OTOY Forums

Hi

I have given up the plugin version for sketchup, and I now enjoy working with the standalone version
(though I miss a simple way to lock a camera).

I model in sketchup, and I wonder how do I best / easy use proxies with this combination?

Let's say I have a cafe where I need a lot of high detailed chairs, in sketchup I could use a dummy and then add a proxy to this. But how do I achieve the same when using the standalone?

I have skatter for sketchup, would it be the right tool?

Thanks
Jorgensen

Hi Jorgensen,
in Standalone there is no need for proxy objects, since you don't need to have a different representation in synthetic viewport and in rendering.
If geometry nodes are referring to the same file, they are treated as instances.
Just import and connect a different chair to the scatter object, to have a different object in scene in the right place.
ciao beppe

hi beppe

thanks for your reply - you are helpful as always

im not sure i understand your suggestion....

i know i don't need proxies inside octane, but i sure do need them in sketchup :-/

but how do i best do this (i don't remember if you use sketchup) ?

what would be nice
- if i export a scene with components
- import the mesh into octane
- replace the components with octane models

but i'm not sure how to do this :-/

i have tried using skatter for sketchup, but i can't figure out how to rotate individual objects when using skatter - and skatter might seem to be overkill for this task?

thanks
jorgensen

Hi jorgensen,
you can use a cube or a plane, with similar proportions, as a guide for scattering: What is important is to have a proper scatter node with all the correct matrix for each instance.
Then you can export/import the single obj object to replace the cube: ciao beppe

hi beppe

i have tried
- use simple box compontents inside sketchup
- placed them with scatter inside sketchup
- exported csv file via skatter
- used the scatter node inside octane
- added custom object

works fine, but skatter, inside sketchup, won't let me rotate the objects as i would like - like rotate chairs around a round table - so i don't know how i get position data for my chairs from sketchup to the standalone :-/

thanks
jorgensen

Hi jorgensen,
please, have a look at this other example with sketchup files: As you can see, any component is exported with proper scatter node from Sketchup: So you only need to import and connect the correct model to replace the base object: ciao beppe

For the fastest workflow: http://scatter.phantomtechnology.nl/
(I use SketchUp + Octane standalone too)

hi beppe

stupid question - how do you export from sketchup?

if i export via file > export > 3d model > obj - all i get in octane is one .obj node with materials, not separated :-/

Jorgensen

hi phantom

thanks - but i will see if i can learn / fix this without buying new software

jorgensen

Hi jorgensen,
sorry, I forgot to mention. I use the Sketchup plugin to export to Standalone, to automatically have the correct Scatter node.
ciao beppe