The concept behind GhostComp is to associate a simplified version to a component (called Ghost). Then the script provides an easy way to switch back and forth between the Ghost version and the Real version in the model. The idea is that in many situations, switching heavy and complex components to their Ghost version would make the model view lighter to manipulate during the design phase (for orbiting, copying, etc…).
Note : I just realized that the concept had been introduced independently, but earlier, by AdamB, under the name of Proxy, in his LightUp plugin. So, I wanted everyone to know.
This is an experimental concept, and frankly, I don’t know if it really fits any practical design workflow with high-poly models. If it does, then I think it should better be implemented in the native Sketchup application than in Ruby (if the Google SU team has time of course).
In version 1.0, the ‘simplified’ Ghost version can be generated as:
the Bounding Box of the top level component (so just 6 faces)
the Bounding Boxes of the top level component and its subcomponents, hierarchically
a Wireframe of the component
a Simplified copy of the component (keeping a limited number of the largest faces)
a Frozen copy of the component (useful before performing poly-greedy transformation such as RoundCorner or Subdivide & Smooth)
GhostComp modes.jpg
Here is a video showing GhostComp in action.
Under the cover, GhostComp uses a hidden layer to maintain copies of the original components and their Ghost versions. Unfortunately, as there is no way to hide component definitions, you’ll see the Ghost component definitions in the Component browser. Note that GhostComp does not touch, modify or delete the original components.
The attached documentation in PDF format (in English) gives details on the Plugin installation, as well as a description of all commands and options.
Quickcard GhostComp - English - v1.0.pdf
[Chinese version - 26 Nov 09 - 22:00 CET] Here is the LANG file for the Chinese version, produced by the SuBAR_CLT team at SketchupBar (Diweiman and ShuangYu). In the attached Zip file, there is a file GhostComp_ZH.lang, which should go to the GHOSTCOMP_Dir_15 subfolder. Do not forget to download the chinese version for LibFredo6 (see http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=17947&p=144178#p144178).
GhostComp_ZH.lang.zip
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Last edited by Fredo6 on Fri May 07, 2010 6:35 am, edited 7 times in total.
Par contre la transformation en fil de fer, ou la dégradation progressive, sont très longue dès que l'objet dépasse les 200ko (voir même plantage !) Si tu as une solution.
J'avais fait un post sur le bounding box, et je ne sais pas si toi tu est capable de le faire, j'aurais voulu un plugin qui me permette d'activer une vue type bounding box, comme quand le fichier est trop lourd et que sketchup dégrade l'image en remplaçant les objet par des bounding box. C'est pas la même utilisation que GHOSTCOMP, et ça m'aurait bien rendu service. Dans l'attente. @+
DJMX1 wrote:Par contre la transformation en fil de fer, ou la dégradation progressive, sont très longue dès que l'objet dépasse les 200ko (voir même plantage !) Si tu as une solution.
Wireframe and Simplify options are rather for components that are not too complex, but would be repeated hundreds times in the model. In this version 1.0, I did not optimize the generation of Ghosts actually, as my primary goal was to understand whether the concept would be useful.
DJMX1 wrote:J'avais fait un post sur le bounding box, et je ne sais pas si toi tu est capable de le faire, j'aurais voulu un plugin qui me permette d'activer une vue type bounding box, comme quand le fichier est trop lourd et que sketchup dégrade l'image en remplaçant les objet par des bounding box. C'est pas la même utilisation que GHOSTCOMP, et ça m'aurait bien rendu service. Dans l'attente.
You can generate a Bounding Box Ghost for all objects (do a Select All before generation). The problem is to have a view where Ghosts are activated while in other views they are not. This again underlines that it should be the SU Team integrating this type of dual appearance concept in the native Sketchup application. In Ruby script, there are too many limitations to make something clean, fast, safe and transparent to the model (i.e. without creating tons of hidden components, use a hidden layer, ...).
This is a plugin I will use very often (always?). finally a way to keep on editing those high poly scenes (trees, etc...). I agree that a feature like this should be standard SU stuff, but I am glad you made it into a plugin.
Another winner Fredo! I had a similar idea once but never got to implementing it. I also wanted to mention that I have been using your Round Corner script lately and it is incredible! Great work!
Whaat wrote:Another winner Fredo! I had a similar idea once but never got to implementing it. I also wanted to mention that I have been using your Round Corner script lately and it is incredible! Great work!
Thanks Dale. It shows that the Google SU team should have a closer look to what they could do natively in the Sketchup application, as this could be a useful complement to their quest for high-poly support. Fredo
Thanks a lot. Actually, the best is to create a subfolder IMAGES_DJMX1 in the folder GHOSTCOMP_DIR_10 and put the icons there. Then in the Default Parameters dialog box for GhostComp you can enable these icons. This way, you are sure that they won't be overwritten in a next release of GhostComp.
This is excellent for preparing renderings with tons of 3D vegetation, Thank you very much! An option to have just wireframes of the two bounding boxes options (recursive and simple) would be cool for the next version.
You're some kind of SketchUp Santa Claus! Thank You
Etch-A-Render SU Pro 8.0.4810 Mac/ SU Pro 8.0.4811 PC Thea: (MacOSX 32bit) RV481_v1.0.7 (SU2TH .86)/ (PC 64bit) RV481_v1.0.7 (SU2TH .86) Vray: VfSU 1.49.01
What is the message in SU7 : Loading file error GhostCompAlgo.rb uninitialized constant GhostComp::T6Errore di caricamento del file GhostCompLoader.rb uninitialized constant GhostComp::T6 Thanks
stegagG wrote:What is the message in SU7 : Loading file error GhostCompAlgo.rb uninitialized constant GhostComp::T6Errore di caricamento del file GhostCompLoader.rb uninitialized constant GhostComp::T6
It looks like a problem of installation, most probably your Unzip programs not reconstructing the folder hierarchy. Check out the footprint of files and folder in the post and in the documentation. It seems that some users have this type of problem. By curiosity, which utility do you use to unzip the files?
stegagG wrote:What is the message in SU7 : Loading file error GhostCompAlgo.rb uninitialized constant GhostComp::T6Errore di caricamento del file GhostCompLoader.rb uninitialized constant GhostComp::T6
It looks like a problem of installation, most probably your Unzip programs not reconstructing the folder hierarchy. Check out the footprint of files and folder in the post and in the documentation. It seems that some users have this type of problem. By curiosity, which utility do you use to unzip the files?
A keeper.
