SketchUp and Trainz
- Thread starter jytte
- Start date
Hello Decapod?
I've tried my hand in Gmax. Although I did manage to make a few boxes, with texture, and use them in Trainz, boy that's a royal pain to create in Gmax!
Meanwhile, in another thread, I was told that Flux Studio would export SketchUp files to Gmax. And it will. Unfortunately, I found out in the process, that the .kmz files that SketchUp creates (and that Flux will translate) only contains the geometry and basic colors, no textures. Also some of the content went missing in the translation. Leaving me with a basic shape in Gmaz, that I then had to edit all over again (and then there's no point in exporting it in the first place).
So my question (not knowing anything about the other exporters that have been created) is this:
About the new exporter that Decapod is creating (or about to?), will it be able to export the native .skp files from SketchUp, including textures?? Otherwise I fail to see the point.
Or (and this is entirely possible) am I missing some important point here?
I've tried my hand in Gmax. Although I did manage to make a few boxes, with texture, and use them in Trainz, boy that's a royal pain to create in Gmax!
Meanwhile, in another thread, I was told that Flux Studio would export SketchUp files to Gmax. And it will. Unfortunately, I found out in the process, that the .kmz files that SketchUp creates (and that Flux will translate) only contains the geometry and basic colors, no textures. Also some of the content went missing in the translation. Leaving me with a basic shape in Gmaz, that I then had to edit all over again (and then there's no point in exporting it in the first place).
So my question (not knowing anything about the other exporters that have been created) is this:
About the new exporter that Decapod is creating (or about to?), will it be able to export the native .skp files from SketchUp, including textures?? Otherwise I fail to see the point.
Or (and this is entirely possible) am I missing some important point here?
Last edited:
Just bumping this. I've used GMAX, Blender, bought 3DCanvas Pro and I just discovered Sketchup. I'm floored really. I've never seen something in this genre which is so intuitive. I may end up buying the Pro version because I'm that impressed with this and in addition as the original poster stated there is a significant amount of models out there for all kinds of buildings, landmarks etc from all over the world. Props to Sketchup because not only is it powerful, it is very easy to use and intuitive. So then the question: Is there a Sketchup exporter/importer for Trainz? I did a search and there was a promise to do one but it doesn't appear there is one.
Last edited:
Is there a Sketchup exporter/importer for Trainz?
There are a few additional threads on this subject but they've all died. I recall that someone was designing an exporter but it seems to have fizzed. I successfully exported stuff to gMax with the demo Pro version but then my 30 days ran out. Not everything was successful. I was able to do the magic Kingdom at Disneyworld, but one of the monorail stations available at the 3D warehouse was a export disaster. In other words, some things work and some don't. In another recent thread someone said they were successfully creating houses and buildings and exporting them. I'd check that one out but it's probably the pro version.
I also did a quick Google and a number of exporters to other programs are beginining to appear. The good news is that they are all for the free version of Sketchup, which is understandable because the pro version has its own.
Good luck.
There are a few additional threads on this subject but they've all died. I recall that someone was designing an exporter but it seems to have fizzed. I successfully exported stuff to gMax with the demo Pro version but then my 30 days ran out. Not everything was successful. I was able to do the magic Kingdom at Disneyworld, but one of the monorail stations available at the 3D warehouse was a export disaster. In other words, some things work and some don't. In another recent thread someone said they were successfully creating houses and buildings and exporting them. I'd check that one out but it's probably the pro version.
I also did a quick Google and a number of exporters to other programs are beginining to appear. The good news is that they are all for the free version of Sketchup, which is understandable because the pro version has its own.
Good luck.
Update
I just found this very interesting tutorial:
http://www.katsbits.com/htm/tutorials/sketchup_converting_import_kmz_blender.htm
It shows you how to import files into Blender using existing tools, however you will need to install a full version of Python to get it to work.
Update: It works. The hardest part was installing Python on my machine. I initially used the latest version, but found I had to use an older one to be compatible with the latest release of Blender. My first attempt was a detailed water tower, but it didn't want to work. I then tried a simple cylinder and it worked perfectly. Now I'll try larger objects to see where the cut-off point is.
About the tutorial: it's very detailed. It's designed for an absolute beginner with no computer experience. You also have to view another more important tutorial to learn how to load Python properly. It's also very detailed. I'm about to write my own tutorial which should be available tonight under Tutorials/Blender or Tutorials/Sketchup. The site link is below. See you there!
I just found this very interesting tutorial:
http://www.katsbits.com/htm/tutorials/sketchup_converting_import_kmz_blender.htm
It shows you how to import files into Blender using existing tools, however you will need to install a full version of Python to get it to work.
Update: It works. The hardest part was installing Python on my machine. I initially used the latest version, but found I had to use an older one to be compatible with the latest release of Blender. My first attempt was a detailed water tower, but it didn't want to work. I then tried a simple cylinder and it worked perfectly. Now I'll try larger objects to see where the cut-off point is.
About the tutorial: it's very detailed. It's designed for an absolute beginner with no computer experience. You also have to view another more important tutorial to learn how to load Python properly. It's also very detailed. I'm about to write my own tutorial which should be available tonight under Tutorials/Blender or Tutorials/Sketchup. The site link is below. See you there!
Last edited:
Hey that's a great find. I like Blender but I've found that in exporting to Trainz at times the textures get screwed up. When I go to 3DCanvas Pro no problem with the same model textured there. There are a lot of nuances to Blender, such as stitching textures etc., which I think if not properly done can cause all kinds of problems. That's where it parts company with a program like Sketchup which is a drag and drop process of texturing. That's why the latter program is so intuitive. There's your model in 3D, find the texture and stretch it into place in the same window.
In Blender you have to:
(1) Add the link to the object
(2) Add the new texture to the object
(3) Change to the appropriate mappiing
(4)Change one window to UV image editor
(5) Alt+Z the other window so you can see the texture being applied in real time
(6)Unrap the image by changing the latter window to editor mode
(7)Open menu to unrap and unrap (smart projections or whatever)
(8)Adjust the map and/or apply stitching
etc. etc.
Finally the model and texturing might look perfect but then the exported object in Trainz not so.
On testing the conversion with several objects, I found myself not entirely happy with the result. So-much-so, I've decided not to write a tutorial because I just wasn't able to advance as far as I would have liked. Despite this, I believe a person well versed in Blender's macros or Python itself, could easily make a tool to make the transition painless.
John
I exported a model I did with Sketchup in Blender and it worked flawlessly. Exporting to Trainz was a little trickier. I had errors on a couple of occasions. Reading a little further down on that link I joined the meshes and then it exported into Trainz - proper size and all! See below in Blender. It's a rough model of Gare St. Lazare in Paris. Now to texture it.
I like Blender a lot. I bought last week 'Blender for Dummies' which is a really good aid as, although there is a lot of stuff out there on Blender, it's nice to have a unified source of information and I've learn't a lot even though I've been using Blender for a year and a half.
Len, that's very impressive. The model is far more complex that anything I tried. I've uploaded two of the models I used where my success rate was nil. Can you download them and see how you go? There's a third model called robbel_crane_train.skp and I'd love to know how it goes also.
When I tried with house and tower001, all I got was some dotted lines pointing to the XYZ coordinates. There was no image to be seen anywhere. I also tried changing the settings in the view panel as suggested but this got me nowhere. I found that I could only transfer very basic shapes like cylinders and pyramids. They all worked perfectly.
As this may help many would be modellers, I'd be really happy if you could explain how you got around any problems if any.
Regards
John
Download site: http://trainzresources.com/directory/downloads
Len I just tested this link and it's not working properly on my machine. let me know if you can successfully download. I'm going to bed and I'll try again tomorrow.
When I tried with house and tower001, all I got was some dotted lines pointing to the XYZ coordinates. There was no image to be seen anywhere. I also tried changing the settings in the view panel as suggested but this got me nowhere. I found that I could only transfer very basic shapes like cylinders and pyramids. They all worked perfectly.
As this may help many would be modellers, I'd be really happy if you could explain how you got around any problems if any.
Regards
John
Download site: http://trainzresources.com/directory/downloads
Len I just tested this link and it's not working properly on my machine. let me know if you can successfully download. I'm going to bed and I'll try again tomorrow.
Last edited:
johnwhelan
Well-known member
Trainz likes a single texture file, there is a performance overhead of roughly 200 polys for each additional texture file. Since the texture files have to be in multiples of power of 2 I'm not quite certain how you would do the texturing unless you map the texture file.
I must confess when working in Blender that repeats I texture something then clone it so I only have to texture it once. That's probably the way I'd approach your station.
Cheerio John
Yeah I'll give it a go. Frankly I was shocked it came in so clean and intact. I'm just experimenting with some coloring on the windows and shading in Blender because the materials in Sketchchup don't use bmp, or tga files so when exporting to Trainz I had errors although the mesh came in beautifully. I had light colored translucent windows in front and on top and several small windows throughout the model were translucent. I wanted to change their material files but they are non-standard. Was just going to resize and port over but no go.
Once I try the coloring and exporting to Trainz for a bit I'll give it a shot and get back to you.
Great. The link is finally working after I found the error and a two hour battle with line dropouts.
The correct link is:
http://trainzresources.com/directory/downloads/
The correct link is:
http://trainzresources.com/directory/downloads/
Last edited:
There are problems:
(1) Although Blender states the import was successful nothing shows up. What should happen is that when importing you should have a small red/orange progress bar show up, which turns blue/ green and then voila it states the import was successful. That's not happening with your object. See below.
(2) I'm using version 2.48(a) of Blender and 2.5.2 python.
Last edited:
Thanks for confirming that Len, although Blender did say the transfers were successful. As I was using stuff from the 3D Warehouse I was wondering if it might be their textures that need stripping away first. Anyway I really am flat out with my web site right now, but it's great that you are working on the exercise for your own models.
Regards, John
Regards, John
No problem. Thanks again John for that great link. Too bad there wasn't a straight exporter from Sketchup, textures and all but this is the closest and best exporting yet.
fabianlujan
New member
I have a question about importing new stuff in TRS...
I've managed to get .im files but can't find the way to get it into the CM....
Can somebody tell me how?
I draw my shapes in SketchUp 7, then export it 3ds, then open it with ACS and export it to .im
What I'm missing? How do I find it/import it into Content Manager?
And another question....SketchUp allows me to export to this file extensions:
DAE, KMZ, 3DS, DWG, DXF, FBX, OBJ, WRL and XSI
Which one is the suggested in your opinion?
Thanks!
I've managed to get .im files but can't find the way to get it into the CM....
Can somebody tell me how?
I draw my shapes in SketchUp 7, then export it 3ds, then open it with ACS and export it to .im
What I'm missing? How do I find it/import it into Content Manager?
And another question....SketchUp allows me to export to this file extensions:
DAE, KMZ, 3DS, DWG, DXF, FBX, OBJ, WRL and XSI
Which one is the suggested in your opinion?
Thanks!
You have to open CM and point and click "New Asset" (drop down menus). Assuming its a common scenery asset you would then name it, etc.
I'm assuming you have the paid version of Sketchup then 3DS is definitely the best to import/export - particularly in Blender.
I may be wrong, but all you can do with Sketchup Pro is export the file as a 3DSmax file, then open it in 3Dsmax or Blender and work from there. It's 3Dsmax or Blender that does all the work for Trainz, not Sketchup.
There is NO direct route from Sketchup to Trainz and there probably won't be for a long time to come.
There is NO direct route from Sketchup to Trainz and there probably won't be for a long time to come.
fabianlujan
New member
Exactly John, I draw in SKP and save it as 3DS and open-export to trainz in ACS/Gmax.
Will try Len as you suggest.
Thanks!!
fabianlujan
New member
Okay, this is what I do:
Content Manager 3.2 > New Asset
Content Creator Plus opens...
Scenery, New, the KUID is okay
username? objects name or my username?
Category class?
Region...ok
Era...ok
kind is set to scenery
then, I go to Mesh-Table and default; the mesh is the .im file I did.
After that...I save, no errors but I don't see a thing!
CM shows the 'New Asset' but nothing else.
Sorry my ignorance, but I'm sure that once I done it, I will keep it mind forever.
Thanks!!