As I mentioned. My way is in Mac and PowerCADD but it seems there could be workflow created in Windows.
Say for Exterior Elevations
On the SketchUp side. Make a scene for each elevation. Often a template can be used (I do) that is set up to place the model such that scenes are already there for the elevations and you can adjust each for new projects with different size buildings.
Send the file to LayOut. Again a layout template can be made that already has references scenes by name, and the viewports will need adjusting, but any way you set it up is pretty fast for this part. This is where you set the scale if the template does not already have the viewports at scale. I use the same size sheet as in CAD so all the elevations, or whatever is to be on that sheet, are on one LayOut “page”. I don’t have to arrange different drawings in CAD–it’s the whole sheet.
Print to pdf. I know some equivalent has to be done in Windows for the Mac print to pdf. A system routine that I set up to be in the print dialog will ebsure each LO page is exported in a separate pdf file with a discrete name.
PowerCADD is all paper space so you want to reference as papers space to ACAD . It comes in PC at the right scale, no scaling to do. (if you do scale or crop, the PC reference remembers the scaling and crop). This is a reference to the pdf file which I have saved in a specific folder. (like XREFs it could be bound to the file eventually if needed. The reference may need to be positioned but that is saved by PC as well, so future updates go exactly in the same place.
Transparent background is according to the style you used in SketchUp. I like “fog” sometimes so that can’t be transparent, but I don’t know why transparency is required. All my subsequent work goes on layers on top of the pdf image.
Sometimes I copy the pdf reference to another page, bind it, and explode the pdf. This gives me vector edges to snap to if needed, behind the pdf image. Of course this step would have to be repeated if you need it changed.
Revisions: Update the SU file and save, Open LO and refresh, print by the same process and the pdf is overwritten in the folder. Go in CAD and update references in one command to replace the pdf image. Then you are done. You have to change your notation of course if relevant to the change. The process of updates is a few steps, but they are always the same and don’t usually require adjustments (unless you make the building bigger and have to change the viewports for example)
Just suggesting what might also be made in Windows / ACAD with some routines.
Ok, that is clear to me now. In principle it is like what I was trying as proof of concept and similar in other ways to my current workflow. All these methods require generating either raster images or PDFs from the SketchUp file (either directly or through Layout) and then having CAD link to those images/PDFs.
Not a lot of work but it would be easier if the CAD software could link directly to the SketchUp file and scene and would update automatically when the SketchUp file is changed.
Ok, that’s what I’ve been doing lately, except I put the lines on top of the raster instead of under.
More like a brain storming list of multiple ways to get from Point A to Point B. The question is, what’s important to you and how much time are you willing to take to achieve what’s important to you.
Have a “hot link” to views from the SketchUp file – i.e. not requiring exporting and re-exporting when changes are made, and not requiring use of a middleman program such as Layout.
Be able to take advantage of the materials and shadows from the SketchUp views
How much work to get there:
I don’t know, just trying to figure that out. I have learned that there is not a way to do this now, so that is something.
I am using DRAFTSIGHT for setting up SU elevation images with no technical issues, then exporting them to client and other consultants in DWG format for their supplemental work.
I think the only correct way is to import your SketchUp model directly into BricsCAD BIM. In BricsCAD BIM you can generate your 2D dwg drawings (floorplans, elevations, etc.).
I am working on a workflow at the moment …
When you don’t have the BricsCAD BIM version I advise to export a dwg file from SketchUp (not Layout). Than work on it in modelspace scale 1:1. Make hatches etc. in BricsCAD and scale the 2D drawings (viewports) in paperspace.
After having a brief read it’s clear Rockadayjohnny does not want to use Layout and that’s cool.
I do have a question though:
What version of Sketchup are you using @rockadayjohnny it says SU 21 pro in your profile, is that correct?
I used to do a similar process with exporting scaled raster images, yet even more crude ( I am a builder and I use what works the fastest, the care factor of the resolution had no impact on the communication provided by the image).
The best way I found to get the image to scale was to draw the paper space in the model physically. EG: a, A3 sheet of paper is 42m x 29.7m; if the drawing was at 1:100, I would screenshot the paper space and use fit to page. The obvious issue was screen resolution back then, yet, with 4K screens these days, man, it is not too bad and super fast.
I quickly did it again in this image. I know it is not right but it works. I created a plugin that now adds paper space to 1:100 scale not so much for screen capturing more so new users (builders) get an understanding of Scale and place to start drawing. I hope it is of some assistance.
That’s an interesting approach. I don’t understand, though, how you have four sections of the model in one SketchUp view. Are those section cuts through a 3d model, or are they just 2d drawings in Sketchup?
My elevations are made by taking section cuts through the site, looking at the model, and I can only see one at a time. Using that method, I don’t see how I would know what the “scale” of the section would be even if I did lay a 2d title block over it in SketchUp.
The raster export method I have not is not bad, just a few extra steps. I’ve probably spent more time on this forum talking about it than I will spend making elevations for 5 projects!
Yep, 100% Anssi, I created the model and then I made it a component and copied pasted> flip along the green & red axis.
Yes, it is crude, but before Layout, it was the only way to create plans to scale with Sketchup.
Being a young builder, CAD was like reading hieroglyphics to me…
Guys I quickly created a video showing how I did it. I hope it helps.
I don’t see how I would know what the “scale” of the section would be even if I did lay a 2d title block over it in SketchUp.
If you draw the paper space at 1:1 of the actual paper size inside Sketchup according to the scale of the drawing (in this case 1:100) the screenshot will be scaled when you print as “fit to page”. EG a piece of A3 paper is 29.7cm x 42 cm so at 1:1 at the scale of 1:100 inside Sketchup it would be 29.7m x 42m. Does that make sense? The gif I made shows how I did it, unfortunately, to get it less than 5 meg I had to reduce the resolution. Here is the original video on youtube (2Min 50 Secs) It is easier in metric our most common scale1:100 yet it could be done at any scale if you work out the ratio of scale to the actual printed paper size.
I’ve probably spent more time on this forum talking about it than I will spend making elevations for 5 projects!
Funny, I spent more time creating the GIF showing how I did it than I did actually doing it.
I’ve played with this method in various ways too. I now make the entire building a component for a couple reasons:
I make the building in one SU file and the site in another. Right click and Save as… the component building out, and import into the site model. The setup works like reference file connections. Save out revisions and update the reference in the site. Also, I make the building axes work with the building and use Solar North if I need sun studies, while the site model always has Green axis as north.
Rotated copies like this for elevations and sections. This way you can get 45° shadows on everything too. One version of the component is the prime one for editing and the others are just for views and update any changes because they’re components much like reference files.
When you need to work with consultants who use AutoCAD, do you export from LO as a dwg?
I’m trying to do this now with an outside consultant but having lots of issues on their end.
Thanks!
In the DWG/DXF Export options box do you select the "Export raster-rendered SketchuUp modes as hybrid-rendered and/or the Export for SketchUP options?
Thanks again!
