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SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 2:29 pm
by dorpond
Many people, including myself, have been inquiring how to make 2d maps 3d using SketchUp, so I decided to make a quick video showing it (no sound).

I want to thank Rumble for teaching me how to do it so I could pass this along to you.

If anyone else has any other Sketchup tips and tricks, feel free to post them here.

http://dorpond.rptools.net/demos/Sketch ... chUp1.html
http://dorpond.rptools.net/demos/Sketch ... chup2.html

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 2:54 pm
by Hawke
Now we just need a MapTool 3D Import =D

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 3:18 pm
by Cweord
that's seriously cool

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 9:04 am
by dorpond
Hawke wrote:Now we just need a MapTool 3D Import =D
Yeah, no kidding! The more I use SketchUp, the more I miss the 3D abilities when I use Maptool. :)

Here is another quick video showing how you can add trees and stuff to your maps. I can seriously see using SketchUp to make some cool 3D bound maps for Maptool.

http://dorpond.rptools.net/demos/Sketch ... chup2.html

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 9:35 am
by Rumble
If I remember correctly, it interfaces with Google Earth, so you can import terrain features from Google Earth to Sketchup, and get actual terrain instead of a flat ground. It's very cool stuff.


Edit: if anyone is interested, you can import terrain features from Google Earth.

1. Open Sketchup and Google Earth

2. Go somewhere interesting in Google Earth. Zoom in nice and close.

3. Go to sketchup, and click the blue globe icon that says "Get Current View". SketchUp will import the current view from Google Earth as a flat image.

4. Click the button marked "toggle terrain" and you'll get the terrain contours in SketchUp. Don't know how useful that is, but it's certainly cool.


Even cooler? Build a model in SketchUp, go to an interesting place in Google Earth, and then go back to SketchUp and click "Place Model," and it will drop your model into that location on Earth.

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:03 am
by snikle
Man dorpond, you are late to the game man. I was using SketchUp like 2 years ago man! It is certainly the easiest and one of the most powerful 3d programs I have ever used. In fact, when I talked to trevor ages ago, i told him if MT went 3d, he needed to mimic the tools and usage of SketchUp. I used the program to make a bunch of buildings that we put in a few things over at FUM.

If you haven't yet, try the full blown version of the program, it is so powerful and easy to use, it will scare you, and you will start thinking ONLY in 3d.

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 11:36 am
by Rumble
Well, the Pro version looks nice, but five hundred bucks is a touch rich for my blood.

On the other hand...I'm on the faculty at a university, so I could get the Instructors license for free, and get a 1-year license for the software. Hm.

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 9:17 pm
by Micco
I've been building some of the location for Paizo's Legacy of Fire Pathfinder series using Sketchup 7. Turns out you can use Ruby plugins to output the models in other formats without having to buy the Pro version. But the Pro version certainly works better!!!

Anyway, here's an example of the Monastery in the Howl of the Carrion King (PF19). Image and Image

There are more pics on my MediaFire site and the .skp model free for non-commercial use. My only requirement is that if you improve it (like better textures, etc.) that you make it available to others to use.

Interestingly, when I posted on Paizo's forums the model got a huge collective yawn. I guess there's not much interest in 3d models of adventure sites in the general population. I've got new pictures set in a VUE generated environment that I'll post over the weekend if any are interested.

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 2:31 pm
by FdL
This is really cool. Looks like a great program, I'm gonna try it asap.

But I don't see any applicability whatsoever for MapTool maps...Am I missing something?

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 2:46 pm
by snikle
You can do a flat birds eye view of anything you create it in it and take a snapshot, thus creating maps for use in MT. Plus, show your players a cool 3d version too, give it that real world feel.

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 5:39 pm
by Micco
And one day, when MapTool 2.0b94 is released...

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:45 am
by vizier
Im sharing these maps here as a resource to anyone. I have both 2d and 3d isometric maps here for you guys, Dark Sun is the setting.

Giant 2d Battlemaps (easily could break each of them into 4 separate maps)

http://www.wiijii.com/vizier50/DnD%20fi ... %20map.jpg
http://www.wiijii.com/vizier50/DnD%20fi ... nalweb.jpg
http://www.wiijii.com/vizier50/DnD%20fi ... %20map.jpg


Isometric backdrops / player handouts / fun images - The first link below gives you an idea of what I use the backdrops for.

http://www.wiijii.com/vizier50/DnD%20fi ... Upload.jpg
http://www.wiijii.com/vizier50/DnD%20fi ... bbtest.jpg
http://www.wiijii.com/vizier50/DnD%20fi ... op%202.jpg
http://www.wiijii.com/vizier50/DnD%20fi ... t%20v3.jpg

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:47 am
by heyes
AACH!!

Those are awesome battle maps, and are perfectly fit for my Iron Heroes game!!!

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:37 am
by vizier
Hey great im glad you can use them. Im currently developing the major places in Tyr such as the stadium and Kalak's Ziggurat. I am making the maps fairly close to the scale from the official Tyr City map that came with the boxed set so stay tuned for more maps.

Re: SketchUp Tutorial

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:08 pm
by demonsbane
Since time ago I was interested in some 3D utopian implementation in Virtual Tabletops, I find all this very interesting.