Google Sketchup Models?

[DeltaCommando5]

Can I import them easily into the editor? What kind of conversions would I have to go through?

[sueds]

if you have a collada exporter yes. IF not try using blender and the in built .ase exporter

[rd1]

You can convert from the free version of sketchup by saving to the google earth 4 format (.kmz), renaming it to a .zip file, and then importing the contained .dae into Blender via the built in Collada importer. If this isn't clear, there's step by step instructions here:

http://www.katsbits.com/htm/tutorials/sketchup_converting_import_kmz_blender.htm

From there use the .ase exporter. I don't think it's built in, but it's easy to install and you can find it here (the UE3 version):

http://www.katsbits.com/htm/tools_utilities.htm#ase

I've done this and it worked, but from memory the scale needed a huge adjustment.

[marilol]

I have also found that the google sketchup 7 non pro version can export blender compatible collada .dae 1.41 files

[fallingbrickwork]

Can I ask if people have managed to get models created within Sketchup into UDK correctly, and if so, could you please state your workflow for me.

A colleague of mine is working with Sketchup (non pro version) and is getting lots of problems with models when imported. Issues that look like incorrect normals or smoothing. He has tried conversions using UU3D and blender, but things are still not right. I'll try and get an image showing the problems.

EDIT: ADDED Image:
http://www.fearedfuturegames.com/storage/normals.jpg

Any help greatly received,
Matt.

[kat]

If you follow the tutorial linked (http://www.katsbits.com/htm/tutorials/sketchup_converting_import_kmz_blender.htm) to by kd1 you should be able to get that into UDK without too many issues. What you need to do is make sure you're using the correct UT ASE exporter (if that's what you're using). Again on the page kd1 linked to make sure you use "Blender ASE export UE3 (http://www.katsbits.com/htm/tools_utilities.htm#ase)" else it'll not have smoothing exported correctly.

If you still have issues get in touch via mail.

[Talon1]

A colleague of mine is working with Sketchup (non pro version) and is getting lots of problems with models when imported. Issues that look like incorrect normals or smoothing. He has tried conversions using UU3D and blender, but things are still not right. I'll try and get an image showing the problems.


If you're importing ASE files, the Unreal Editor uses the *MESH_SMOOTHING tag to handle smoothing between faces.
So, if you don't want the edge between two faces to look smooth, then those two faces should be placed in different smoothing groups.

For UU3D, you need to check the "Export smoothing groups" option when exporting to ASE. Then the exporter will treat each
UU3D group as its own smoothing group.

For example, if you wanted to export a hard-edged box, you would create 6 UU3D groups, and assign each side to their respective faces.
On export to ASE, this should create 6 smoothing groups.

Just open the ASE file in MS Notepad, you should see them listed:
*MESH_SMOOTHING 1
*MESH_SMOOTHING 2
*MESH_SMOOTHING 3
*MESH_SMOOTHING 4
*MESH_SMOOTHING 5
*MESH_SMOOTHING 6

[JuanManuel]

In my experience, most sketchup models import in ANY app in a very horrible manner, with random weird double or triple (or more) duplicate faces, and strange stuff like that. Sometimes. I find it faster to use the sketchup model as a base, and me-model the mesh.
It could be the way the models I've used were modeled, but I still haven't found a "clean" imported sketchup model.

So maybe some of the issues he is getting could be related to that: duplicate polygons messing up things.

[Talon1]

In my experience, most sketchup models import in ANY app in a very horrible manner, with random weird double or triple (or more) duplicate faces, and strange stuff like that. Sometimes. I find it faster to use the sketchup model as a base, and me-model the mesh.
It could be the way the models I've used were modeled, but I still haven't found a "clean" imported sketchup model.

So maybe some of the issues he is getting could be related to that: duplicate polygons messing up things.

That's a possibility. A double-sided poly will certainly mess up smoothing. Sketchup polys can have front and back sided materials,
and some converters may try to fix this by creating double-sided polys. You need a clean model before you can fix the smoothing.