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[Allan Chesney]

Good evening Stephan,

- When I save a model as a skp file, it does not open in skp. Still have to export as 3DS.

Is that just a SKP version issue? Is it exporting as SKP8 for example and you are using SKP7 maybe?

Colour inconsistencies and the fact that once you have made both sides of a wall exterior, you can't assign different colours to the two sides. That means your interior and exterior wall finishes are basically the same. Doesnt look too cool.

I curious about this one: What are the "colour inconsistencies" you refer to?
Also, why would you make "both sides of a wall exterior"? (unless it was an outside 'free standing' wall of course)
If you set both sides to exterior it will obviously use the exterior texture inside also.  Are you saying that you can't have the left and right side of the wall with a different colour anymore - that both have to be set to Exterior? That does not sound right to me.   (Can't check myself as I haven't got V8 yet - still witing for 'delivery' following competition win)

Allan

[stephan]

Hi Allan,

I've got skp8, but it doesn't show anything in the prview, nor does it show anything in the file in skp.

Once I have transferred the renderings from one computer to another,(where I can go on internet), I will post a screenshot. There I will show the colour issues. I also found that everytime you exit render settings and come back there, the "soft shadow" and 'Sun colour" settings have reverted back to default settings. I would have preferred for it to stay at my settings.

Regarding the forcing of exterior sides. When I force the outside of a wall to exterior and not the inside, then from an external render one only see black walls inside. That was why I forced both sides to be exterior. But as I mentioned, then the interior and exterior walls stay the same colour, automatically. Maybe it's just my 7.2 version that does that. It does shut down when I try to add extra views in model or sheet. Posted that issue last week and got no answers to it. Will try similar issues with V8 and see what happens.

Regards
Stephan

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Stephan,

I also found that everytime you exit render settings and come back there, the "soft shadow" and 'Sun colour" settings have reverted back to default settings. I would have preferred for it to stay at my settings.

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This would probably be the same as some ofthe other Settings. You may find if you change all the settings to what you prefer then save them back to the template that you have it set to open with, then they will be retained.

Regarding the forcing of exterior sides. When I force the outside of a wall to exterior and not the inside, then from an external render one only see black walls inside.

Would the new Ambient lighting fix that? Don't know whether it can be set to work just on interior, or if it has any adverse effect on the exterior view if it is applied across the board.

... I forced both sides to be exterior. But as I mentioned, then the interior and exterior walls stay the same colour, automatically. Maybe it's just my 7.2 version that does that.

I think that is normal behaviour - mine uses the exterior texture also if the inside walls are forced to be exterior. TurboFlooorPlan does also.

Allan

[stephan]

Hi Allan,

Something totally different. When you have a swimming pool and want to be able to see the bottom through the water when you render, how do you achieve that. I am fiddeling with the existing materials and their settings, but just can't get it to look real. Any ideas?

Stephan

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Stephan,

It depends on the effect you want to achieve but basically all you do is set the texture to partly Transparent and partially Specular.

In the first image below the aim was a still pool, so this was just set to transparent blue.

The second image was intended to be rippled as there were people in the water. To achieve this I used two 'water' textures. One was just a semi transparent water texture, but with the other I doctored the texture and replaced some of the pattern with Magenta so it rendered totally transparent in those areas. This had the effect of the texture also causing shadows on the bottom.

It is really a question of experimenting to get the effect you want.  Practice on a simple pool, negative slab set to tiles and something behind to reflect (wall and tree) so it renders quick (speed may not be a problem with V8).  If you want still water I would start with a blue 'paint', making it semi transparent (eg 70%) and semi specular (30%?). If it has to be rippled then you would have to use a texture (or two) and play with the transpareny.

I have attached my Magenta water in case you want to try it. Make sure you use the Mapping to stretch the texture dramatically in one direction and enlarge it dramatically also so it blurrs. Although this texture is 128 pixels square, im my second image it is stretched right across the pool. This gives a much more natural effect but is also dependant on the angle of the camera. If you move the camera around you may also have to rotate the texture a similar amount so that it is about right angles to the camera direction. The small image shows the stretched  'magenta' texture better.

Hope that helps.

Allan

[stephan]

Thank you Allan, that works well.
Stephan

[Jack Zimmer]

Hi Stephan,

I've had no problem importing the SKP from v8 into SketchUp. I have SKUP v8- 4811

Jack

[K Red Design]

The shortcut key (V,F or whatever you make it) for View Filter in model doesn't work 

I always change my View Filter shortcut to 'Q', fast , easy to get to , one finger, works fine.

Jack

Thanks for that Jack, I have made it an 'x'. None of my other 'v'  shortcuts work either. Something very fishy going on, particularly since the program is called  'V8'

I have changed mine to 'F'. I'm to use to hitting VF, that way it still works as you hit the F after the V.

[stephan]

Morning Jack,

Sorry, I must have done something wrong the first two times. Maybe it was just that specific file. Tried with a much bigger file this morning. Worked like a charm.

Do you also get these funny "greenish" "Stains" on your renders? I did also find that when I do a render at 3 or less, the internal side of broken walls did not show black. It only showed black at 4 or 5. Can you confirm that?

Can you also confirm for me if the hatching in worksheet has been updated or not? I still can't find the wood grain that Chantale mentioned or any of the other new hatches. Only see the old ones from V7.2 and older. Maybe I'm going blind? , donno!

Regards
Stephan

[Chantale]

Stephan, you are probably using your existing catalog, hatch patterns are saved in the  catalog, so if you don't use the new catalog you will not see them. Open the new catalog, export the hatch patterns out as a BIM file and then import them into your old catalog.

[bundulla]

When you open a model created in V8 with V7.2 the terrain does not keep the topography. Sad news, there goes my idea of rendering with V7.2 out the window!

Stephan

Also, when you open a model created in V8 with V7.2 'smart' views are converted to blocks. There still seems to be no way of identifying what block, or 'smart' view, you have selected - or am I missing something?

Maurie

[Jack Zimmer]

Do you also get these funny "greenish" "Stains" on your renders?

Hi Stephan,

I did notice something odd in one rendering. Unfortunatley I have a family member hospitalized and don't have time to work much with v8 at the moments.

If I do find something I will post it under the Interior Rendering thread,

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Chantale,

Stephan, you are probably using your existing catalog, hatch patterns are saved in the  catalog, so if you don't use the new catalog you will not see them. Open the new catalog, export the hatch patterns out as a BIM file and then import them into your old catalog.

I am having the same trouble as Stephan and I am using the new catalogue. None of the patterns you listed "wood grain, insulation, brick, stone, earth and much more." appear in the patterns library. I have not compared every one specifically but they appear to be identalical to 7.2 to me.

Allan

[Jack Zimmer]

Try other catalog (non metric).

I can see them in non metric but metric catalog comes in different.

Jack

[stephan]

I can't even find the catalogues on mty system. I also deleted the old version completely, catalogues etc., all included.

Will see if I can find and open in imperial.

Stephan