@mihai.s Hello, hope everyone is doing good. How can i model this stair in sketchup or where do i start like should i trace the plan or elevation or is there more organic way to make this stair that I don’t know, please help. Thanks
I´d use Thomthom extensions, subD, Quad Face tools and vertex tools to model it using low poly Quads then subdividing it to get the organic look. you must at least watcha video about quad face modeling.
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I’d use curvishear, curvizard and curviloft from Fredo.
I’d start by drawing the generating curves accurately but with fewerpoints in plan view, then raise them with curvishear as I suspect that the most part of them has constant gradient, scale those parts to fit.
I would then draw the non constant gradient curves, also by defining a few points.
Then I’d use curvizard to fine tune and smooth the curves.
Finally I’d generate the surfaces connecting the curves with the help of curviloft. Explode the groups generated by the extension so that if you further manipulate the main curves the shape of yhe surface is adapted to them. There is an option that allows curviloft to be generated using curves and curves might be a nice way of finetuning the shape of the surface.
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Thanks!
As with the previous work, the advice and method remain the same, use quads and subdivisions, either using Vertex Tools and SUbD, or Artisan 2.
You could start with a rectangle drawn on the elevation, and after you create the desired shape, you arrange it in plan to match.
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Hi Mihai, the difference between modeling with curves and subd/vertex tools, for me, relates to accuracy vs intuitive control.
I tend to think my subd models are not accurate depictions of technical needs, but rather gives us visual and intuitive results that might not match the actual coordinates that need to be modelled.
Do you care about that for your work, or do you think that’s not an issue?
Hi João,
Yes, it’s normal to have this impression, but take into account the specifics of the curves created from the segments.
In the case of Maru’s questions, whether it’s ‘Huanglong Waterfront’ or ‘Armani stairs’, even if he created the project to actually build those objectives, creating a 3D model from a 2K resolution JPG photo taken from the internet (and with a single interax dimension) would only have a certain accuracy anyway, whether you use curves or subdiv.
If there are professionals asking for help in this forum, they should normally take the offered idea, but when applying it to their projects, they should take into account what they learned in college or specialization.
Regarding the architectural projects that are the basis for the construction of a building, I draw accurately, even if on the plan the dimensions will be shown with only one or two decimals. I can always change it to appear to five decimals and the size will remain accurate.
If I import a DWG file created by me (which I know is correctly drawn) or receive a random DWG file, in SketchUp I use it only as a reference, I draw each wall (window/door gap, etc.) by typing the exact dimensions, and I also type the distances between elements, I don’t do them by eyeballing.
eg: A project I worked on and it was built
Thank you for the question!
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Yes, in Sketchup it’s easy to be accurate with straight lined geometry. It’s much harder for curved geometry.
That’s why I often prefer curves to generate surfaces, instead of subd.
However I was intrigued to know if you had other methods for controlling that.
I learned and follow tutorials created for 3ds Max, C4D or Blender, and in these, those who model have some terms - supporting edges/loop cuts, bevel, weight or crease, with which they control the way and distance at which the subdivision acts.
In SketchUp, if you use SUbD from thomthom, you have the Crease Tool, or FredoCorner - SubDivision. You have something similar if you use Artisan 2.
It depends on what shapes you have to model and how you use them in the project, but you have a certain control and it is possible that the differences compared to using Curviloft will not be noticeable.
eg - controling dimensions and shapes when using subdiv:
Hmm… 
… 
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Too often people think subdivision is inaccurate, understanding how to work with it, just like anything, is the trick. I’ve given up trying to teach.
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It’s missing, but I’ve been following your old posts from SketchUcation - Box, Cotty, thomthom, Pilou, etc…
I know what you mean. We have the points on control geometry that we can crease in order for them to stay put, but there are points that move from place, even from that control geometry. So, there are some that we can clearly control and others that are more flexible.
For me there is also the issue/feature that should be considered that subdividing a shape won’t make it a perfect circle.
In the end, what matters is that, as Sketchup creates triangles, we can easily give the coordinates we need.