Components Size & Environment in SU2025

SketchUp
1

I was having a bit of trouble with slow renders so set about creating a simpler component. How you do this seems to make a huge difference in file size.

  1. Component created & saved as a skp file - 5.4Mb. In the basic template I spotted even after purging there was an Environment Scene saved with the file. I had to set the environment to none & purge again.
  2. Purged file saved again as a skp file - 154Kb. Huge reduction but still too big for what it should be.
  3. Contents of .skp made into Component and exported using context menu “Save Out”. Finished file size 20Kb.

I get the environment affecting the file size, it is definitely one to watch if you don’t need that data in your SU file. I will also be using “Save Out” whenever possible in future component exports.

2

What happens if you drag the component’s thumbnail from the In Model Components panel to the local collection in the secondary pane?

3

Same 20Kb file size. I guess creating a component as a file and saving it, even if purged, retains some other data that might be irrelevant but can’t be purged e.g. geolocation. “Save Out” I assumes strips everything except the basic geometry.

4

As does drag and drop …

Keep in mind that materials with maps can be quite large, too.

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5

When you add an environment to your model, there is an HDRI file that is saved into the project - that is around 4mb

Just like materials.
The Thomthom model itself has a few extra material maps in him too, so even thomthom himself is responsible for file sizes being larger.

6

The point I was trying to make Adam was the supplied template files already have an HDRI file saved in the project even if it isn’t displayed. So as I did, you set out to create a simple component and purge everything, but the unused HDRI is still included. You have to turn on the Environment tray and select none, then purge the HDRI to get rid of that 4Mb bloat.

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7

The supplied “Visualization” template files do but I don’t see any of the others that contain an HDRI file. You could, and probably should, make your own default template. Then you can leave out the scale figure and his materials as well as any HDRI environment files if you want.

8

only if you’ve chosen the visualisation template which has the background - if you use the older ones , then those won’t be turned on.

edit.

Beaten by Dave.

not physically.

9

OK point taken, I have been so focussed on finding a millimetre template I missed the VISUALISATION clue.

I do typically use my own template, but I stand by my concerns for anyone new to SU that even though you may not display an Environment image in any Scene, they can be present and missed in the purging process.

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10

If they aren’t used in the current view nor in any scenes, they will be purged if you use Purge Unused from Model Info>Statistics.

I wonder if @TIG could add Environments to his Purge All extension.

11

Just for feedback I realise now what has thrown me… Having used the Visualisation Millimetre template and zoomed in on my component the presence of the white ground plane and having fog turned on left the Environment image both masked & off screen, so its active presence was forgotten. My lesson for today.

12

I looked at this, but until v2025 is more stabilized I won’t add that purge function.
To see the current issue: in v2025 add an environment, but don’t use it,
then in the Ruby Console use the API method:
Sketchup.active_model.environments.purge_unused
It is removed, but if you do sometime next and you’ll always get a BugSplat!
Perhaps someone ‘in authority’ can comment and log a report…
@colin ?
The ...some_collection.purge_unused methods works faultlessly with all other purge-able methods…

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