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Graphics Sketchup - question re presentations.

Discussion in 'Web Design' started by Montague, Jun 17, 2010.

  1. Montague

    Montague New Member

    Are there any persons around who are skilled in using Sketchup?
    I have been learning to use this 3d "cad type" software for a few weeks now, and it's brilliant.
    Since I am fairly well aquainted with Caddie and did numerous township layouts in it, I was fairly comfortable in migrating to using sketchup for illustration purposes as well as planning purposes for small projects.

    At present I am making use of sketchup when I am explaining woodworking projects online. It's often much easier to show visuals that to try to explain it in type. Check it out at montague.kritzinger.net

    At present I am taking 2d snapshots at various intervals in the sketchup building process, then posting these as a step-by-step guide to creating something.
    I know there are more intricate ways to do this, including creating you-tube style videos.
    Is there a guru out there, who can push me in the right direction?

    Oh and anyone starting out with sketchup who thinks they need help to produce something such as I am capable of.. let me know.
     
  2. Montague

    Montague New Member

    Perhaps I should explain a bit more.
    I found a .skp file with the plans for a simple table.
    I cannot remember where I found it or else I would supply a link.
    This .skp file I have has numerous "scenes".
    As you click each scene, you are taken to a different view, with different text, explaining what is happening in that step.
    I would like to know if I can automate that, create a video type of "step by step, how to"
    I think I am close, just have not cracked it yet.
    Once I can crack it I will be able to create small "instruction vids"

    Edit: I do not know how to add the .skp file here, or even if I am allowed to. If someone is interested in viewing it, just let me know.
     
  3. Recidivist

    Recidivist VIP Member

    Are you meaning automated, like this:

    [​IMG]

    Ok something didn't go quite right when saving that but doh well. I hope you see what I mean. Starts on Step 1. then fades into Step 2. and so on.
     
  4. Montague

    Montague New Member

    Uhmm, I don't just want the text changing. I want to go from one picture to another, Sketchup has the ability to "walk" from one view to another.
    I can do this as I am working with the program, but I do not know how to create this into a presentation.

    Take the following instructions and pictures, and imagine them put together as a presentation.

    Taking two #4's and one #5, lay them end to end in a straight line.
    [​IMG][​IMG]
    From an edge that is known to be straight, draw a CenterLine down the length of each board.
    [​IMG]


    Edit:
    Gah, I am not so good at inserting images here.
    Go look at my blog at montague.kritzinger.net and you can see exactly what I am on about.
    [​IMG]
     
  5. Montague

    Montague New Member

    I have found the homepage of the sample table I was talking about.
    Here you can see the different components required for creating a simple table.
    You can also see 3 pictures in the "putting it together" section.
    The sketchup file is there for downloading.

    If you know sketchup, it has tabs above the work area that are called scenes. As you click from one tab to the other, the camera pans to the view for that scene, it does not merely jump there.
    Capturing that for a video or animation would create a delicious presentation tool.

    That is what I am after.

    I will find out how to do it. Somewhere, somehow, there is someone out there that is willing to nudge me in the right direction.
     
  6. Recidivist

    Recidivist VIP Member

    It isn't just the text that you can change. I guess I should have included that in the example, but I was tired and lazy :< What you are seeing in that example is actually a table image + text, fading into another table image + text (But I used the same table image so you just cant see it changing). If you post up the images you are trying to do, I'll show you what I mean.

    Edit:

    Is it the Build_# image you are wanting?
     
  7. Montague

    Montague New Member

    Recidivist, you're not actually on my wavelength.
    The pictures I am speaking about, are available.

    That specific post is exactly an example of what I need it for. I created a step-by-step process of how to create something, each step having text and an image.
    My idea was that I would like to learn how to create an animation. In my opinion it would be super cool if such instructions could be animated. Can you imagine how many step-by-step how-to's can be animated and made even simpler than just text?

    I was not asking someone to do it for me.
    I do not want to supply text, and images, and ask you .. or anyone else.. to do it for me, because what happens when I write about making something else. Then I must come back and bother someone to make an animation again?
    I want to learn how to do it for myself.

    Maybe someone can point me to a tutorial. Or create one.
    But it must do exactly what I want it to do.

    The benefits of this are many.
    Firstly for me, I learn something.
    Secondly the guy who makes the tutorial, gets to contribute by "giving" something to the community.
    Thirdly, the tutorial remains on this forum for many other people to view and learn from, thereby helping many.
    Fourthly, I stop bothering people to make me an animation .. and anyone else bothering you can be pointed to the tutorial.

    Anyways, that was what I thought... but maybe I am just looking for the impossible.
    I'll go find a place where I can learn this.
     
  8. Montague

    Montague New Member

    if you watch this .. YouTube - SketchUp Animation
    you will see how this guy made an animation from a sketchup model he drew.
    How?
    What does he use to do it?
    How can I make an animation like this?

    I do not want to create a movie... no movies or special effects or anything like that. Just a view with text, explanitng something, then the view moves to step two where different text appears and eventually fades... etc
     
  9. Recidivist

    Recidivist VIP Member

    It's extremely simple, I'll assume that you do not have PhotoShop, so I'll tell you how for GIMP.

    Still images as seperate layers ->
    Filters - Animation - Blend.. - Configure it how you want

    In the new window that pops up you can go to ->
    Filters - Animation - Playback..
    Watch it to see if it is at the right speed

    If it is, Save as NAME.gif and tick 'Save as Animation'.

    Boom you're done. Each layer will fade into the next and you will have your animated instructions as a single .gif file. This will create a result that looks like 0.31 onwards in that youtube video (The image will not start zoomed in and slowly zoom out, but will fade from still image to still image.)


    This is exactly what I tried to show and explain to you before. The example .gif image shows this, just it is using the same image with the text placed differently, so it appears that it is only the text changing, however the image is infact changing to the same image.
     
  10. Montague

    Montague New Member

    There we go.
    Thank you very much for the time and info.
    Much appreciated.

    Now I 'll get out your hair and go make animation.
     
  11. jeff-jeff

    jeff-jeff New Member

    Recidivist is right. The resulting is considered an animated GIF. You could also use 3D Studio Max but that would make things more complicated.