Below I give step by step instructions on how to get your models into other programs. These instructions are VERY detailed, so that you should have absolutely NO problems getting this to work. This trick works on all operating systems. I assure you, even the most technically inept can do this. READ ALL DIRECTIONS BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS!
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Step 1: If you don't already have it, download the free 3D suite Blender from www.blender3d.org. Make sure you get the 2.42 RC1 release; NOT 2.41. If it doesn't jump out at you: Substep a: There are three essential areas: i: BlenderNation Headlines ii: Blender.org News iii: Announcements Substep b: Look in BlenderNation Headlines for an article titled "2.42 RC1 Released." If it's there, click on it and proceed to substep d. Otherwise, proceed to substep c. Substep c: Click the "All BlenderNation headlines" link, and browse through the articles until you come to "2.42 RC1 Released." Click on this article. Substep d: At the bottom of the article (ABOVE the comments and ads) is the link "download the 2.42 RC1 for your platform." Click it. Substep e: Select from the links the download that fits your operating system. They are as follows, from top to bottom: i: 2.41 for FreeBSD: DO NOT CLICK; wrong version ii: 2.41 for Solaris: DO NOT CLICK: wrong version iii -- vi: 2.42RC1 for Linux vii: 2.42RC1 for WINDOWS! <-- Important one viii: 2.42RC1 for MAC OS X! <-- Important one
Step 2: After you have downloaded Blender 2.42, take your time to get familiar with it. Blender has a very unorthodox GUI, and the frenzied newcomer will get NOWHERE. There are many tutorials available, and the official Blender wiki is located at "http://mediawiki.blender.org/index.php/Main_Page".
Step 3: Once you can at least save a Blender file (or open one), close out of it. Open Google Sketchup, and export the model you wish to convert as Google Earth VERSION 3 file (.kmz).
Step 4: Go back into Blender, click the File menu, then go in the Import submenu, and select "Google Map Model (Kmz/Kml)."
Step 5: Navigate to your GE3 model, and import it.
Step 6: Celebrate.
Step 7: Either play with your model in Blender, or export it to another format; Blender is very good at exporting.
Step 8: Celebrate some more.
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If you have any problems, post 'em and I'll see what I can do. Happy Sketching/Blending!
I guess it's possible but, what's the point? Anything you can make in SU can be made in Blender. Since SU is mainly targeted to the architectural market, the real need to export is to AutoCad or another architectural CAD program. If I was an architect/interior designer/set designer, etc., I doubt I would care to use this workaround given the thousands invested in CAD programs. The small investment in SU Pro would easily be worth it. Plus you get sandbox, upgrades, etc.
Kudos for finding the workaround. I wouldn't be surprised if the SU folks are already working on a way to block it though. ;o)
Henry Anthony wrote: > I guess it's possible but, what's the point? Anything you can make in > SU can be made in Blender.
Technically, that is true, but have you ever tried to draw a house in Blender? SU is the faster option in this case.
Then you can take the time you saved and put it into designing your animated 3D doppleganger that sits on his 3D rendered lambskin lounge chair while watching his 3D rendered 60-inch HDTV.
steve at globalhouseplans.com wrote: > Then you can take the time you saved and put it into designing your > animated 3D doppleganger that sits on his 3D rendered lambskin lounge > chair while watching his 3D rendered 60-inch HDTV.
Henry Anthony wrote: > Yeah Steve, but my doppleganger models ME!
He's very good.
It should be noted that the version suggested is a pre-release build of the Blender software. The ability to import .kmz files has been added since the current stable version.
The download link for the release candidate is here:
This is actually very interesting to me since I can now create walkthroughs using the path tools in Blender. It also allows me to have more control over rendering quality and techniques. Of course, if I were using SU in a professional environment, I may have access to the high-end CAD tools that could do this all and more, but being a home user, I'm glad to have the use of Blender. Well, glad in the way that eating cockroaches may net you $50K in Fear Factor.
@ Henry I made the effort to find this workaround because finding free good quality CAD software for Macintosh was a very rare occurence, and I wanted desperately to get Sketchup and Blender on the same level. I would gladly buy SU 5 Pro, but since I am underage and already saving up for a new computer, I'm sure you can see how I am reluctant to get too sidetracked with SU.
Besides my desire to get both programs working together, a friend of my mom had just offered me a project, which needs to be finished by this Saturday. So the advantage of increased efficiency that was pointed out by Steve was a further incintive to get things in a rhythm.
The reason I posted the workaround here was because that prior to finding this workaround, I came to these forums to search for a solution. I found several topics all perfectly matching my problem, but none of them offered any help. I figured that if there were enough people to start all these topics, they might be grateful if I put up a good solution.
You sound like an enterprising, resourceful person. Congratulations on finding a solution to your issue and sharing it with others. I hope your project is a success. I also hope you did not find my original post as being critical of your method. That was not my intent and I apologize in advance for any misunderstanding. Now, let's see some pics of that project! :o)
I followed instructions but i cant really open the models exported by SU free version as kmz models in Blender. It simply doesnt open them. I tried to downloaded blender again, unzip it again, i tried with diferent SU models (as .kmz files) All the time i get the same msg by Blender about checking up the "console". That console I guess reffers to the window u see at Blender starts and there says "Looking for instaled Phyton version 2.4, `import site failed` ; use -v for traceback. Not instaled Phyton found. Some scripts may not run" Thanks anyway for the try :)
OK, I'm not sure about this; it's mostly guess work, but it should work.
You can write plugins for Blender in the Python scripting language. When you download Blender, it comes with many of the more useful plugins already installed, like the GE importer.
I think your problem is that you have an outdated version of Python. All you have to do is install Python 2.4 or later, which is availble at "http://www.python.org/download/". After that, it should work fine.
Like I said, it's all guess work; not guarenteed to work. ---------- As for my project, it's story goes as this:
My mom plays (if not almost lives on) an online game called Puzzle Pirates. Since it's an MMORPG, my mom has been able to make friends with other elite players of YPP (My mom ranks on one of the ocean wide ultimate boards).
One of the features of the game is what is known as a blockade. This is where two flags (which consist of crew, which in turn consist of pirates) which have declared war on eachother battle. One flag tries to take over an island the other flag has, and the defending flag obviously defends their island. Blockade's often involve hundreds of players
One of the crews of a flag needs some artwork done for an event there trying out inside the blockade, and my moms intricate web of contacts eventually got me involved.
wyrmdra...@gmail.com wrote: > @ Henry > I made the effort to find this workaround because finding free good > quality CAD software for Macintosh was a very rare occurence, and I > wanted desperately to get Sketchup and Blender on the same level. I > would gladly buy SU 5 Pro, but since I am underage and already saving > up for a new computer, I'm sure you can see how I am reluctant to get > too sidetracked with SU.
> Besides my desire to get both programs working together, a friend of my > mom had just offered me a project, which needs to be finished by this > Saturday. So the advantage of increased efficiency that was pointed > out by Steve was a further incintive to get things in a rhythm.
> The reason I posted the workaround here was because that prior to > finding this workaround, I came to these forums to search for a > solution. I found several topics all perfectly matching my problem, > but none of them offered any help. I figured that if there were enough > people to start all these topics, they might be grateful if I put up a > good solution.
