Textures & Texture Maps in SketchUp: Difference between revisions

# During that export procedure, select a pixels size which is compatible with FlightGear - that means its resolution must exist of squares of two (eg. 2<sup1</sup>=2, 2<sup2</sup>=4, 2<sup3</sup>=8, 2<sup4</sup>=16 and so on). If you don't do this, FlightGear can show the image, but only after a resizing procedure, which eats up processor capacity. So you want to do that for FlightGear before applying the image to your model. You can rescale distorted images in SketchUp later again.<br>If this is to be the only texture for this model, try to keep the pixels as small as you can without losing too much detail. If it is to be part of a texture map (see below), you can keep the high pixel count at this stage to preserve detail, though it still needs to be set to the 2, 4, 8 etc.sizes.<br>[[Image:EXPORT.png|x356px]]<br>If your photo processor does not allow you to set the pixels, use another like Preview (Mac) or Gimp to pixel size the exported photo.  

* '''Mac:''' Select ‘New Texture’ from the ‘Colour’ menu inside the ‘Colours- Named’ section of the Skp paint-box.<br>

* '''Windows:''' Click the paint bucket (or select <tt>Window > Materials</tt>), then click the 'Create Material...' button.

You need to set the size of your new concrete texture to 1M x 1M. This means: If the area you are using the texture in is bigger than 1 metre square, the texture will be repeated every metre in every direction, until the whole target area is textured.

'''TIP:''' ''When making a texture of an item like a door, or window, it is a good idea to include it’s measurements in the individual texture name. The name of each item in the paint- box appears when you hold your mouse pointer over it. This helps when marking up your model with it’s target areas.''

'''TIP:''' ''When you first start modelling, there is a lot of satisfaction to be had from making very detailed models. The downside of that is the large file size produced. This affects loading times in FlightGear.''

'''TIP:''' ''I do it all in Skp to ensure the measurements are correct and match my SketchUp model.''  

First you need to make each of the textures you are going to use in your model. You can produce textures (as described above) from photos, or from drawings you may have done in Skp, or another application (iWorks, Appleworks for Mac) You can use quite high resolution pics or drawings  for these, thus keeping more detail, as you will be minimising the pixels on the final  map stage.  

'''TIP:''' ''I use a ‘stickie’ with these details permanently at the top left of my desktop whilst modelling.''  

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Click <tt>File > Export > 2D Image</tt> to save the squares. Use a photo processing application (like Gimp, Photoshop, (for Macs Preview or iPhoto will do as well)) to make the pixels a square of two. Keep the squared pixel size to the smallest one that keeps the necessary detail in the textures. Bear in mind most models are viewed as a 'flypast', which means at a distance. Try a couple of sizes to decide which will do the job effectively.

# In the Skp paint-box, select your new texture.  

# Take the paint pot to your target area and click.  

# When you have clicked the paint pot onto your target area, right-click: this should give you the option to position the texture.  

# Another right-click at this stage will give you the option to rotate the texture if necessary. Do not forget to click 'Done' (right-click menu, or ctrl+click menu for Macs) when you have got the correct part of the texture map in your target area.  

'''TIP:'''  ''Leave deleting the square until you have placed all of it’s constituent parts on your model. This makes it easier to add in any textured parts of your model which you had missed out. If you erased the square before this stage, you would have to start completely again from scratch, or have an extra texture file with that model. (It’s a pride thing I guess).''