Circle not smooth because it is aproximated by line segments

[Spaceboy64]

Dave,

@DaveR

Simplifying the curves would have reduced the number of nodes but you’d go back to the rougher looking arc you were trying to get away from.

Simplify is a function in both Adobe Illustrator and Inkscape which reduces the number of nodes while keeping the shape of the curve intact. The same arc can be created with bezier curves with only two control nodes, which is what I’d like.

@DaveR

You could make a 2D drawing in LayOut using its Arc and Circle tools to draw the curves. Then export a DXF/DWG and import into SketchUp. The curves will be segmented again in SketchUp.

Thanks, that answers my question about that. So, that functionality is not built in.

@DaveR

You could do what Box already suggested several times in this thread and export your drawing as a DXF or DWG directly from SketchUp using the 3D CAD export option and the arcs will be translated to smooth curves. I’m not quite sure why you haven’t tried that.

Because I did not understand that the arcs will be translated to smooth curves. I thought I would be getting segmented curves, and the whole object in 3D when what I need is a 2D vector drawing. Also, DXF or DWG aren’t the format I’m being asked for. But I will try that to see what I get. If there are too many steps and too much work involved my boss would inevitably tell me to “Just draw it in Illustrator, because that’s what I want”. I am trying to avoid doing the same work twice in two separate programs.

Thanks.