google Sketchup

Topic: google Sketchup (Read 20270 times) previous topic - next topic

google Sketchup

April 04, 2009, 06:38:03 am

Has anyone here used Google Sketchup to model a simutrans building? I have begun modelling Rojo's power plant I made a post for earlier. (attached)

Google Sketchup ("regular" version) is a free 3D modeling program best suited for architectural modeling. You can create isometric 2:1 perspective renders of your models in a few easy steps:

1. Create a square/rectangular tile base for your model and move your model onto it.
2. Prepare your view for 2:1 isometric mode by creating a square, bisecting it (SW to NE), and then creating a 60/30/90 triangle. The 90 angle should be facing you, and the 60 should be facing against you. Use the push/pull tool on the triangle to create a face. Orient your view to the the top face of the triangle by right clicking the face and clicking "Align View".

In the attached model, I've hidden a prop ("group" of polygons) in the "scence helper" layer to help you orient your camera to one of 4 iso 2:1 angles. In my attached model, you can also switch your scene to those same viewing angles by clicking on them. (top left corner of the viewing window) Finally, you can use the built-in iso mode in Camera>Standard Views, but the isometric viewing angle is not your typical 2:1.

3. Go to Camera and set your view to parallel projection.

4. Turn on all the rendering effects you are interested in -- textures, shadows, fog... maybe styles, too. Do Zoom extents, then zoom in/out some arbitrary times, print screen, paste in your favorite picture editing software, and cut out the background.

If anyone would like to learn more, has a Sketchup model to share that they used in Simutrans, has a Sketchup question (I've been doing this a few weeks), or KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT ROJO'S POWER PLANT*, post here!

*: I can't make heads or tails of some of the details of the Rojo power plant:
What are those 5 (4 with gangplank?) metal rectangles next to the stacks? How about those three thingies on the top roof and the left side? Any ideas?

Re: google Sketchup

Reply #1 – April 04, 2009, 12:41:57 pm

There was one person, Joker, who used Sketchup routinely for big buildings. Somewhere on the old forum should be a thread with famous skyscrapers. Unfortunately he left at least half year ago and wasn't heard of since.

No idea about these things. I can only ****ume he modelled them after something, or made up to make it look more "technical".

Re: google Sketchup

Reply #2 – July 06, 2009, 02:20:47 pm

I'm a frequent user of Google Sketchup and I've used it to create p****enger planes of different liveries (for pak64) for my savegame "The World". See "The World in pak64 (updated)" thread. Anyways, I was also the one who created in sketchup those 3D planes which I used.

I'd just note though that you can export 2D graphics from sketchup and produce a .png image file. Just look up under FILE tab, then Export options. That would yield better results that the "print screen" option, as you have said here.

Re: google Sketchup

Reply #3 – August 29, 2009, 10:26:29 am

Hey!

I'm new in making objects in Simutrans. Could anyone give me simple instructions how to make my SketchUp model into a playable .pak file? Or if not so, could I send someone some of my models, so he/her can do this for me? Thank you!

Re: google Sketchup

Reply #4 – August 29, 2009, 11:21:54 am

Hi velohr,

you have to make from your sketchup model a picture like this http://graphics.simutrans.com/displayimage.php?album=7&pos=1 (64x64, f.e. pak64 or pak.german) or this http://graphics.simutrans.com/albums/userpics/10003/train-align-template.png (128x128, f.e. pak128).

Than you need a dat File (is a text-file), see here http://en.wiki.simutrans.com/index.php/Creating_addons#Dat_files

And than you can make with makeobj a .pak file: http://sourceforge.net/projects/simutrans/files/

Re: google Sketchup

Reply #5 – August 30, 2009, 08:47:03 am

Thank you very much, really!
I tried to do everything like you said, but I still cannot make anything...am I stupid or wath?

Anyway, like I asked, is there anyone who could make the first .pak file for me? I have some great models which I made in Google SketchUp, and it would look great in Simutrans pak128...

Re: google Sketchup

Reply #6 – September 06, 2009, 01:03:10 pm

Quote from: VS – on April 04, 2009, 12:41:57 pm

There was one person, Joker, who used Sketchup routinely for big buildings. Somewhere on the old forum should be a thread with famous skyscrapers. Unfortunately he left at least half year ago and wasn't heard of since.

Joker. I miss him. He made a amazing job!

Re: google Sketchup

Reply #7 – January 30, 2010, 10:31:46 pm

could create a video tutorial on ¿how to put the isometric view correct? I have tried everything to before, but dont see correctly.

Re: google Sketchup

Reply #8 – January 30, 2010, 10:55:50 pm

I have made this, which is a template you can navigate in sketchup.
shadows must be turned on.

http://files.[ simutrans [dot] us (site down, do not visit) ]/files/get/F-YiH2k0ng/simutrans-template.skp

This: