

Stay tuned for more details

Progress shots

2011-01-30T12:29:00.000-05:00

Pulling together some progress shots of an ongoing project. Lots of details to go. These is just some preliminary modeling to discuss with the owner. I love the way they seem to grow out of the blueprints.

UVToolkit v.2.1.0

2011-01-22T15:50:00.000-05:00

I have been doing some experiments with an experimental plug- in by ThomThom from Sketchucation.

I have very little idea how to write code but this plug-in is an amazing tool for SketchUp. An especially useful "experimental feature" is the ability to remeber UV mapping after distorting a shape.

Like this: On the left is what normally happens when you do a radial bend with a series of UV mapped blocks, on the right you can see it restored perfectly with UVToolkit2

Time to send ThomThom some cookies and beer!

Google Earth Imagery updated for Ypsilanti

2011-01-20T15:00:00.001-05:00

Now features the burned out corpse of the former Thompson Block.

I started a model soon after it burned but haven't got back to it.

New 3D technology

2011-01-17T15:56:00.000-05:00

I think I will pass for now...

Interiors in Google Earth Models?

2010-11-18T19:37:00.000-05:00

What's next?

Corner Brewery now in 3D

2010-11-13T19:37:00.000-05:00

Got a chance to finally upload this model of the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti, may take a few days to go live on Google Earth. Look for Danny Boy on the North end of the building.

Out in the street!

2010-11-06T19:48:00.000-04:00

We got traffic

2010-11-03T14:58:00.000-04:00

This little street scene just keeps growing and growing.
I got a horse from Solo and one from the 3D Warehouse, I modeled up a coach and a little Duryea car. People and electrical poles next.

The Ice Man Commeth

2010-10-24T20:11:00.000-04:00

Experiments in foreground and sky textures. The little Ice Wagon is stealing the show!

SketchUp and Historic Preservation : Main Streets in 3D Program

2010-10-21T14:45:00.000-04:00

The offical SketchUp blog has has an short article about using SketchUp for historic preservation. I met the guys from Igloo Studios while I was at the 3D Basecamp in Boulder. (Really nice folks). Find out more at the National Trusts Main Street program. Go SketchUp!

Victorian Street Scene

2010-10-18T19:57:00.002-04:00

2010-10-17T20:28:00.000-04:00

Test render of a street scene, modeled in SketchUp, rendered in Nxt, no sky added yet.

Color matters in American Architecture

2010-10-12T20:25:00.000-04:00

I was experimenting with color in my rendering engine. My monitor is not calibrated and I may be a bit color blind.
I finally consulted some color books and did the house on the right on true Sherwin Willams paint colors.

Looks much better. Time to stop picking colors off the screen.

2010-10-11T20:58:00.000-04:00

Working on a huge model of an Italiannate House, going to be experimenting with the paint colors.

Victorian Paint Colors

2010-10-08T21:02:00.000-04:00

I found a book I had on paint colors for American architecture. I thought I would do some experiments with color.

Al little store front to play with:

2010-10-05T15:06:00.000-04:00

The folks on the Sketcthucation forum turned me on to a great free program called FotoSketcher. Even though I am obsessed with photo realistic renderings, it is really fun to turn them into watercolors too.

Stick Style House

2010-10-04T14:09:00.000-04:00

In the continuation of my attempt to model every style of American architecture in SketchUp-- I offer up this Stick style house. I'm looking for a good reference on historic paint colors.

Queen Anne Architecture

2010-10-01T13:58:00.000-04:00

I I found this nice line drawing of a Queen Ann house in an old Old House Journal. I wouldn't want to own one, but I thought I would take a stab at rendering a 3D model. I made a transparent png for the cresting and used bump maps for the shingles, etc.. I took a few short cuts on detail in the moldings but I think it is coming along great and it is under 3 meg in size.

A Greek Revival That Got Messed With

2010-09-25T20:11:00.000-04:00

Bang out a tower, visual edition

2010-09-22T15:34:00.000-04:00

2010-09-21T17:41:00.000-04:00

I have been doing some experiments in Nxt, working on grass displacement, lighting and HDRI images. I have discovered that sometimes less is more. Too many fractal trees in the background sucked all the depth out of the scene. Actually getting a handle on the displacement maps and textures. More to learn, I wish I had a render farm.

The Devil is in the details

2010-09-16T20:01:00.000-04:00

\

Clay rendering of neo-classical library. I think I need to buy Profile Builder for SketchUp.

SketchUp model rendering

2010-09-14T14:58:00.001-04:00

After returning from 3D Basecamp I got off my butt and did some modeling and rendering. Playing with the fur plug-in to add some detail to the grass, I am having trouble getting depth in the trees without photo-shopping some shadows. This is a little Greek Revival building that got a bit of enhancement c. 1890 with the addition of the verge boards (aka ginger bread)

Computer Aided Dinosaur

2010-09-08T13:48:00.000-04:00

Photos from 3D Basecamp 2010 in Boulder

2010-09-05T18:18:00.001-04:00

View from the hotel

I arrived early!

Boulder Sun feels great on a cool morning

Stage for Keynote

Google = Food
Partying on the deck as the sun goes down

Leaving Google after plenty of food, drink & conversation

Chrome Render

2010-08-20T16:03:00.000-04:00

This is a rendering of a woven geodesic sphere, model by TaffGoch, a fun model to play with.

Some old renderings

2010-08-11T16:37:00.000-04:00

I was cleaning up my hard drive looking for images to share at 3D Basecamp. I found these old renderings that I think I never posted.

Basecamp 2010

2010-07-30T15:41:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted much lately but I am excited that I got invited by Google to attend Basecamp 2010.

Checking prices & flights.... Boulder here I come (I think)!

Speaking Engagement

2010-05-06T18:19:00.001-04:00

I just returned from the National Main Street conference in Oklahoma City. I was a presenter at a session that was a discussion on how 3D visualization using Google Earth can be used by urban planners and architectural historians.

We did most of the presenation live in Google Earth or SketchUp. bUt here are a few sample slides.

This one by Chris Wilson:

A slide by me, "Option B" on the Ypsi train platform.

Turn out was great and the attendees were eager and interested.

Entire presentation will be posted soon.

The Ypsi Project

2010-04-29T15:05:00.001-04:00

From WIPs

I am testing out a few settings before I get too far helping to design the exhibit for The Ypsi Project, I have offered Erica some design help for this very cool local project. From the web site:

The Ypsi Project began as a daily photo assignment of either-local structures or of people living / working in Ypsi, though it quickly grew into meeting and speaking with people about what living here has meant to them; approaching local artist who really help seed a love for this town; chance conversations with people who've spent the better part of their lives rebuilding the community one business and block at a time.
It has lead to exploring the corners of this city that have been easy to overlook in the last 6 years I've lived here.
EXHIBIT DETAILS
The event will feature large-portraits of more than 100 people who were kind enough to participate in the Ypsi Project, all of these selected prints are accompanied by stories and descriptions that tell of how long they've called Ypsi home, or what it is that keeps them here.

Stay tuned, her photos are gorgeous and I am sure the exhibit will be a hit. The image above is a computer rendering, I am modeling the old VG Kids store, the the exhibit inside it. If you look close out the front window you can see Bombadill's.

More soon.

HDRI's ROCK

2010-04-17T20:27:00.000-04:00

I'm still learning how to use the latest version of Nxt rendering software for SketchUp. After a bunch of false start I finally figured out how to use HDRI images correctly. They are a great way to add subtle lighting cues to a scene. Click through to see the full version.

The Chick Inn -- now on Google Earth

2010-04-13T14:22:00.000-04:00

I slimmed down the model used to make the rendering of the Chick Inn.

Its live on Google Earth now.

Click to fly there:

National Register Plack

2010-04-10T15:44:00.002-04:00

Final touch for the exterior of the Carnegie Library model.

More renderings

2010-04-09T20:10:00.000-04:00

Roughing in some landscaping. After workning on this model for a week I noticed something.

The back half of the wing out of the back of the building was an addition.. They got it all right except the bricks. They are a slightly different color mix. The bricks need work, color and bump map is off, more to do...

A little depth of field could help too.

Google Earth LiveFeed catches police chase

2010-04-07T18:37:00.000-04:00

The live imagery feed for Google Earth has been working for several weeks now.

Apparently some people like to watch for car chases and such.

Satellite Car Chase from Honest Directors on Vimeo.

I hate railings

2010-04-06T19:32:00.002-04:00

And downspouts.

CyArk

2010-04-05T15:51:00.000-04:00

CyArk is a non-profit entity whose mission is to digitally preserve cultural heritage sites through collecting, archiving and providing open access to data created by laser scanning, digital modeling, and other state-of-the-art technologies.

Test Render

2010-04-03T18:38:00.000-04:00

Not done yet!

From Flat to 3D

2010-03-31T14:03:00.000-04:00

Importing CAD drawings into SketchUp is kind of a pain. Despite the ability of the software to talk to each other there are some inconsistencies-- especially with curves.

Above you can see the building starting to take shape, mostly flat surfaces. The trouble begins when you start push pulling or performing "follow me" operations. The CAD lines come in as loose bits-- they need to be "welded" (search for the plug-in it's fantastic) OR you can trace the lines and give them a reasonable amount of segments. Other wise you end up with an ugly mess that slows down the performance of the model.

Here is an early clay rendering:

And one with a few more details.

Still need to complete the roof, basement and landscaping, a few textures to tweak / bump map.

Podcast: Bernard Frischer on 3D Scanning, Rome Reborn and Virtual Ancient Worlds on Google Earth

2010-03-30T18:09:00.000-04:00

My buddy Jack made me aware of this interesting interiew/ podcast. It is with great pleasure that I hear of greater acceptance of the use if 3D models in the field of historic preservation.

And the other branch is CAD, or computer-aided design, and a subdivision of that is 3D modeling. We have on the CAD side standard software that people use is AutoCAD made by AutoDesk. The 3D modeling side, we have a package such as 3D Studio Max or Maya 3D, also published by AutoDesk, that we use when the object we want to capture can only be captured from our imagination. There's nothing to scan because it is very damaged or it doesn't exist anymore. We may only know about it from old photographs, records, memories of people or archeological excavations. So over time, these two different branches, of 3D scanning and hand modeling, have come together. And in our project, we have a really good example of a hybrid way in which the two approaches to 3D have been merged, I think in a very useful way. And what we are doing with Rome Reborn is something, I think, most people now, working with 3D in the cultural heritage sphere are doing more and more of--combining these two different branches as they have developed over the last 20 years.

Link to the podcast is here.

Long live the KMZ format!

Gagarin's Start

2010-03-23T12:53:00.000-04:00

I posted this model up on the 3DWarehouse today. It is a model of the Russian launchpad at Bakinor. I have had it kicking around after I modeled it for a movie being made in England. It's modeled from photos and from what I could see watching the old movie footage of the launch.

What is impressive about the launchpad is how large it is. Apparently launching from Russia is harder than launching from Florida, because of the launch trajectory to reach orbit, you need to carry more fuel to to that, thus a larger launchpad and rocket.

The things you learn modeling for Google Earth...

Nature by the numbers

2010-03-23T11:09:00.000-04:00

A beautifully done video illustrating the Fibonacci sequence. Then it moves on to the Golden and Angle Ratios, the Delaunay Triangulation and Voronoi Tessellations

SketchUp and Historic Preservation : Main Streets in 3D Program

2010-03-10T13:27:00.000-05:00

It looks as though the use of SketchUp for historic preservation is gaining some momentum. A new grant program is offering funding for putting Main Street cities on Google Earth.

From the National Trust site:

We are pleased to announce Main Streets in 3D, an exciting collaboration with Google and Igloo Studios that is designed to empower Main Street programs to use 3D technology in their revitalization efforts.
Designated Main Street programs may apply for a year-long program that will provide free training* and support to help you create a 3D model of your district using Google SketchUp™ and Google Earth™.

Main Street programs can apply, five will win the grants, find out more at this link to the National trust site.

Modeling Carnegie Libraries Project

2010-03-04T16:00:00.001-05:00

The 3D Carnegie Project got some nice coverage on the Official SketchUp blog. I am glad to be part of the project. If anyone has free time to help, we could use help modeling-- either California or Carnegie Libraies in your state.

I liked working on this little gem.

I am taking a break from the libraries for awhile. Trying to get back to Chattanooga3D for a bit. There are a couple of challenging buildings, the IMAX theater.

For now I am concentrating in the Hunter Art Museum.

Here is what I got so far:

I got a ways to go but its just a little puzzle, I have never been there so I am making some leaps of logic about some of the details.

More Google Earth Modeling

2010-02-28T14:26:00.000-05:00

Just because it is a model for Google Earth, that doesn't mean it doesn't have to have any cool details.

This is a model of the Lodi Carnegie building that I modeled for the 3DCarnegie project.

From WIPs

I spent a little extra time on some details.

From WIPs

Fun, fun, fun!

Preliminary Test

2010-02-24T19:57:00.001-05:00

Far from done but I thought I would fire up this SketchUp model of Ypsi's Corner Brewery in a rendering engine.

I am puzzeling over how to best do the glassware and mugs over the bar, lots of polygons, lots of reflections.

Lots more to do but so far so good.

Model This in SketchUp

2010-02-17T21:07:00.002-05:00

A fun challenge to execute in SketchUp. This sculpture in Chattanooga is a helix with an extruded shape that tapers as it moves along the helix.

How do you model this?

I spent the greater part of a day trying and thinking about it. In th end there is a powerful ruby called "Two faces one path". Works like a charm if you build all the pieces correctly.

Above are some early attempts, however my spiral was not a perfect helix. Note how the extruded shape deforms. Both faces at the end of the path need to be perfectly perpendicular. To place these I used the ruby plug-in "perpendicular faces" the edited the shape and scaled it to the path / sculpture.

A lot of guessing, I have never seen the piece in person and am making a few assumptions based on the three photos.

After several attempts, a proper helix, welded into a singular path gave great results.

An early version without simplification.

Low poly =good for Google Earth...

It's getting there but with the basic frame figured out, maybe it is possible model it all and render it.??

Proof of concept complete. How much more detail to add?

Update: There it is in Google Earth I will upload it once I tweak it a bit more.

Interesting "Making Of" video

2010-02-08T19:13:00.000-05:00

Interesting illustration of combiing CG models with green screen actors.

Pictures work better than words.

Making Of Nuit Blanche from Spy Films on Vimeo.

Google Earth Modeling

2010-02-06T15:27:00.000-05:00

Hadn't done too much Google Earth modeling in awhile. I have been helping the 3D Carnegie Project. They are hoping to get all the Carnegie Libraries of California put on the 3D layer of Google Earth. The above model is in Eureka, California.

This little building was also a Carnegie Library in Riverbank, CA.

Learn more about the Carnegie Libraries:

Wikipedia

How Philly Moves

2010-02-04T16:13:00.001-05:00

Quite awhile I go I helped out a talented photographer from Philadelphia who was having trouble projecting photos in SketchUp. He was entering a design competition for murals on the parking garages of the Philadelphia Airport.
The idea was to transform this dull mass of concrete into something more pleasing.
Before:

After

The trouble was the face of the structure was formed concrete-- with an irregular surface. The model was essentially a Google Earth model with a bit more detail than normal. JJ's photo wre projected onto the surface then bent around the concrete forms. It looks distorted if you are up close, but when viewed from the right angles it reads correctly.

Well, many months latter I am pleased to announce that he won.

Congratulations JJ!

See more at JJ's site.

Detroit Sculpture

2010-01-07T13:11:00.003-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

Recently Google Earth released their 3D model of Detroit. It has been amazing to fly around and see the city in various forms of decay and rebirth.

I noticed it is missing a key sculpture from the downtown area and I have decided to model it for Google Earth/

the Scuplture of Joe Louis's fist!

Ypsilanti Freight House Renovations on Vimeo

2010-01-05T17:40:00.002-05:00

Here is an little video I did with a friend. SketchUp to Lightwave animation.

Its kind of slow, and long but that is what the client wanted.

(Besides it's a study of architecture, not a movie like Avatar...)

Ypsilanti Freight House Renovations from mSt on Vimeo.

The Motor City on Google Earth

2009-12-16T14:26:00.000-05:00

Google recently announced that Detroit is now available in Google Earth!

I need to find a good wireless connection to check it out in detail.

Google Earth Modeling

2009-11-20T18:59:00.000-05:00

I am helping the folks in Chattanooga model their city. I haven't modeled for Google Earth in awhile, it's kind of fun to focus on low poly models once in awhile.

The above hotel was the first thing I did using photos they provided. It already got loaded into the Google Earth building layer. That's the fastest acceptance I have ever seen.

If there are any SketchUp users that want to help, its good practice, and there are plenty of interesting buildings to do.

Find out more at: this link

New SketchUp book is out

2009-11-11T12:28:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to have received my copy of the book "Créer avec SketchUp" which is now officially published.

Sadly, I don't read French but the book is amazing! (And I don't say that because my modest chapter is included.) I spend a lot of time on the internet looking at what people do with SketchUp but the studies in the book are quite inspiring and showcase how diverse the pool of people who use it are.

From architects and set designers, to geologists and illustrators, the book presents 16 real world applications of SketchUp and really demonstrates the power of the small but mighty software.

Here is a link to an English translation of an interview with one of the contributors, Tim Danaher who modeled the amazing building shown above.

http://www.arch-image.com/wordpress/2009/10/14/livre-creer-avec-sketchup/

It is located on a site run by Laurent Brixius one of the editors of the book who did a fantastic job rounding up the contributors and pulling it all together.

I cast another vote to publish it in English, this would be a great text book to use in a class about SketchUp.

Studio Set Up Night Render

2009-11-09T09:52:00.000-05:00

This post gives the details of how I set up the night render of the Chick Inn using IRender Nxt. I used no ambient light and no HDR images.

This is the set up for the exterior lighting. A few omni lights and a large flat light at low wattage up in the sky to get the reflection on the vehicles. Not indicated below are the lights around the overhang, these are tucked into the valance.

The interior had four florescent lights--these are used to get the interior light flowing out of the building.

The neon and menu boards were set to glow-- it doesn't take too much wattage. If you turn them up too high they wash out any text that is on them.

Curb Service & Car Hops

2009-11-07T10:59:00.000-05:00

I spent some more time on this rendering (click through for a full version). Quite happy with my first night render, hope to pop it up a bit more in post. I am starting to re-think the studio set up for the whole scene, I may re-do the whole thing. The neon really slows down the render-- each segment of the neon is a seperate glowing light which slows the render down to a crawl.

The drive in is still open even though it is cold out. Maybe today I will get a Hammy Sammy.

Render progress

2009-11-02T10:18:00.000-05:00

I have been working on this render-- having a tough time getting everything balanced. I actually started reading the manual. Probably the most significant thing I have learned is that in a computer rendering-- it needs to be lit in the model, just like in real life. I plan to soften up the spotlight, fix a few more textures....

More neon test

2009-10-30T14:07:00.000-04:00

Gotta love the glow! Still having trouble getting the settings right for a rendering of the entire scene but I'll keep at it.

The Drive-In

2009-10-28T15:07:00.000-04:00

I spent some time over the weekend drawing the famous Chick Inn drive-in from Ypsilanti. Famous for its tremendous milkshake made with real fruit. They still have car hops and malts.

Above is a preliminary rendering but I have a lot of tweaking to do, colors are too bright. I am hoping to put the neon on the building. IRender Nxt allows you to set things to "glow."

Below is a first pass to see if it will work.

I learned a trick fro a buddy of mine. When rendering, neon does not to be round tubes it can lead to too many polygons in the model. A simple triangle will work. Flat face out, point sticking towards the sign.

Tough part about doing this is I have to hand trace each letter, then do a tube along path, then rotate the triangle inward. Looking for away to simplify, I tried it with flat glowing surfaces but the radiation of light isn't the same.

Drawing this place makes me hungry.

Créer avec SketchUp

2009-10-20T19:09:00.000-04:00

Happy to report that my chapter for this book is being published soon. For all you French speaker it will be available from Pearson next month. No word yet if it will be available in English.

From the author:

Honnêtement, je pensais maitriser SketchUp. Mon rôle d’auteur et de coordinateur d’ouvrage ainsi que les nombreux articles sur SketchUp publiés sur ce blog en témoignent. Et pourtant… C’était avant de collaborer avec 16 autres professionnels sur le livre “Créer avec SketchUp – 16 projets, de l’architecture au théâtre” qui paraîtra en français le 6 novembre 2009 aux éditions Pearson.
Leur expérience enrichit considérablement les conseils de bonnes pratiques exposés en première partie du livre. Des conseils qui vous aideront à…
Organiser efficacement un projet complexe
Vous le savez, quelle que soit votre profession, une bonne organisation est essentielle pour être rentable, respecter les délais et assurer un haut niveau de qualité à votre travail.
Dans SketchUp, cela nécessite que vous mettiez en place une gestion efficace des groupes et des composants à l’aide de l’outil Structure et des gestionnaires de Calques et de Scènes. Ces bonnes pratiques sont aussi la base pour…
Accélérez votre travail avec SketchUp
Organiser votre modèle permet d’accélérer sensiblement SketchUp. Mais ce n’est pas le seul moyen ! L’autre manière de rendre SketchUp plus rapide, c’est de travailler plus rapidement en configurant SketchUp pour améliorer son ergonomie et en utilisant tous les raccourcismis à votre disposition. Ces points sont développés en détail avant de vous apprendre à…
Vous débrouiller lorsque “ça coince” avec SketchUp
“Créer avec SketchUp” n’a pas pour vocation de se substituer à l’aide en ligne de SketchUp. Je présuppose que vous savez déjà tracer une ligne, extruder une face. Vous avez déjà expérimenté vos premiers succès de modélisation… Et aussi vos premières frustrations. Le second chapitre du livre présente les situations les plus courantes auxquelles vous devrez faire face… Et surtoutcomment y faire face. Bref, de quoi vous préparer à…
Dépasser les limites apparentes de SketchUp
Certains auteurs, comme l’architecte Tim Danaher, n’ont de cesse de repousser les limites apparentes du logiciel. On ne lui avait pas dit que c’était impossible avec SketchUp alors il l’a fait. Dans son étude, Tim vous explique comment modéliser un des projets d’architecture les plus complexes de l’atelier d’architecture Coop Himmelb(l)au en contournant une des fonctionnalités manquantes de SketchUp.
Vous pourrez alors…
Créer et tester rapidement des variantes de vos projets
C’est ce que vous explique Takeshi Hashimoto, architecte et modérateur du forum PushPullbar, au travers d’une étude de cas présentant la réalisation d’un projet-concours en Nouvelle-Zélande.
En quelques clics, vous pourrez remplacer une ou plusieurs parties de votre projet par des variantes.
Un fameux gain de temps lorsque le délai est serré comme pour ce projet rassemblant de nombreux intervenants qui ont réussi à…
Travailler en équipe sur un modèle SketchUp unique
Même si SketchUp ne travaille pas avec des références externes, vous serez tout à fait en mesure de collaborer sur un même modèle grâce à la méthode mise au point par Takeshi pour son projet.
Mais pour présenter un projet-concours, le rendu de SketchUp manque parfois de réalisme. Il est parfois nécessaire de…
Faire collaborer SketchUp avec d’autres logiciels de CAO et d’image de synthèse
C’est que vous proposent plusieurs auteurs pour la réalisation de plans techniques avec Layout 2 (disponible avec SketchUp 7.1) mais aussi d’images de synthèse avec :
Artlantis
3D Studio Max
Piranesi
Kerkythea
ou simplement Photoshop
Pour conclure le livre, nous ne pouvions pas passer à côté d’une des principales nouveautés de SketchUp 7. Cerise sur le gâteau, vous allez donc…
Apprendre à créer des composants dynamiques avec SketchUp 7
C’est l’invitation que vous fait Matt Chambers, expert et formateur internationalement reconnu, au travers de l’analyse de 3 composants dynamiques utilisables à télécharger.
Et si vous doutez encore de l’intérêt de SketchUp pour une activité professionnelle, les études de cas seront l’occasion de vous présenter…
L’utilisation de SketchUp appliquée à une vaste gamme de métiers
Ce qui rend “Créer avec SketchUp” à la fois original et concret, c’est d’avoir rassemblé 16 auteurs venant de métiers et d’horizons très différents. Ouvrir le projet à des auteurs anglophones a permis de présenter des utilisations professionnelles pour lesquelles on n’utilise pas (encore) SketchUp dans les pays francophones.
J’espère que les exemples présentés dans cet ouvrage vont faire des émules.
J’en profite pour remercier tous les auteurs qui ont partagé leur expérience et leurs excellents conseils ! Je vais publier dans les prochaines semaines une série de présentations/interviews de chaque auteur du livre. C’est ma façon de leur dire merci pour leur participation et les conseils échangés.
Les voici : Frédéric Blanc, Matt Chambers, Tim Danaher, David Harned, Takeshi Hashimoto, Alex Jenyon, Timothy S. Killen, John Lang, Lauren A. May, Koenraad Nys, Robert Playford, Nicolas Rateau, Patrick J. Reynolds, Mitchel Stangl, James Steacy, Jean Thiriet, Kim A. Tolman

Show Your Pride In Ypsilanti

2009-10-20T18:59:00.000-04:00

People of Ypsi, I had the folks at VGKids in Ypsi make me a box of these stickers.

Soon to be available in local stores (if my friends don't take them all...) or you can e-mail me if you are interested.

Fall Render

2009-10-16T11:19:00.000-04:00

I thought I would play around doing a bit of a still life in SketchUp. The cider is flowing in Michigan and apples are at their best.

Apples from the folks at Sketchucation, leaves by me. Rendered in Nxt

SketchUp Virus

2009-10-15T12:14:00.000-04:00

I was sick as a dog last week, ended up in bed with my laptop for a few days. The fever and Robitussin gave me strange dreams, one is pictured above. Little robots attacking the virus in my brain and nasal cavity.

SketchUp is not just for buildings anymore.

SketchUp 7.1 now available

2009-09-22T12:28:00.000-04:00

Google has issued an upgrade to SketchUp 7, a small but substantial one called SketchUp 7.1. This version gets rid of the SKP file convention and has embraced the COLLADA format. I am not sure what this means yet. I do know that it overwrote my old version 7.0, happily I have the installer for the old version if I need it. I must say that for some modelers, being bale to grab street view images to paint buildings seems kind of cool. I have seen people asking for this on the discussion boards-- but that is not a big help for more advanced modelers who are planning on doing full scale renderings and texturing.

I will have to give it a try and see how it goes. Apparently they have re-written some of the core so that it can better handle high poly models, only time will tell. The SketchUp community is very vocal, I am sure there will be a verdict soon. There seems to be a dichotomy of SU users, some use it for simple low poly models, others push it to the limits. Has anyone else tried the new version? What do you think?

UPDATE:

It runs really well, rotation and movement is quite a bit quicker. Thank you Google.

Alas the DWG imprter is gone, you can find a link to a fix here

Hopper painting in SketchUp

2009-08-31T19:52:00.000-04:00

I was thinking of drawing a diner when I saw a post on the Sketchucation Forum mentioning a rendering that looked like a Hopper painting. I imported the painting into SketchUp then broke it apart and drew it in 3d.

Still working on the lighting-- it is tricky to get a good balance between inside and out without getting glare on the glass.

Fun!

Back from the Adirondack Mountains

2009-08-28T15:19:00.000-04:00

I just got back from a camping trip, we ate very well. Someone asked if I could model this product mobile. I haven't done too many cars but this one has fairly simple lines.

Update

2009-07-29T13:51:00.000-04:00

I have not been updating this blog with any SketchUp models because I have been working on a chapter for an upcoming book being published in France.

Here is a little slideshow of some of my models.

Capsule complete

2009-07-16T14:48:00.000-04:00

Modeling a Russian space capsule

2009-07-01T16:21:00.000-04:00

The Volstok.

Launch of the Vostock

2009-06-25T18:42:00.000-04:00

First pass at doing fire and smoke, not easy to pull off.

Launch Pad progess

2009-06-24T17:01:00.000-04:00

I am modeling the (former) soviet launch site at Baikonour.

Found a little cosmonaut to go with it, almost launch time.

Modeling a Russian rocket launch pad

2009-06-21T18:44:00.000-04:00

I am helping a man in England make a movie about Lumdmilla the forgotten cosmonaut.

This launch pad is the one used to launch Sputnik and many other space vehicles. After watching all the videos of failed attempts. Like this one. Those people are crazy.

Or this one:

Drawing a historic brewery in SketchUp

2009-06-15T19:13:00.000-04:00

Is it an historic or a historic???

I worked a couple of hours on this brewery drawing. This model is based on a collection of refernce material I have accumulated over the years. I am attempting to model a brewery from about 1820 or so. As you can see from these images, they are simple breweries-- without a lot of automation.

Wooden mash tubs, simple pumps, barrels and chimney or two. This model is going to take awhile, the textures are just place holders now, I need to find a lot of old wood textures now...

Drawing a 19th century brewery

2009-06-14T20:35:00.000-04:00

Amidst a few other projects, I have begun drawing, as historically accurate as possible, a brewery from circa 1820.

Why?

Because it is a interesting exercise to grow my drawing skills. And, I also brew beer on occasion and have an interest in industrial archaeology.

I just got started but I think this is going to be cool when it is done.

References are hard to find.

I will post more tomorrow.

Name That Artist

2009-06-11T23:05:00.001-04:00

Incredibly quick model to make--sketchup + IrenderNxt + Painter (for smoke).

Looking for better wood textures but this is kind of fun.

SketchUp swivel

2009-06-09T18:41:00.000-04:00

A little experiment embedding models into this blog:

Illustration AuSable Lighthouse

2009-06-09T16:55:00.000-04:00

I took a hand drawn image I had done, modeled it in 3D, then photoshopped some grass and weeds.

Makes me want to go camping.

SketchUp + Google Earth + Lightwave = Fun at the Sidetrack in Ypsilanti

2009-05-22T18:10:00.000-04:00

My friend Michael and I collaborated on this little entry for the local movie competition. I modeled the bar, Michael did the characters and animation. No word from the judges yet.

UPDATE: WE WON!

Actually there were two winners, one for animation and one for film.

A Little Dream from mSt on Vimeo.

One-A-Day Challenge

2009-05-22T15:14:00.000-04:00

OK, so after drawing all these houses it seems that each one is taking longer than the previous one. Maybe it is because the more you look at architecture, the more you notice little details. I thought that Richardsonian would be relatively easy to pull off, instead I am getting bogged down buy lots of dentils and trying to make rusticated stone.

Not done yet...

Ornate Second Empire house in Ypsilanti

2009-05-20T19:09:00.000-04:00

I used to drive by this house everyday. I still need to model a bay window on the side but I am sick of drawing scrolled brackets.

This is a raw sketchup model, rendering will wait, I am working on something a bit more grand.