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Sketchup physic - Animations possible?
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I don't have experience with it, but it will be interesting to know. The collada format can store animations, so if there is a plugin that allows you to make them it should be possible (I might have to improve modelconverterx a bit to convert them correctly though).
So looking forward to hear experiences with it,
So looking forward to hear experiences with it,
I have not the knowledge to evaluate if it is a kind of animation which can be transfered to the sim. But according to diffrent videos it seems that you can animate objects with that plugin.
Here is a example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXzB2OJdXT4&list=PL3336265F4124C248
I will see what I can find out
Here is a example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXzB2OJdXT4&list=PL3336265F4124C248
I will see what I can find out
I´m a step further ...
I was able to add a animation following this informative (and funny as well) tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc-n3IECUCI
Now the more complicated step is to export the animation. A simple export of an collada file seems not to be the answer. There is also a export option in the sketchyphysics plugin itself. By default you have 3 possibilities to export the animation (SKP, JPG?, PNG?)
Maybe you will try it yourselves?
Here you can get the plugin: http://www.heise.de/download/sketchyphysics-1145996.html
I was able to add a animation following this informative (and funny as well) tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc-n3IECUCI
Now the more complicated step is to export the animation. A simple export of an collada file seems not to be the answer. There is also a export option in the sketchyphysics plugin itself. By default you have 3 possibilities to export the animation (SKP, JPG?, PNG?)
Maybe you will try it yourselves?
Here you can get the plugin: http://www.heise.de/download/sketchyphysics-1145996.html
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Hi,
I'll have a look, but I am on the ipad now, not behind my FS pc.
I did some browsing on the Internet and mainly found people asking for export to collada or other formats. So it seems like it might not be supported at the moment.
Also found this plugin (not free), but the only export they seem to have is to a movie. Maybe that's how most people want to use it.
http://regularpolygon.org/keyframe-animation/
I'll have a look, but I am on the ipad now, not behind my FS pc.
I did some browsing on the Internet and mainly found people asking for export to collada or other formats. So it seems like it might not be supported at the moment.
Also found this plugin (not free), but the only export they seem to have is to a movie. Maybe that's how most people want to use it.
http://regularpolygon.org/keyframe-animation/
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NGX_ Why go to Sketch UP? Because it is free? Gamx is a very fine program but difficult to learn, but... a fine program.
Is there any reason why you would not try FSDS? Yes it costs $49.95 but for that price it is quite a fine tool to have. it is not quite as powerful as Gmax, but I have used it for years with very few minor complaints. Bob
Is there any reason why you would not try FSDS? Yes it costs $49.95 but for that price it is quite a fine tool to have. it is not quite as powerful as Gmax, but I have used it for years with very few minor complaints. Bob
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Hi,
I did some more searching, but I didn't find ways to export animations from sketchup. Maybe I should add a simple animate feature in modelconverterx. Just rotating or moving objects around should be possible.
I did some more searching, but I didn't find ways to export animations from sketchup. Maybe I should add a simple animate feature in modelconverterx
. Just rotating or moving objects around should be possible.
tgibson
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Gee, if you are going to all that trouble it might be easier to export the object from MCX as a 3DS object and import into GMAX. The creation of animations in GMAX is not very difficult, especially for FS9. Any texture mapping is preserved, and with a click even visible in GMAX.
@jyarddog No it is not a question of money, I use sketchup because it is very easy to use and gives me all I need for developing. Only the option to export animations is missing. It is so much easier than gmax (for me) and further more I haven´t got a lot of time for developing. i have no idea what FSDS is (only heart of it, that it is also a developer tool) but I will take look on it.
I also did some more searching and I came across a programm called blender which can import collada and wavefront. You can add very fine animations but again it seems not to be easy to export that animation. Up to now I only was able to export it in avi (or other video formats).
But you all are right. I should go back to the basics...
@Arno Nice thoughts, adding that option to MCX!!!
I also did some more searching and I came across a programm called blender which can import collada and wavefront. You can add very fine animations but again it seems not to be easy to export that animation. Up to now I only was able to export it in avi (or other video formats).
But you all are right. I should go back to the basics...
@Arno Nice thoughts, adding that option to MCX!!!
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I am looking to make new scripts for blender fs animation export. I dont have an eta on completion. I will probably be using c# to get the native interaction. plus I find c# easier than python at the moment.
Now if you have XPlane, all the tools you need for blender are out there. If you have an Xplane to FS aircraft converter (I havent seen one but havent really looked) then that may be a path to take.
I tried to contact the original script creator to no avail. It would be easy for him to bang these out as he already did it for blender 2.4x. Unfortunately they do not work in Blender 2.5 or 2.6 as the python mapping changed.
Im sorry about my post composures. I am swerving all over the place with no structure or organization.
Now if you have XPlane, all the tools you need for blender are out there. If you have an Xplane to FS aircraft converter (I havent seen one but havent really looked) then that may be a path to take.
I tried to contact the original script creator to no avail. It would be easy for him to bang these out as he already did it for blender 2.4x. Unfortunately they do not work in Blender 2.5 or 2.6 as the python mapping changed.
Im sorry about my post composures. I am swerving all over the place with no structure or organization.
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Hi Arno:
At this early phase of defining what animation might be practical to implement for models created originally in Sketchup, perhaps we might first consider what you had originally suggested:
I believe that many with an interest in using Sketchup to create our scenery model geometry (and perhaps most of us ?) may be primarily wanting to create simple movements which are encoded within the MDL file when exported by ModelConverterX (aka "MCX").
If creation of a full graphical editing interface for manipulation of geometry in MCX for 'complex' animation is not feasible, then perhaps 'simple' animation such as "rotating or moving objects around" can be achieved within Sketchup itself by some methods which store the data for such transformations or central object datum RefPoint re-positioning coordinate paths within the *.SKP and/or *.KMZ file format.
Perhaps such static and dynamic geometry and coordinate data could then be interpreted and utilized by MCX when importing such objects for which the greater part of the work already has already been done by the author inside Sketchup ?
I don't think I'm the only FS developer here who would like to see use of Sketchup- and other '3rd party' 3D modeling apps- accommodated to the fullest extent possible by MCX ...as alternative(s) to use of GMAX / 3DSMAX.
MCX has already done a magnificent job of making many things possible which were previously believed to have only been achievable via GMAX / 3DSMAX and the MSFS SDK Modeling tools; perhaps it may now prove feasible to further expand the number of features MCX can convert for use in FS which were created by use of other 3D modeling apps ?
Some here may prefer (for a number of different and valid reasons) to NOT use GMAX / 3DSMAX ...except for creating / modifying certain types of objects and content that (presently) cannot be accomplished otherwise via an alternative work-flow.
IMHO, import / modification of simple animations for geometry authored in 3rd party 3D modeling apps that is stored within the MDL by MCX when exported, would be a very valuable feature enhancement for the FS development community to have available.
GaryGB
At this early phase of defining what animation might be practical to implement for models created originally in Sketchup, perhaps we might first consider what you had originally suggested:
Hi,
I did some more searching, but I didn't find ways to export animations from sketchup. Maybe I should add a simple animate feature in modelconverterx
I believe that many with an interest in using Sketchup to create our scenery model geometry (and perhaps most of us ?) may be primarily wanting to create simple movements which are encoded within the MDL file when exported by ModelConverterX (aka "MCX").
If creation of a full graphical editing interface for manipulation of geometry in MCX for 'complex' animation is not feasible, then perhaps 'simple' animation such as "rotating or moving objects around" can be achieved within Sketchup itself by some methods which store the data for such transformations or central object datum RefPoint re-positioning coordinate paths within the *.SKP and/or *.KMZ file format.
Perhaps such static and dynamic geometry and coordinate data could then be interpreted and utilized by MCX when importing such objects for which the greater part of the work already has already been done by the author inside Sketchup ?
I don't think I'm the only FS developer here who would like to see use of Sketchup- and other '3rd party' 3D modeling apps- accommodated to the fullest extent possible by MCX ...as alternative(s) to use of GMAX / 3DSMAX.
MCX has already done a magnificent job of making many things possible which were previously believed to have only been achievable via GMAX / 3DSMAX and the MSFS SDK Modeling tools; perhaps it may now prove feasible to further expand the number of features MCX can convert for use in FS which were created by use of other 3D modeling apps ?
Some here may prefer (for a number of different and valid reasons) to NOT use GMAX / 3DSMAX ...except for creating / modifying certain types of objects and content that (presently) cannot be accomplished otherwise via an alternative work-flow.
IMHO, import / modification of simple animations for geometry authored in 3rd party 3D modeling apps that is stored within the MDL by MCX when exported, would be a very valuable feature enhancement for the FS development community to have available.
GaryGB
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Hi,
I'll have a think about it. But maybe starting with a simple rotate modelpart or move modelpart might be a good start. Most people only want that kind of simple animations. Those people that want the very complex stuff, normally use 3ds max or gmax already.
I'll have a think about it. But maybe starting with a simple rotate modelpart or move modelpart might be a good start. Most people only want that kind of simple animations. Those people that want the very complex stuff, normally use 3ds max or gmax already.
Hi Arno:
With regard to possibly being able to "rotate a model part" on a scenery object created in Sketchup, I'd like to inquire as to whether a particular type of 'simple' animation might be feasible.
I have a 1-piece, non-folding door on a rather old hangar modeled in Sketchup, that I'd like to pivot on a single hinge axis at one end (like an old-fashioned "pull-up-and-out-to-open" type of garage door).
If possible, I'd like to lift up the bottom of the door from the ground until the door is aligned horizontal to the ground.
Although the "real world" old hangar's large door actually used several chains on a rotary shaft with pulleys rather than hydraulics, this YouTube video shows what I'd like to achieve:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeMU-Iy2JPM
Hopefully that might be possible to achieve with a Sketchup model via animation options in MCX when you have have some time to implement and test that enhanced functionality.
PS: If the 'door' object was made as a FS9 format MDL file, could it also be FSX aircraft pilot radio-controlled via CAT ?
Thanks for your further consideration of possible support for animation features in MCX.
GaryGB
With regard to possibly being able to "rotate a model part" on a scenery object created in Sketchup, I'd like to inquire as to whether a particular type of 'simple' animation might be feasible.
I have a 1-piece, non-folding door on a rather old hangar modeled in Sketchup, that I'd like to pivot on a single hinge axis at one end (like an old-fashioned "pull-up-and-out-to-open" type of garage door).
If possible, I'd like to lift up the bottom of the door from the ground until the door is aligned horizontal to the ground.
Although the "real world" old hangar's large door actually used several chains on a rotary shaft with pulleys rather than hydraulics, this YouTube video shows what I'd like to achieve:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeMU-Iy2JPM
Hopefully that might be possible to achieve with a Sketchup model via animation options in MCX when you have have some time to implement and test that enhanced functionality.
PS: If the 'door' object was made as a FS9 format MDL file, could it also be FSX aircraft pilot radio-controlled via CAT ?
Thanks for your further consideration of possible support for animation features in MCX.
GaryGB
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Arno, has anything more been done in this area? I was looking at doing animated hangar doors, but was unable to find anything specific related to doing animation in Sketchup. Quite a bit on viewing or importing animation. . .but nothing that shows that it's possible within SU. Thanks!
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I never bad-mouth a program, but unless there is a brand new plug in, I don't think animation as we know it cannot be done with sketch Up. Tat is why I pay money for a program that does stuff. Usually you get what you pay for. I am eager to hear that Sketch Up will soon have a plug in to be able to do animation. This would be wonderful. The animation Sketch Up DOES is the kind that sets you in the middle of a kitchen and then you can move around to see each wall, etc. I watched a tutorial about animation with Sketch Up. This was what was taught. I thought.... this is not the kind of animation we are looking for.
Punching holes in walls quickly is wonderful in Sketch Up. Animation? No. Gmax, yes but more difficult to learn. FSDS - not as powerful as Gmax but it does everything I want it to do. Had it for years. but Sketch Up does holes in walls great, better than the Boolean operation. Bob
Punching holes in walls quickly is wonderful in Sketch Up. Animation? No. Gmax, yes but more difficult to learn. FSDS - not as powerful as Gmax but it does everything I want it to do. Had it for years. but Sketch Up does holes in walls great, better than the Boolean operation. Bob
=rk=
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I build a ship in SU and set the radars as individual groups to be animated in FSDS. When I export to .dae, I convert the radars to .fsc using MCX. A quick spin animation in FSDS then re-import the .fsc file to MCX to merge it with the parent boat, export as .mdl to play with it in AICarriers or place it with Instant Scenery. Works freaking great imo and very easy, so long as the animations aren't complex. I did a carrier blast shield and could not figure out how to articulate a piston while raising the shield, so I had to settle for a single pivot point for the entire animation.
The only real drawback to animating with FSDS is that you are unable to preserve the transparencies that MCX recognizes which are available using the SU .png format fence textures; which is kind of frustrating because the textures work great for making extremely convincing low poly grid style lattices, exactly the thing you might want to animate..
The only real drawback to animating with FSDS is that you are unable to preserve the transparencies that MCX recognizes which are available using the SU .png format fence textures; which is kind of frustrating because the textures work great for making extremely convincing low poly grid style lattices, exactly the thing you might want to animate..