Difference between revisions of "Mesh/Exporting a mesh from SketchUp"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Navbox/Mesh}} | {{Navbox/Mesh}} | ||
Google SketchUp 8 is a free 3D modeling program available for Windows XP/Vista/7 and Mac OS X 10.5 and later. There is also SketchUp Pro with more features which you can buy, but the free version works for Second Life. It stores model files in it's own .skp format, but it can export models to the Collada 1.4 .dae format that Second Life uses to import models. | '''Google SketchUp 8''' is a free 3D modeling program available for Windows XP/Vista/7 and Mac OS X 10.5 and later. There is also SketchUp Pro with more features which you can buy, but the free version works for Second Life. It stores model files in it's own .skp format, but it can export models to the Collada 1.4 .dae format that Second Life uses to import models. | ||
== | == Create Your Object in SketchUp == | ||
'''Step 1: [http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/download/index.html Download SketchUp]''' from the Google website and install it on your computer. | '''Step 1: [http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/download/index.html Download SketchUp]''' from the Google website and install it on your computer. | ||
'''Step 2:''' Start SketchUp 8, and in the '''''Welcome to SketchUp''''' window, click the '''''Choose Template''''' button. Select '''''Simple Template - Meters''''' and then click '''''Start Using SketchUp''''' | '''Step 2:''' Start SketchUp 8, and in the '''''Welcome to SketchUp''''' window, click the '''''Choose Template''''' button. Select '''''Simple Template - Meters''''' and then click '''''Start Using SketchUp''''' | ||
'''Step 3:''' You will see a human figure in the perspective view. Before exporting your model, left click this figure and type '''''Delete''''', otherwise the figure will be imported to Second Life along with your model. | |||
'''Step 4:''' Select the '''''Line''''' tool (second from the left) on the toolbar, and draw a set of line segments to make a closed shape. It will turn gray when you connect back to the initial point. Now select the '''''Push/Pull''''' tool (tenth from the left), left click on the shape, and move the mouse forward to raise the shape and make a solid object. Hold the middle mouse button or select the '''''Orbit''''' tool (14th icon), then move the mouse to rotate your camera view. Rolling the mouse button will zoom the view. You can draw more lines with the Line tool on existing sides of the object, and push and pull the sides to change the shape. Other tools can be used to further modify the shape. | |||
'''Step 5:''' Select the '''''Paint Bucket''''' tool (9th from the left). Under the '''''Select'''' tab, choose a material type from the dropdown list, then click one of the thumbnails to choose a texture. Now left click on each face of your object to assign the texture. Put a texture on every side of the object so it will have a texture mapping once imported to Second Life. Save the SketchUp file using the '''''File > Save As...''''' menu item. | |||
'''Step 6:''' Use '''''File > Export > 3D Model''''' menu item, and choose '''''COLLADA File (*.dae)''''' as the Export type. Name the file and then click '''''Export'''''. Close SketchUp 8. | |||
== Upload to Second Life == | |||
'''Note:''' Mesh Upload is currently only working on the Beta Grid (Aditi) Mesh Sandbox regions. | |||
Create a box (or monkey or teapot or hippo) | Create a box (or monkey or teapot or hippo) | ||
Revision as of 18:45, 3 June 2011
Google SketchUp 8 is a free 3D modeling program available for Windows XP/Vista/7 and Mac OS X 10.5 and later. There is also SketchUp Pro with more features which you can buy, but the free version works for Second Life. It stores model files in it's own .skp format, but it can export models to the Collada 1.4 .dae format that Second Life uses to import models.
Create Your Object in SketchUp
Step 1: Download SketchUp from the Google website and install it on your computer.
Step 2: Start SketchUp 8, and in the Welcome to SketchUp window, click the Choose Template button. Select Simple Template - Meters and then click Start Using SketchUp
Step 3: You will see a human figure in the perspective view. Before exporting your model, left click this figure and type Delete, otherwise the figure will be imported to Second Life along with your model.
Step 4: Select the Line tool (second from the left) on the toolbar, and draw a set of line segments to make a closed shape. It will turn gray when you connect back to the initial point. Now select the Push/Pull tool (tenth from the left), left click on the shape, and move the mouse forward to raise the shape and make a solid object. Hold the middle mouse button or select the Orbit tool (14th icon), then move the mouse to rotate your camera view. Rolling the mouse button will zoom the view. You can draw more lines with the Line tool on existing sides of the object, and push and pull the sides to change the shape. Other tools can be used to further modify the shape.
Step 5: Select the Paint Bucket tool (9th from the left). Under the Select' tab, choose a material type from the dropdown list, then click one of the thumbnails to choose a texture. Now left click on each face of your object to assign the texture. Put a texture on every side of the object so it will have a texture mapping once imported to Second Life. Save the SketchUp file using the File > Save As... menu item.
Step 6: Use File > Export > 3D Model menu item, and choose COLLADA File (*.dae) as the Export type. Name the file and then click Export. Close SketchUp 8.
Upload to Second Life
Note: Mesh Upload is currently only working on the Beta Grid (Aditi) Mesh Sandbox regions.
Create a box (or monkey or teapot or hippo)
Reduce polygons
Apply textures
Scale to meters
Export to COLLADA
Import to SL
Video tutorial
Importing an Arch <videoflash type="youtube">5KlPvhx_0Ao|640|505</videoflash>
Best practices
Forum thread on SketchUp best practices Another thread on exporting from SketchUp to Second Life