Google Sketchup as a VRML authoring tool

[Tito]

About a month ago I friend of mine hooked me up with a copy of his Sketchup Pro that he uses at this digital media school he attends to. Anyway, I have been playing around with this Sketchup Pro 3D editor, and I must say that compared to other high end editors out there, this one got to be the most easiest one to work with! Well, to get to the point here, of the several 3D formats that Sketchup Pro outputs to, VRML is one of them. So to demonstrate what can be done in Sketchup Pro with VRML, I did a quick and dirty scene of a simple structure textured with some of Sketchup Pro's own textures, along with a few of Sketchup Pro's editing features, like freehand drawing, 3D font extrusion, picture placements and "mesh push". Nothing special or fancy here, just a simple, static structure model.

Now, one thing to watch out for in Sketchup Pro, is that the native scale of things is way, way out of proportioned to what it needs to be with your average VRML world, at least viewed through an avatar's point of view on BS Contact. So, assuming you have chosen the "Feet and Inches" measurement scale when you first boot up and enter Sketchup Pro, the walking height scale you would need to set your 3D working window would be "~1 5/8". From this navigational walking height of ~1 5/8 inches from the ground, is where you would start to construct your 3D scene to the proper proportion as would you will perceive it through your avatar's first person view. Walking around the 3D scene at the proper avatar navigation height (more or less) while you are making it, is one of the key features I really like about Sketchup Pro.

Now, one interesting thing I noticed about the VRML source code exported by Sketchup Pro, is that it kind of looks a bit different to your average VRML source code. Oh yea, when exporting VRML from Sketchup Pro, you will need to add by hand the NavigationInfo (walk), and also the DirectionalLight to the source code, or else you will be navigating in a very dark VRML world. Well, here's a quick 4 pics to get you started on how this looks like, and also notice on how I exported the "edge lines" with the VRML world, which I can easily remove in future VRML exports:

Take a look for your self in VRML: Sketchup Pro VRML sample world

[vcard]

Yes, exporting to collada is very welcome to the free version.
But ... the .kmz file format, already available for export in the previous version of sketchup, is a good way (probably the best) to transfer objects/scenes from sketchup to vivaty studio.

[alain]

some months ago a guy on LouiZeForum asked us for help on Sketchup ,
and we played with all these import export and conversions ,
and sure it works

http://dumenieu.free.fr/louizeforum/templebonhommes.wrl

[Tito]

I just got word that a new, updated version of SketchUp has been released by Google. Now, both the free and the $495.00 Pro versions have been updated to the new 7.1 versions, and are already available for download. You may ask yourselves, so - what's the big deal? Well, let's just talk about the new, free version of SketchUp 7.1: It now can export to the Collada format! Yes, you no longer need to have the expensive Pro version anymore to be able to export to any other format that's not Google Earth.

Now, since I already have the Pro version of SketchUp, I can't really give an accurate assessment of the reputed new Collada export feature of the free SketchUp 7.1. So, I was wondering if anybody here can download the free, new 7.1 version of SketchUp, model something real quick, export it to the Collada format, then import that same Collada model in to Vivaty Studio, then proceed to export it to VRML or X3D, your choice.

After you do all that, it will just be a matter of publishing the said VRML or X3D world online, which then finally you can post a direct link right here to that example world for all to see. It does not have to be anything fancy, just a simple model with a texture or two would suffice. All I just want to see if it's really practical to use the Collada export feature of the new SketchUp 7.1, that's all.

You can find a round up of the new features added to free SketchUp 7.1 and Pro versions here: SketchUp 7.1 new features

So, do I have any takers?

[Steve]

thanks for the Info Tito. Good to know. :)

[Tito]

All I know about the "color by layer" thing, is if I were to put a check mark on it when exporting to VRML, the resulting VRML world will be exported without it's textures. I found about this the hard way a few times until I figured out it was this causing the textures not to be exported with the rest of the VRML scene. So really, it's better not to have this option enabled.

Anyway, after doing some trolling through the official Sketchup forum posts, I found this info that might shed some light regarding our questions over Sketchup's VRML export options: VRML export options explanation

[Steve]

I wonder what "color by layer" does. lmao. It would be nice that if you exporting vrml the options would be remotely close to the spec of that language. :P I am only guessing here but maybe if you had "ignore back face of material" checked that might be what generates the normals. best left unchecked if so. check for material overrides probaly does just as it says too. if you have altered the default material it checks for it and outputs the material you selcted. I have found that even the smallest amount of emissive color can illuminate a mesh suffiently as to not need extra lights in the scene. A headlight for your avatar is sufficient lighting in most cases.

[Bruce Lehmann]

The 'output edges is waht will put 'lines' all over your model. Also, make sure you are in the view you want the model in because it can do wierd things with the camera. One of the things I found to be a problem in Sketchup to VRML was the sheer size of the models and all the parts (I think Steve covered that. Otherwise it is an interesting program and has a unique approach to modeling. Take a look at a site called 3DVIA and a modeler named 'Toymaker', what he makes in Sketchup is almost amazing.

[Tito]

@ Steve: You have a point there regarding Sketchup's materials that I will have to look in to.

@ Bruce Lehmann: I knew about Vivaty Studio's import of the kmx format, but now that you mention it, I realize the Sketchup - Vivaty Studio connection now!

Also, don't forget that Vivaty Studio can import the Collada format, which even though the free version of Sketchup does not export Collada, but most of Google Sketchup Warehouse's models are available on the optional Collada format. And I am sure I don't need to tell you how massive their model collection is, not to mention all free too!

Anyway, coming back to Sketchup Pro's VRML export feature, here's the only VRML export options given to you on a pop-up window at the moment of exporting your 3D scene to VRML:

I understand most of the options given there, but not all.

[Bruce Lehmann]

Just a note, if you have the free version of Google Sketch-up and Vivaty Studio you can import the kmx file in to Vivaty Studio and bring it out as VRML or X3D

[Steve]

There are ways to adjust your materials where you don't even need light's. I am not sure if Sketchup has a very rich material editor or not but if you can change these settings from sketchup you wouldnt have to add lights in order for the scene to viewed. I used the trial version of sketchup before and couldn't export to vrml but I agree that it has a really simple to use interface and people that are new to 3d can create worlds fairly quickly. Sketchup does however havea few flaws. Recently I helped a guy with his code that was exported from SU. SU seem to add the normals node to shape nodes . maybe there is a setting to remove those at export though. Another annoying thing about this code is that all the shapes are as is. they are all wrapped in one big Transform node so if you want to move things around your scene in vrmlpad you will have to place a Transform node around each piece of mesh first. I also don't understand why it wraps mesh in IndexedLineset nodes but I guess those be removed easy enough. All in all it is a nice tool for beginners but really lacks the power for more advanced users and is kind of pain in the arse for coders to wade through.