Tutorial - Objects for BTB with Sketchup

[Biggles1212]

Hi I've completed a full tutorial that should be comprehensive enough for just about anyone to make objects in Sketchup and use them in BTB for their favorite sim.

I'd appreciate any good suggestions.

It took me a few hours to work all the snags out and there was a lot of great information already here at Race Department.

I've uploaded the tutorial here.

http://forum.racedepartment.com/downloads/btb-library/38/full-objects-sketchup-btb-1805/

If you have any questions post them here or PM me. I'll do my best but I'm no guru at this.

Do enjoy. Thanks

 

[martinez]

Biggles1212, many thanks for your tutorial - now I'm happy user of Sketchup!

 

[Erwin Greven]

I tried to build some shields for my track like this one.



But how can i put this text on this shield. I tried to import a texture but it didn't fit. Working with 3d text did not work either. It doesn't show up in the game.

 

[martinez]

When you import a texture with the picture of the sign (should be .png or .jpg - Sketchup does not accept dds) - right click the face you've put it and take "position" Then make adjustments. The face with the texture should be set as group then Sketchup will not cut the texture for parts. (the same way you can right click on group and - "edit group"). Always check how many textures it exports to kmz4 - the number should be exactly like you imported/used. Good way to solve problems like this is do delete unneeded textures from "materials" panel. Even if you delete right textures from there. you can import them again. Sketchup sometimes creates new textures somehow...
I usually use png's which have better quality than jpg and convert them to .dds. Textures are to be replaced when creating xpack - When you add a collada data to the object, the png's will be taken, then switch material to proper dds and that's it. (import dds to xpack, choose original Sketchup's "material0.png" (or what number you have) and then "pick" your dds).

 

[martinez]

Textures sizes should be in power of 2 (2x2, 4x4, 8x8, 16x16, 32x32, 64x64, 128x128 and so on), then you can of course draw many small pictures of your sign's parts on one texture and then use just this instead of couple small images. This way you will save some place, some kilobytes too And you avoid a mess in xpacker. Just position the same texture differently to didfferent faces in Sketchup and voila!

 

[Barbje_Keller]

I can make tutorial video, how create model in Skechup and then import it to BTB. But one problem, I don't have program for capture my schreen video...

 

[William Elgh]

I can make tutorial video, how create model in Skechup and then import it to BTB. But one problem, I don't have program for capture my schreen video...

you can use: bsr screen recorder , it is free it is hawing a watermark...

or you can use: CamStudio also free softwere! THEY MAY NOT RECORD IN WERY GOOD QUALITY.

 

[Erwin Greven]

it worked!!

 

[Barbje_Keller]

I upload my tutorial video in this channel, now it is procesing...
Video was in next weak - sorry

 

[Erwin Greven]

this is strange, it worked in a test track (all the shields i have checked.) but after i imported it into the Hondsrugring the texture changed into a roof texture.

 

[martinez]

Is it possible that textures in two different xpacks have the same names? Or, materials there are named the same way? This can cause a conflict maybe...

 

[Erwin Greven]

When you import a texture with the picture of the sign (should be .png or .jpg - Sketchup does not accept dds) - right click the face you've put it and take "position" Then make adjustments. The face with the texture should be set as group then Sketchup will not cut the texture for parts. (the same way you can right click on group and - "edit group"). Always check how many textures it exports to kmz4 - the number should be exactly like you imported/used. Good way to solve problems like this is do delete unneeded textures from "materials" panel. Even if you delete right textures from there. you can import them again. Sketchup sometimes creates new textures somehow...
I usually use png's which have better quality than jpg and convert them to .dds. Textures are to be replaced when creating xpack - When you add a collada data to the object, the png's will be taken, then switch material to proper dds and that's it. (import dds to xpack, choose original Sketchup's "material0.png" (or what number you have) and then "pick" your dds).

Maybe i made a mistake somewhere in this proces.
Importing the texture (*.png) into sketchup works, np with that. Then i make adjustments with positioning. Only i did not work with groups.
So i should rename all the individual textures with the village and section names?

 

[Erwin Greven]

Maybe i need a bit more help with the textures.
I uploaded the shields. Maybe some one can look at it if there is a problem.
http://www.hederahelix.nl/hondsrugring/shields.zip

 

[martinez]

Erwin, I will take a look at the evening. The textures are inside .skp files? You can also send them directly to me.

 

[Erwin Greven]

i will send you later all the files.

Edit: I looked at the files and they seem correct to me, i will look at it more closely tomorrow.

 

[martinez]

Ok, the xpack is ready - check your e-mails and let me know it that's it

 

[Erwin Greven]

Many, Many thanks!

 

[banger]

Sticky please

 

[kohnboy]

Question in regards to kslm's earlier note: "The problem I noticed is trying to export\import a model from the web, even using SU6. Sometimes bits and pieces will scatter all over the place, hundreds of feet in the air..."

There are a few plants, bushes and trees in SU which would be perfect for my Hong Kong based track- but when I import them into my test track after making the xpack they scatter as mentioned above- leaves all over the place.

Can that be corrected in SU or in the xpacker?
Or is that something inherrent with how the sketch was made?

Thanks as always.

 

[Kyle Puttifer]

Can someone re-upload the installer for Sketchup 6?

 

[martinez]

@ kohnboy - if you open your xpack in xpacker, select an object and go to "Edit" tab - there you will see on what attitude is your object. You can adjust this - enter a proper numbers and hit "Center Object on Ground".
Strange - for my objects made with Sketchup when I change these numbers (for e.g. trees), the red ball (when some object is selected) in BTB is moved somewhere outside of the center of that object - mostly like 1-2 meters. But it's still on the ground. I think this happens then, since the object in Sketchup is positioned right in the center and at zero attitude... I don't know - try this first.