Hi Diane,
Don't worry about the length of the posts - I hate writing too yet they seem to get long too. Sometimes I have made them purposely brief and some have come back for more details. Conversely someone with a problem explains too briefly and we have to ask for more details. So my thoughts is make it as long as necessary to cover the point properly. The other good thing is to start a separate post if the subject changes. That make it much easier using the Search for others to find answers to questions that may have been covered previously.
Anyway just to add to Doug's comments:
Sad to see that in TFP that Trace seems to be attached to a layer & not visible if that layer is not current. Using SU/GE sure helped defining what my TFP terrain size should be for landscaping. GE indicated that I have an elevation change range of about 12 ft & that seems about right.
The trace image is not visible because it is just an image. Other objects and elements will show through the layers (depending on the 'dimming' as Doug pointed out) but images don't so you have to do the trace on the same layer as the image (which does make it a bit difficult). IF SketchUp will export a DXF file then use that as it can be traced through from another layer.
On terrain size - this should normally be somewhat bigger than your Site or block size. Some get the two confused - the Terrain is the ground and theoretically should go way off onto the distance when viewed in 3D. If you are unable to see the terrain contours of your plateau it is because you are off the terrain and MAYBE it should be bigger. That touches on your next question:
I found a post where Jack says to start plateaus at the highest edge and work your way around. Am experimenting, but don't see much difference where the start is. Of course, mine look like nested "C"s with the open side off the defined terrain. Any "hidden" reason to start plateaus on the "high" side? One irritation that I found is that the plateau construction lines disappear if part of those lines scroll off & are not viewable. Seems to continue to building the plateau, but you're working blind.
You would start drawing the plateau off the Terrain and return off the Terrain IF the block was at it's miximum height at that point, otherwise it would slope down again on the outside of the shape you have drawn. If it is not just a straight slope (if it was you would use the Slope tool) but is still all sloping one way nevertheless, then start and finish each plateau shape off the terrain on the high side, so that edge is your highest point. If it is not a one way multi-slope then you can start and finish the plateau anywhere. Your "nested Cs" are a typical situation where you would use this 'start off the Terain' technique. The fact that you cannot see the contours lines off the terrain does not matter as they will not be seen anyway in either 2D or 3D. The Terrain is the limit of what you are doing so it does not matter how they are drawn in the 'off terrain' area. I generally just roughly follow the edge of the terrain once I have gone off it. If you want to show the mountain that sits at the back of your property, then your Terrain should be big enough to include it and in this case you would not have to start and finish off the terrain.
Bear in mind too, especially since you are trying to trace a contour map, that you can select and the adjust the shape of the plateaus after they are drawn, to line up with the 'map'. You may have to drag the mouse over the area so you can see them to be able to select the one you want to change. The line represents the upper edge (that you set as the height) but lines will be shown on the terrain depending what you set the Contour Distance to in the Terrain Settings.
As far as moving around in 3D is concerned, apart from the zoom that Doug mentioned, I generally prefer the Walk tool. This always keeps the previously set height, which I set to eye level so it always looks like it would in reality - set the Target Height and Camera Height the same.
The secret with most movement tools is to use the plan window to move the camera and target very close together or movement will not appear natural and you will find youself outside the house before you know it. Fly Around is Ok if you want a to look at the roof or something and turn the model around. For the latter, in the camera plan, set the target in the centre of the model and the camera outside and you can then rotate the building - moving up and down if you want in the process. To get back to your evey level view click the Reset Camera button.
As you try out the different movement tools, watch the camera plan to see what it does with the camera - this will help you to see what happens with each tool.
No way to dock the Filter unfortunately. To be honest I can't remember how the FP one worked now although I do recall at the time thinking it was better than the TFP version.
Hopefully the above is clear enough to follow.
Allan
