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Home ? Importing Assets ? Sketch Up to Muvizu revisited

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19/06/2012 00:42:45

GordonZernich
GordonZernich
Posts: 14 		This may be very old hat and elementary to most views, but it is new to me.
I'd like to import an object (saxophone) from Google Sketch up to Muvizu.
I installed the Muvizu ASEExporter into the Google Sketch Up Program Plug Ins folder.
I've also placed another file into that folder: HSKP2UNR

I made the UT3 folder and placed that in the Sketch Up program: inside that file I made the toto bitmap image (.bmp).

I've followed part one of glasglowjim's tutorial fairly well. Another person tipped me off to downloading the .ase file into the UT3 folder before attempting to import it into Muvizu.

Now here is the problem: besides the very inexperienced operator behind the keyboard (me), I get this message after attempting to import it into Muvizu:

There was an error importing the object.
File not found.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google SketchUp 8\UT3\textures\Wood_Board_Cork.jpg

So there it is. Any suggestions?

Gordon
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19/06/2012 01:36:35

ziggy72Muvizu mogulExperimental user
ziggy72
Posts: 1988 		Hi Gordon, you're not alone in being a bit lost with all this importing and exporting and stuff. We've all been there

Anyway, the UT3 folder has to be in the root of the C: drive, so C:\UT3 is the way to go. Put the Toto.bmp in there, and that's your default texture for all imported objects (the HSKP2UNR plugin assumes it is too, y'see). You could put the .ase file in there too, just for simplicity's sake.

Now, as for your missing texture - assuming you have the cork image in question, put that into the C:\UT3 folder. Then edit the .ase file (with notepad) and change the BITMAP reference near the start to be C:\UT3\Wood_Board_Cork.jpg

You could, of course, change the Bitmap line to whatever path you like, but I find it's best to keep it uniform for all models so you don't lose where you are. If you don't have the cork image, then you'll have to export it from the original model in Sketchup. Just locate it in the Materials window (if you click on the little house icon it will show only the textures in your model) and right click on it, and select Export Texture Image to save it into the UT3 folder.

It's all a bit clunky, but the point is that the .ase file has to have a reference to any files it needs - Muvizu then uses those references to get to the textures too. Hope you can follow my meanderings, and you get it all sorted
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20/06/2012 01:03:00

GordonZernich
GordonZernich
Posts: 14 		Thank you for the input, but the problem is unresolved.
I added the UT3 file to the C:drive
Inside the file is the toto.bmp and a PSE(Photoshop Elements) wood_board_cork jpg file.

I clicked on the Window tab and dropped to Materials and selected the wood_board_cork picture, then right clicked to it, i.e. added it to the model ... is that correct?

Then I took Dylly's advice and downloaded a Sketch Up Plug In that places the object in the center and origin. (this group is beginning to have an influence upon me)

Export options:
Name: saxophone
Model: saxophone
Collision: None -- Muvizu generated collision

File name: saxophone.ase
there was no option to "save as type"

Opened up Muvizu to import the object.
file name: C:\UT3\Saxophone.ase
map alpha to: none
ambient occlusion: no ambient occlusion map
facing: double sided

Error message:
file not found
C:\UT3\textures\wood_board_OSB.jpg

So, is this the problem?

*3DSMAX_ASCIIEXPORT
*COMMENT Muvizu ASE Exporter.
*COMMENT Based on HardPCM'S ASE output plugin for Sketchup (HSKP2UNR.rb)
*MATERIAL_LIST {
*MATERIAL_COUNT 1
*MATERIAL 0 {
*MATERIAL_NAME "MUVIZU_ASE_TEXTURE"
*MATERIAL_CLASS "Multi/Sub-Object"
*NUMSUBMTLS 4
*SUBMATERIAL 0 {
*MATERIAL_NAME "Engine.DefaultTexture"
*MATERIAL_CLASS "Standard"
*MAP_DIFFUSE {
*MAP_CLASS "Bitmap"
*BITMAP "C:\ut3\toto.bmp"
*UVW_U_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_V_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_U_TILING 1.0
*UVW_V_TILING 1.0


I would suppose the .ase file needed to be edited from:
BITMAP "C:\ut3\toto.bmp"
to:
"C:\UT3\Wood_Board_Cork.jpg"

Is that correct?
This is all Greek to me, but that is a good thing. I need the challenge.

Gordon

Um: I'll include what I'd consider the most relevant Notepad++ text:


*MATERIAL_CLASS "Multi/Sub-Object"
*NUMSUBMTLS 4
*SUBMATERIAL 0 {
*MATERIAL_NAME "Engine.DefaultTexture"
*MATERIAL_CLASS "Standard"
*MAP_DIFFUSE {
*MAP_CLASS "Bitmap"
*BITMAP "C:\ut3\toto.bmp"
*UVW_U_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_V_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_U_TILING 1.0
*UVW_V_TILING 1.0
}
*SUBMATERIAL 1 {
*MATERIAL_NAME ""
*MATERIAL_CLASS "Standard"
*MAP_DIFFUSE {
*MAP_CLASS "Bitmap"
*BITMAP "Wood_Board_Cork.jpg"
*UVW_U_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_V_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_U_TILING 1.0
*UVW_V_TILING 1.0
}
*SUBMATERIAL 2 {
*MATERIAL_NAME "Wood_Board_OSB"
*MATERIAL_CLASS "Standard"
*MAP_DIFFUSE {
*MAP_CLASS "Bitmap"
*BITMAP "Wood_Board_OSB.jpg"
*UVW_U_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_V_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_U_TILING 1.0
*UVW_V_TILING 1.0
}
*SUBMATERIAL 3 {
*MATERIAL_NAME ""
*MATERIAL_CLASS "Standard"
*MAP_DIFFUSE {
*MAP_CLASS "Bitmap"
*BITMAP "Cladding_Stucco_White.jpg"
*UVW_U_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_V_OFFSET 0.0
*UVW_U_TILING 1.0
*UVW_V_TILING 1.0


Is that correct?
edited by GordonZernich on 20/06/2012
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20/06/2012 08:06:34

DyllyMuvizu mogulExperimental user
Dylly
Posts: 555 		Hi Gordon

It's early...just woke up and not got my glasses on yet...however...I think you have a file naming problem with your jpeg...

You say you've named your jpeg file as "wood_board_cork" yet the error message is looking for a file called "wood_board_OSB.jpg"


Rename the jpg adding the OSB part and see what happens?

errata: Hang on...glasses on...you are missing two bit map files...The model has another couple of textures added to it. You should have three textures in your UT3 folder named

"Wood_Board_Cork.jpg"
"Wood_Board_OSB.jpg"
Cladding_Stucco_White.jpg


The Error message is referring to the second texture in the list.


Take a look at the texture exporter I posted here http://www.muvizu.com/forum/topic1904-sketchup-texture-exporter-free-plugin.aspx?p=f#post10774 it will take all of the textures in your model and export them from SketchUp to the file you designate.
edited by Dylly on 20/06/2012
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20/06/2012 19:33:19

ziggy72Muvizu mogulExperimental user
ziggy72
Posts: 1988 		I'd also add that this bit :
Error message:
file not found
C:\UT3\textures\wood_board_OSB.jpg

...seems to suggest you've still got some issues with the .ase file's locations - all the textures should be in the UT3 folder, nowhere else (for the purposes of making this simple...or at least a bit simpler!) so there is no need for a Textures subfolder in the UT3 one.

Also, you said this :

I clicked on the Window tab and dropped to Materials and selected the wood_board_cork picture, then right clicked to it, i.e. added it to the model ... is that correct?

I don't get what you mean by Added it to the model - I thought it was already in the model? Or do you mean you added it to the UT3 folder? If you've added it to the UT3 folder, then this bit :

I would suppose the .ase file needed to be edited from:
BITMAP "C:\ut3\toto.bmp"
to:
"C:\UT3\Wood_Board_Cork.jpg"

...would be the correct thing to do to get it to work. Keep at it, you're almost there
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20/06/2012 20:41:17

GordonZernich
GordonZernich
Posts: 14 		Thank you very much for your help and advice.

I have something to work with now.

One of the keys was the Raylectron Textures Exporter. What a gem that is! Exported all the textures; I selected the jpg file option, and viola, three textures into the UT3 folder with the object as Dylly said.

The other key was a plug-in Dylly suggested at smustand.com: the plug-in shifts the object to the origin for export. By the way, is it better to shift the object to the origin, or to shift AND center it to the origin?

In any event it worked! But with some caveats:

#1 I have to buy the Sketch-Up 8 for Dummies book and dig into it. I've read some of the forum's postings about importing 3D objects, and it is Greek to me. However, one thing that's apparent in those postings is that I have lots of learning to do and Sketch Up 8 for Dummies is probably the best place to start.

#2 I have the object (saxophone): now I have to study that video tutorial about collision meshes. I watched the second and third segments of importing 3D objects. Now I have to study them.
The object I imported into Muvizu (potential) file sinks into the "floor" ... sometimes it just bounces wildly around or gets "pushed outside the world and (gets) moved back into the center of the world". lol! I don't know what that means, but it ain't good! Can such an object ever get retrieved after that happens?

So, there is work to do. Which collision mesh is best for a saxophone or an upright bass? The jazz musicians have an interest in such things .... or at least the instruments. I'll be working of the collision mesh for the sax next.

Update:


Um: re-watched the importing video again and noticed a mistake I made: the first import was NOT done with ID textures: now the color can be changed from pink to a brassy gold.

Another wrinkle: while having success in changing the color of the object, the color properties extend way beyond the confines of the monitor screen, and I haven't found a way to exit out of that to change the scale or other object properties ...


Thanks again gents.
edited by GordonZernich on 20/06/2012
edited by GordonZernich on 20/06/2012
edited by GordonZernich on 20/06/2012
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20/06/2012 22:27:26

DyllyMuvizu mogulExperimental user
Dylly
Posts: 555 		Hi Gordon

Couple of quick tips.

SketchUp for Dummies...all of the video tutorials are available on Youtube posted by the author. They cover the same material as the chapters in the book.

You will get more help and insight into SketchUp by joining Sketchucation.com. They are a pretty helpful bunch of guys, obviously not as helpful as Muvizu peeps, still very helpful.

The wobbling and bouncing of your prop and the sinking through the floor is caused by the collision mesh. To avoid these effects there are two things you can do.

The Easy way
When you import a prop into Muvizu it will hang in the air until you click on it. Right click on it first before it drops to the floor. When the properties box opens check the floats in the air box and un-check the keep upright box. The prop will now be a little more controllable.

The Best Way
Use Ziggy's Matchbox collision mesh, you can download this in the 3d objects section of the gallery at Muvizu. Ziggy's mesh is one of THE most useful 'utilities' for making props for use in Muvizu.

The Hard Way
Start again with a new collision mesh. Now of course you had to choose a complicated to prop to start with...perhaps the triangle, maybe the tea chest bass would have been a better choice for a first collision mesh attempt. To stop the wobbling give the collision mesh a base so the prop will sit still on the floor. Remember to divide your shapes into three and four sided shapes (so no circles) with a small gap between them. Don't make things complicated and invest in headache tablets...I always get a headache with collision meshes.

Top Tip for collision: when you add collision to an ase file make sure you have a copy of both the collision mesh .ase and the original model .ase saved somewhere, so you can go back to them if need be.

A final point on moving objects to origin. Which method you use depends upon the object and where you want the pivot placing. For most objects and props I centre them on the origin, however doors are moved to the origin so they pivot along one edge when animated to open or close.
edited by Dylly on 20/06/2012
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20/06/2012 23:55:02

GordonZernich
GordonZernich
Posts: 14 		Thanks again for the input.

The texture problem with the sax was resolved when the toto bitmap image color was changed from pink to something more like brass. I did not save the ID textures when importing it into Muvizu. When I saved the ID textures the color palate properties were 38-39-40 deep, and there was no way to, literally, get to the bottom of it to adjust the other properties of the object.

I downloaded Ziggy's matchbox collision file. Does it work via default or does it need to be applied?

I purchased Sketch Up for Dummies to read on the commute to work. My commute is about an hour 20 minutes each way.

Creating the ground plane did help to stabilize the object, somewhat better with it than without it.


edited by GordonZernich on 21/06/2012
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21/06/2012 02:00:26

ziggy72Muvizu mogulExperimental user
ziggy72
Posts: 1988 		Hey Gordon - my collision box needs to be added to your .ase file as per the readme included in the download. To save time, here's the relevant part:

1) Open up the ZMB ASE file in a text editor.
2) Select and Copy everything.
3) Open up your ASE file in a text editor.
4) Go to the very end of the file. After the last entry, paste in the contents of the ZMB file.
5) Save your ASE file

And that's it. Your sax will have a tiny collision area, to (hopefully) make it easier to work with within Muvizu.
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21/06/2012 10:13:48

GordonZernich
GordonZernich
Posts: 14 		Thank you for the feedback Zig: I tried the collision box edit on the sax, and it didn't help much though.

It was copied and pasted to the last meaningful entry, rather than the very last character of the .ase file text, and there wasn't much difference.

Eh, anyway, ever since attempting to edit the .ase files, the files' icon has become that of the text editor that was used. At first that was disconcerting to me, but I guess that is one thing that doesn't make a difference ... and my experience with PCs is that any misplaced character can just foul out anything.

I'll continue to work on it.

Dylly mentioned Sketchucation.com. I'll look for tips there too, but I'm looking forward to the Sketch Up 8 for Dummies. There is sure to be a chapter for collision meshes, and if its directions are for the really ignorant, it will take nothing for granted. lol

I'd like to say thanks again though ... I've exported an acoustic bass from Sketch Up into Muvizu. I won't have time to really see how it behaves until later, but hey, I couldn't even get that far earlier this week without the community's help and advice.

At first blush the acoustic bass seems like its easier to handle, but I really dig into that later and re-try Ziggy's collision mesh with that.

It is copied and pasted after the last meaningful text, correct, and not after the last character, e.g. "{" or something like that.
edited by GordonZernich on 21/06/2012
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21/06/2012 21:05:07

ziggy72Muvizu mogulExperimental user
ziggy72
Posts: 1988 		Yeah, the ZMB stuff has to be pasted after everything else, on the first blank line, so that it doesn't interfere with anything else in the .ase file. How did you get on with the textures?
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22/06/2012 01:37:12

GordonZernich
GordonZernich
Posts: 14 		I'm going to try some fun with what (little) I know now ... lol

At first blush when an object is imported into Muvizu with ID textures, its properties' window presents a very long list of colors (38,39,40) ... a list so long that there is no way I know of getting to the bottom of it. When it is imported without ID textures the scale of the object may be adjusted as well as its other properties, but not the colors. I can click on the colors and try to save that, but there is little change.

I used Ziggy's collision mesh on the sax; but I also put an invisible ground plane beneath it and saved both -- as far as I know -- as a favorite. I just got tired of watching the object bounce around like crazy or sink into the earth and disappear. In time maybe the ground plane won't be needed, but for now it is an insurance policy ... again, as far as my very limited knowledge knows about its use.

I need to export/import an acoustic bass and a trumpet. I believe I found some animations that would compliment the sax and trumpet.

There much to learn, for sure, but now a pause. Heck, I've yet to get the feel for the 3D environment and positioning objects within it!

I don't know how that collision mesh is supposed to work. I copied and pasted it to the file: I must have done something right since the object did import ... imported with four brackets more or less surrounding it. But it still sunk into the floor when "floats in the air" is unchecked.
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