Textures mess up in GE

[MontyMan]

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=be0f7a5ddf646eed2ec149712f0c5100

This is my first model so im still getting the hang of things. I
modeled my house first. I hid the edges, optimized textures and kept
the model as simple as possible but for some reason when it is viewed
in GE the textures screw up! There's sideing on the roof and sometimes
shingles where the door is! My first version was not photo realistic
and it worked fine but for some reason once I added photo textures
(following the video tutorials) something went wrong! I don't know
what to do because it is fine in sketchup! I even got an e-mail from
the google people saying that it was rejected for the 3D buildings
layer because of this issue that I think I have no control over!
Please help me! anyy suggestions will be appreciated!

[TaffGoch]

MontyMan,

The faces of your model are inside-out! The 'blue' face should be on
the inside, the 'white' on the outside.

This is a common mistake, resulting in exactly the problem you
describe. SketchUp can texture both 'frontside' and 'backside' faces,
but Google Earth ignores 'backside' faces (the blue faces.)

Correct your model, ensuring that all outside faces are white (view
model in 'monochrome' mode.) Then, switch to 'shaded with textures'
and correct the texturing of the white faces.

Now it should appear correctly in both SketchUp and Google Earth.

Regards,
Taff

[MontyMan]

TaffGoch,

Thank you so much! That makes sense. I will do that tommorow and I
hope it works.
I would never have thought of that! thankyou again!

[VAM]

Hi Taff,
hi Montyman,

although I always appreciate your (Taff) advise this time you do not
help MontyMan at all.

His crucial problem is the file-naming of his photo-realistic
textures. Under ,,materials/my model'' or paintbucket you find files
like

DSC00518.JPG
DSC00521.JPG
and more

Months ago we had already long discussions about this topic in this
group and I believe SketchUp Guide Tommy has put the result into FAQ
or even the helpcenter.

You MUST NOT use capital letters for file-extensions. Gateway-
servers will mess up those files
8.3 is not a must but helpfull
blanks should be avoided but do not realy cause problems within
my personal experience.

MontyMan, just rename your personal photos you used for your house to
lower-case file-extensions, erase first-floor ceiling - it is
unimportant - and your model will look fine in GoogleEarth.

But as a good practice for the future you should try to additionally
downsize your file. It will pay out when you start modelling bigger
houses with more complex structures. I did not see how big your pics
for the wall-textures are - but they should not have more than 20 k.
For a rather simple construction (I apologize for this expression) 328
k is a little bit too much. I bet you can bring it down to 200 k after
one or two nights of experimenting.

Much fun

Wolfgang

> > Taff- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[VAM]

Taff,

I just re-read my post. Do I sound too harsh?

If yes, you have one shot free.

Hoping to read again from you

Wolfgang

> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[TaffGoch]

Wolfgang,

Review of past discussions will reveal that both face-orientation AND
texture-file-naming are documented problems with Google Earth. I
spotted one potential problem, you spotted the other.

So, both of us are right! (And now, both problems are documented in
the same thread.) MontyMan has some work to do, but I'd wager he'll
never make the same mistakes again.

Your advice is pertinent and beneficial, but you're right -- the first
sentence is dispensible. I surely could have formed a different
impression, had you not returned with your second message. That shows
character, and I therefore decline the 'one shot free.'

'No harm, no foul'
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/no+harm%2c+no+foul

Regards,
Taff

[VAM]

Taff,

I saved your link under my browser-favourites!

Cheers

[MontyMan]

Oh ok well I will do both your suggestions and it should be fine! It
will probably take some time to fix but I am a guy who never makes a
mistake twice! So I will keep these issues in mind when I model my
next building.

P.S. I did optimize my textures according to the video tutorial (in
picasa) but I could try harder for a bigger model.

[TaffGoch]

MontyMan & Wolfgang,

It took a while to run them down, but I knew that I'd read articles
about the two issues (faces and textures.) Here are the Help Center
descriptions of the problems:

"Why are faces of my model displaying black in Google Earth?"
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=36260

"Textures incorrect in Google Earth"
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=97657

Sorry it took so long....

Regards,
Taff

[MontyMan]

Ok! Thank you guys very much! I changed the file names according to
the help center and I found a useful button called 'reverse faces' !
No need to feel sorry Taff

I might even have it up by tonight if I work hard!

[MontyMan]

Oh no! Now I can't preview it in google earth! I did everything you
said and now GE can't open the file!
Urrgh! this is so frustrating but once I get it right I should be fine
for other models.