Is there any hope for layout?

LayOut
83

Even some of the most experienced users I know still do things like I mention. Being a one man show I have to be really efficient. The basics that make my process fast are:

  1. Separate LO files by drawing type - this usually results in 1 skp reference per LO file - details are the exception. This also really helps when you need to modify drawings or send specific sheets. Since LO can have multiple files open at the same time, there is no reason to book an entire set together.
  2. Vector or hybrid render only those elements necessary. This results in scenes such as isolating only walls or only the doors so they render instantly in LO - no lag. Typically I hybrid or vector render only elements at the section cut.
  3. Raster render as much as you can - typically everything beyond the section cut. Remember the contractor is not having the resolution we are looking at on a screen which is the equivalent of your nose pressed to the page. Printed full size the resolution is perfect.
  4. Use Templates for both SU and LO utilizing proxy models for both.
2 Likes
84

May I ask what did you replace LO with? I would like to also find something to replace LO.

85

IF you’re on a Mac, AND not running an OS later than Mojave, PowerCADD 9 still works, but it’s hard to justify actually buying it when it doesn’t run on any new hardware or current OS. It’s mostly a choice only for those who already have a copy. PowerCADD 10 is in beta, but you know you can never count beta eggs until they actually hatch.

86

I appreciate your reply. I’m on an iMac and running Ventura. As a lot of people here I’ve been using SUP and LO for years but lately LO is just painful to work with and by the looks of things it’s not getting any attention from Trimble. I’ll still use SUP but I’m looking for something to replace LO. I know what you mean about the Beta versions. Not for me. :slight_smile:
Again thanks for your response.

87

So for using something like PowerCad you are exporting DXF/DWG views and slices, and there is no live reference to the model?

In that case I would explode my SU views as vector in LO - wouldn’t that remove most of the speed bottleneck?

88

Which iMac? The new Apple silicon version or Intel?

Did you notice this quote from Nick?

It saddens me to know that users want to find a replacement for Layout. This wont help the overall progress of the app. Maybe consider putting your workflow up for review on the forums and see if the sages can find places to tweak your methods for a better result.

I just don’t think exporting out of Sketchup is a long term solution of any value when there are so many ways to become better at Layout Ready Modeling.

for what it’s worth, Im an Intel iMac and M1 MacBook Pro user and very rarely have speed issues now that I have a Layout centric modeling process.

89

I have an Intel iMac i5. 3.5GHz w/24g RAM.
I did see that post from Nick. I agree that my workflow could change and probably make LO perform better. But sometimes I’m not doing anything nowhere near complicated and LO is just plain sluggish.

I’ll see if I can post one of my LO files on there for some feedback. I’m very open to feedback and if it can help LO run better that would be great b/c I really don’t want to look for another application.

Thanks again,
Jorge

1 Like
90

Correct. I have also done vectored & hybrid PDF from Layout to PowerCADD. When I do hybrid, I can separate the raster image from the vectored linework and run with it from there.

I’ve wondered that and experimented a little. One hiccup I saw, but should start another thread on: Why when you explode a vectored drawing does all the hidden or smoothed geometry suddenly get rendered and revealed? I also just saw this with SU’s export to PDF, when MacOS’s print to PDF didn’t do that.

91

I would be most concerned about the Intel i5. That’s not a very powerful machine for Sketchup & Layout. I had an i7 and it forced me to have a very dialed in template and workflow. Can you afford an upgrade to an M1 machine? The processing power was profound when I did.

1 Like
92

Maybe you have some driver issues or other problems.

For instance, I’ve been using a 1.8GHz Celeron Mobile-powered potato laptop for a year or two (4GB RAM shared with Intel 610 video, an HDD).

Sometimes it surely struggles with what are to me big, complex SUP 2022 models (~100 MB), and takes a long time to render them in V-Ray (overnight sometimes), but it only rarely feels unusably sluggish.

A 3.5GHz i5 with 24MB ought to stomp all over it. Either your models are true monsters, or you have something else going on with that machine.