Another Venetian Building

This too was made in Building Maker and refined in SketchUp. 

A second, older model seen at this link was imported into this SketchUp file, re-positioned to align to this building (its neighbor), and then uploaded again as a separate model from the SketchUp window using the "Upload Component" feature in the (right-click) context menu.

I'm not sure how the re-positioning will be implemented, since that second model was already accepted to Google Earth.

My Latest Building Maker/SketchUp Combo Model

What do you think?

Refining Building Maker Models In SketchUp

A Googler pointed me to a handy "how to" page HERE. Specifically it deals with the issue of Building Maker models that, once refined in SketchUp, sink into the terrain. You can see the step that explains how to fix that as well as how to do SketchUp edits at the link.

Above is an example model. Although the version I uploaded initially from SketchUp looked OK to me and I could export a KMZ file at the correct elevation on my computer, the KMZ generated online (at the "View in Google Earth" link on the model preview page) produced a sunken model.

A short edit later... and I think it's all good.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from SketchUp Island, and Happy Holidays as the case may be, and Happy New Year to Everyone, too. I guess next year I'll see you around the Island.


(Beautiful model by HenkieTenk)

SittingDuck the SpeedModeler

He's the fastest modeling duck you've ever seen-- keep in mind his feet are webbed and his arms feathered-- and if you don't believe me watch the video. Belgian silos modeled from start to finish right before your eyes (time lapse; actual time 55 minutes).

Win $10000 For Your School District

Take a look at the Google Model Your Town Competition. It's one of the larger contests I've seen offered on the 3D Warehouse, and the prize includes a ten thousand dollar donation to the winning town's public school district if in America, or equivalent if the winner is in another country.

CORRECTION: The proper video and link have now been posted. Thanks to SittingDuck for pointing out my blooper.

Two More Reasons To Dive Into Building Maker

If you're like me, and have attempted to model parts of Venice, Italy, using Building Maker, then you've probably encountered some problems-- the kind that make you scratch your head and wonder... "How am I going to pull this off?"

Luckily the Building Maker team has invented a couple new pieces of geometry to play with, which you can read all about in THIS POST at the official Google SketchUp blog. It gives a more detailed look into, and two demonstration videos of the new features.

Namely, there is the new "Freeform Polygon" block which will help you model funny-shaped roof tops (like in Venice-- the tapering/telescoping pitched roofs).

And secondly there is the new "Horizontal Freeform" block-- similar to the already-existing Vertical Freeform block, but useful for modeling buildings with irregular profiles (as opposed to irregular footprints).

Now if we just had a dome shaped block... (Edit: and a cylinder block...)

PS Does anyone have a good png file of the Building Maker logo in a decent resolution? I can't find one online.

Tiger Woods House in 3D

Concept3D has gotten in on the Tiger Woods action by creating a 3D version of his home with Elin Nordegren in Sweden. Watch the video and check out the post at Concept3D's blog HERE.

Scroooge!

The title is Scrooge because I had to tie in the scary model with the Christmas season somehow... I just came across this one, also by Pepe (who in the last post created the beautiful SetTree3D models). This model is of the Bates Motel from Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller, Psycho.

Pepe has created not only an amazing black and white model, but also a very cool tour including key scenes from the film. The atmosphere changes during the tour and includes night scenes and rainy weather. Awesome model.

EDIT: Since I mentioned Christmas, I feel I should also wish a (tardy) Happy Hanukkah to those who may be celebrating that holiday at this time.

SetTree3D by Pepe

Even though these models are a couple years old, they are some of my favorites and I'd like to point them out to anyone who has not seen them (or who has not seen them in a while). These are ultra-realistic 3D winter scenes by SketchUp artist Pepe.





As you can see they are unlike any other model, and really quite beautiful.

New Winter Header Art

Welcome and enjoy the new wintry header art for SketchUp Island. It currently features "Popsicle the Snowman" by SketchUp artist Oz The Wiz. Popsicle was of course made using Google SketchUp free software.

Google Earth In the Year 2010

Check out this post at gearthblog.com that predicts trends of Google Earth next year. Among them: faster and more recent imagery updates; better matching of ground photos and SketchUp models to terrain; and a "cloud" based Google Earth relying less on local computer data, which only makes sense.

EDIT: This is of particular interest to me because I always ask in my "SketchUp Island Adventures" interview series (formally known as "Really Short Interviews"): What do you see as the future direction/purpose of geo-modeling and Google Earth? Stay tuned for a new SketchUp Island Adventure coming soon, featuring "TomcioZG."

New Extensive Model in Barranco, Lima, Peru

SketchUp Islander Auquicu of Lima, Peru, has shared with us his latest (and very extensive) model of Barranco, a district in Lima, Peru. Auquicu writes

After 5 months I’ve made a huge model. Actually, are 7 models that cover 7 blocks... I had to take more than 800 pictures to be able to reproduce with detail all buildings included.

Auquicu goes on to explain

Once a town located south of Lima and accessed by train or tram, [Barranco] is now its bohemian district, full of old houses where there are restaurants, pubs and art galleries. Among its most prominent buildings, we find the City Park (1898), The Municipal Library (1922) and the Holy Cross Church (built by architect Humberto Guerra between 1944 and 1963).

Auquicu worked alone and completed the project because of his strong feeling for the architecture in Barranco. He explains

This is an independent project. No person or organization has supported or sponsored its creation, and is intended to call attention of institutions and authorities to preserve the monumental architecture of the district and that is in some cases very neglected and damaged.

He adds that although the models of each city block are very large and detailed, "modeling techniques were used to keep all models' sizes as small as possible, all under 1 mb, some even less than 500 kb."

Good job, Auquicu! Be sure to watch the Google Earth tour of the site (very relaxing with music included) at the top of the post. Click HERE to see the actual models.