Additional Catalogs

[Robert W - "robban"]

Allan Have you look at Goggle warehouse I fund a some doorknobs the in skp format

Robert

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the reminder, I tend to forget abot the SKP format. Actually I only worry about using a door knob if I am doing a real close up render. You do not notice they are not there from a distance and they are too hard to move when they do not swing with the door. Maybe some day they will be part of the door or can be attached to it - that would be great. 

Allan

[Doug.S]

All the ones I have looked at are all one colour even though there appears to be two colour settings available.  Maybe these work in the other formats but not DXF, which is a shame.  Shame too that they are not available as 3DS, since they would be much smaller and also 3DS usually retain the assigned colours better.

I did not download any files from this site, but in general, .dxf will carry colors assigned to named vertex domains.  TFP exports to .dxf  and keeps colors OK when imported to other 3D programs.

If a problem, or to change file sizes, many 3D programs will convert from .dwg or .dxf to .3ds or to .obj easily.

Also, most 3D programs with vertex modelling allows the user to select and assign domain names and colors which are readable when imported into TFP. Even if a model is spline based it can usually be converted to a vertex model.  Then you can apply any TFP color/texture to any surface you desire with complete control.

Also easy to start with a model similar to what you want and to modify or adjust that object in a modelling program....such as Hexagon, modo, blender, etc.  There are many, some very expensive and some low cost or free programs.

Doug.S

[Robert W - "robban"]

Allan, ther is a great advantge whit skp-format, that is you have a free program you can edit your downloads, and the latest is rahter advanced for to be a free program. The automats in Room for the freezers http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,866.msg4156.html#msg4156 have done with Google SketsUp 7.

Robert

[Doug.S]

I certainly agree that SketchUp is a great program, especially being free.

And there is a whole world of people creating free objects for use....and easy to import those objects into TFP. Look for .skp stuff:
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/

I also use TFP as an "intermediate" program just to convert .skp files into another 3D format so my other programs can import objects that otherwise cannot import .skp directly.  I have not found any free program to convert .skp to formats such as .3ds  .obj or .dxf

Doug.S

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Robert and Doug,

I will get around to trying Sketchup one of these days. I took an early retirement recently, so hopefully I can find the time to have a look at it properly, (when I catch up on the backlog of things that have nbeen neglected the last few years!!).

One of the things I had to do at work last year, was to sit on a panel of competition judges, to choose the best set of plans for an environmentally sustainable home, in a city counsel competition. I was representing the state owned electricity company where I worked, looking at the eneryg saving aspects. There were some outstanding presentations, plans and visuals, from some of the top architectural design companies in the state.  The winning entry was beautifully designed and rendered. I spoke privately with the winner afterwards to find out what software he had used for the visuals and it was the free Google Sketchup!! It was rendered in other software of course. It was outstanding and better than the rederings done by the other entries, all of who used software costing tens of thousands of dollar.  The winner was a one man design 'company' and he just could not believe that he had won using free software! It is obviuously capable of great things and no doubt in the future it will include the rendering capabilities too I suppose.

I have had a look at the Warehouse previously (although I had forgotten about it) and again earlier today. I find it a liuttle confusing to use but the search seems to work OK. Obviously I did not see everything there is to see in the warehouse as it is extensive, but most of the things I did see already exist or could easily be made in TFP, with the exception maybe of SOME of the curved items like special chairs. Does SketchUp let you create multiple direction curves easily? Or were these particular models done in other software and just made available to the warehouse by the furniture manufacturers (similar to what they do with the BIM files)?

The automats in Room for the freezers http://forums.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,866.msg4156.html#msg4156 have done with Google SketsUp 7.

Robert,  I am just curious, what is different about your 'automats' so that you used SKP, rather than what TFP already does?  Maybe you could post one of them so I can have a look.

Allan

[Robert W - "robban"]

Hello Allan. I have now SketchUp7.1 and it works fine, and if you download a plug in for dwg and dfx files to the SketchUp7 you can clean up this fils and save them as skp, with TFP 14. Her is a youtube file what you can do with pro version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vqS86TGhMQ
it is impressive
her is one more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcOrlX5wgLE that maybe answer you question.

I used SketchUp to make the automates beques it was much easier to do it, and you ad a image as a skin on a surface.
 
Robert

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for posting those YouTube videos. The opening doors/drawers was interesting and the making curved objects plugin too. At least I know where to go if I need any multiple curved objects. There are currently a few in the Envisioneer forum complaining about the fact that cupbord doors do not open, so I guess Cadsoft will be under pressure to provide that in a future release.  Looks like SketchUp is ahead of them on that one. Does the latest version have lighting to do photorealistic rendering yet?

Coming back to your Automats - they appear, from the image, to be just a square box with an image applied, so IF that is all they are, why would you not just do it in TFP?  It would only take a few seconds, probably less than the time it would take to import the SKP file.  Of course, if it is not just a box, then it may be a different situation, and in that case I would be interested to see the SKP file - if you still have it around. 

I am always interested to see whether things done elsewhere, can be done in TFP - usually I find they can and often much easier.  In the Envisioneer forum recently somone was wanting to do a curved lintel over an arched doorway and they were advised to go to SketchUp to do it, when it can be done in seconds in TFP or Env. For the most part it is only limited by ones imagination I think!  Multiple direction curves are not there yet though, except in the terrain tools, but they are not as easy to deal with as the SketchUp plug in appears to be on the video.  Seems like the ability is there in the terrain tools but needs to be reapplied to use it for other things.

Allan

[Robert W - "robban"]

Hi Allan, then it come to the automates yes they is a box only, yes it can be don in TFP but it much es yer in SketsUp and you have better control over the image of the automate, you can wrap a flat image around curved surface, I think you have to try it to se hove it work.

The video with the dynamic door was made in SketchUp 7 Pro and that is not free it com for arund 350 €, but you can do a lot with the free version, so on tip is to look around in YouTube for moor video, there is a lot of plug-ins for both pro and free version, some is free and some cost a lot of money.

Robert

[Doug.S]

I agree that if using something in TFP and you can easily model it in TFP, then that is probably the best way to do it.

However, finding a model already done often saves time even if it has to be adjusted some.

Other 3D programs have big advantages....but for architectural work it may be of little importance...

- making non-geometrical or organic shapes is far easier in vertex modelers (compound curves and compound surfaces) or making actual surface texture instead of using a fake shadow image that is not aligned to the sun.

- making texture domains so you can change/make multiple colors/textures on one object...all under user control

- generating procedural textures in the event you don't have a specific image to apply...or you want great detail yet have a small file because you don't need a large image file (like 2048x2048 .bmp)

- tools for making complex shapes are fast and easy compared to cobbling together TFP shapes to simulate something. for example cutting a hole thru shape or making radiused/chamfered edges

- terrains and trees/shrubs can be easily generated in real 3D...tho the file size can be a problem.  But I can "grow" ivy onto a 3D shape such as a wall

- 3D people (+ animals, fish etc.) are readily available to size and position (arms legs etc.) and clothe for special cases....tho "billboards" work quite well except for shadows

- Many 3D programs offer better and faster rendering than TFP with more controls over lighting ....tho TFP does OK.

Doug.S

[Robert W - "robban"]

**SNIP**  Looks like SketchUp is ahead of them on that one. Does the latest version have lighting to do photorealistic rendering yet?***SNIP**

 Allan

SketchUp use IDX Renditioner Express Free, to rendering.

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Robert,

Now you remind me I did know about the IDX Renditioner from the IMSI site, although I did not know there was a free version.  Since the full version is $200 I guess the free one is cut down somehow ( http://www.idx-design.com/IDX/IDXRenditioner/tabid/709/Default.aspx ).  However it appears that it becomes indegrated, so that is good. I have a resistance for some reason, to swapping and changing between software to accomplish a single job but somehow we always seem to have to do it - even if it is just to compress an image from TFP to use on the forum!

Allan

[Robert W - "robban"]

Hi Allan,

Yes you are correct the free version is a cut down, you can only render max 640*480.

I don't think I will make a building in  SketchUp, there is TFP much better to accomplish the job, but then it com to different components I think TFP have it's limits, and if you don't will  buy a 3D-cad program for do the components is SketchUp a very great tool and you have also the import to TFP that is a great +.

And competition between skp and dxf I think skp will win

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Robert,

I have no doubt that SketchUp will go from strength to strength as Google seems very motivated.

At present I am doing up a bit of a tutorial on making objects in TFP.  Great things are possible, very easily and quickly, and I think they get missed by a lot of users.  Just as an example the two lounge chairs below were made in just a minute or two in TFP out of two pieces of the floor.  

What I would like to see is the developers create a little object making toolbox, that utilises unique functions of the existing elements (Walls, Openings, Floor, Ceiling, Roof, Layout and Members, Surfaces, Columns and Terrain). If they were simplified and combined into one area, they would form a great toolbox, by utilising all the functions to make a single object.  Sounds easy but.....

Jack, if you see this, you may like to add your modern chair examples.

Allan

[Robert W - "robban"]

Hi Allan, great looking lounge chairs. There is some tools in the catalog, but agree to you that tool to make objects stand high on the list, maybe they can ad some more tools to layouts, fore example that you can make a curved member, then you can do your own plumbing as you like.

Robert