Google Sketch up ???

[BigThing]

I was wandering, since i am HOPELESS at GMAX, could i create models in google sketch up instead???

If so can i have a link to tutorials of how to get them in the right format and how to set them up?

 

[whitepass]

This has been posted a lot use Search to find, short answer is NO.

 

[JIb228]

Yes and No.

I have little experience at 3D modeling, but have been looking in to it. You can make models in sketch up, and import them in to Gmax. BUT you have to have the premium, PAID, version of sketch up to save in a file format that Gmax likes. And form what I have read, its a pain in the bum to do.

Your better off leaning Gmax. Although I think there are a few other 3D modeling programs you can use.

And next time, try using the search tool, in fact, you should search for Sketch up now and see what all you find on the forums. You'll find more.

 

[alanti]

Most of my models started out in Sketchup and were textured in GMAX. But you do need the full version of Sketchup to export in 3DS format. There were quite often a few issues with models that were imported into GMAX and I had to learn how GMAX worked to fix them. Eventually, I had learned enough about GMAX to just create my models in that.

Note that I mainly create buildings and such. I don't think that SketchUp would be so good for locos or rolling stock.

Others have mentioned Blender 3D which I have used quite a lot, but only recently for Trainz stuff. I am still having problems with texturing in Blender. I apply the textures to everything, but when I adjust something the exporter complains about a texture error and I have to apply them again (probably something that I am doing wrong.

I still play around with SketchUp but only for trying out ideas for buildings, sort of electronic doodling. I can then save some images to use as a guide when modelling in one of the other apps.

 

[Johnk]

As Whitepass mentioned above, this subect has been raised sooooooo many times before.

Here is a snippet I wrote in a previous thread:

Snippet: If you read this thread, you will see that the subject has been discussed in great detail over a prolonged period before. As a result of that thread, I searched the Internet and found a tutorial that shows how you can export models from the free version to Blender. Please read the last page or so of the thread closely because the process is not without its problems. What we need is some smart person to write a program to do this automatically and make all the conversions necessary without human intervention. That person is out there, he or she just has to step forward.

If reading other threads on the subject isn't your scene, you can go to the tutorial here. End of snippet:

Note: Thanks to Alanti for advising me of a dead link The above link to the tutorial is now correct (10/10/09) Webmasters will continue to move pages around without considering the consequences.

The bottom line is: Yes, you can use the free version of Sketchup to export to Blender. I tried it and the results were shocking. Others have tried with much better results. Practice makes perfect I guess, but it would probably be faster to use Blender.

Go to the Trainz Resources Directory and look under Software for all the available 3D software that should work with Trainz (but not necessarily easliy) Then go to the Tutorials section for links to hundreds of great free tutorials. Please enjoy your stay at the Directory, it's there for your benefit.

 

[alanti]

As Whitepass mentioned above, this subect has been raised sooooooo many times before.

Here is a snippet I wrote in a previous thread:
...
If reading other threads on the subject isn't your scene, you can go to the tutorial here.[/I] End of snippet:
...

Have you tried that tutorial link recently? broken link now fixed

 

[Johnk]

Hi Alanti. Whoops, I forgot to check the link. They moved the page, but it was easy enough to find again as the tutorial features on their home page. Maybe you could add "now fixed" to your post. Thanks for bringing it to my attention so quickly.

John