Better support for other file formats

[TommyK]

I am getting into the habit of using Layout not just for presenting Sketchup models, but also as the final presentation medium for assembling all sorts of images and drawings. The speed and ease with which Layout can assemble items makes it my number one choice.

With this in mind, I have the following suggestions for Layout features in the future:

1. Import DXF, DWG, EPS, PSD file formats (and more?)
At the moment, LayOut can import PDF and mainstream bitmap files. This is made even more powerful as the link to the imported files can be updated as the image files change. What this allows is for LayOut to become the hub for organising all the disparate material for a complex project, with revised drawings automatically detected by LayOut. It would be great if LayOut could import other file formats, so that we don't have to export to PDFs and JPEGs every time. I'm not talking about being able to edit them, just being able to move, scale and render files in LayOut.
In such a case, no doubt that each file type could have their own basic options (eg. scale for dxf/dwg, line weight for EPS, layers visibility for PSD etc).

2. Respect the paper size of imported material!!
Many drawings like PDFs and JPEG tend to have a set paper size embedded in the file. LayOut ignores this, and resizes it arbitrarily. When the use of scaled drawings are essential in your final presentation, this is very annoying! May I suggest that the "Sketchup Model" pane be changed to "Drawing Options", with a tick box that says "Lock to orginal drawing scale", where image files are highlighted.

3. Transparencies
Unrelated to the thread, perhaps, but here goes. It would be useful if elements in LayOut had a transparencies option. It would allow me to overlay a hidden line style view over a full colour view, for instance, to tone down the saturation.


Are the above tall orders? I have a hunch that it is integration with other software that will make LayOut great, in much the same vein as Sketchup.

[JuanV.Soler]

I gladly follow your desires

[gypsy46]

I second that, TommyK!!

[rabbit]

>At the moment, LayOut can import PDF and mainstream bitmap files.

Uhh.. How?
As far as I can see, layout (2.1) (on windows) won't import pdf...

It certainly should, along with dwg, dxf - in fact it should support the exact same file formats that sketchup itself does...
Likewise, it surely it should have as many of the same tools as sketchup as is practicable, (given that it is designed for a different but complimentary purpose) and it surely it should as far as possible behave the same way as sketchup itslf.
For example, it really needs the zoom window tool, and why can't those useless scroll bars be turned off...

layout is such a good idea, it promises so much, its just taking a little longer than one would like to get there.....

rabbit

[Gaieus]

>At the moment, LayOut can import PDF and mainstream bitmap files.

Uhh.. How?
As far as I can see, layout (2.1) (on windows) won't import pdf...

That's true. But the Mac system supports pdf file handling in general thus SU for Mac makes use of this.

[bjanzen]

You have to convert the PDF to some raster format using Gimp & Ghostscript to insert into PC LayOut. I dug out some old instructions I passed on, so this may be somewhat dated:

Download GIMP (Gnu Image Manipulation Program) from http://www.gimp.org/downloads/ and Ghostscript from http://sourceforge.net/projects/ghostscript/. Install both, and copy Copy the executable gswin32c.exe from the directory bin of the ghostscript installation to C:\Windows. Launch GIMP, open a PDF, save as some other format.

b

[Gaieus]

I use PDFCreator to "print" virtually into pdf generally but it can "print" in various raster image formats, too so that could also be a solution however Barry, I think that here the folks are wishing for more vector import functions instead (true that they can be imported into SU and sent to LO which would be the ideal way anyway since the power of LO is the constant communication with the skp files)

[honoluludesktop]

Not sure that is a good idea to export vector files from LO's raster file, as accuracy might suffer. You can already do vector export from SU. Maybe a vector / raster format. Vector for accuracy, and raster for pure graphics. Can't some pdf writers already do that?

[Gaieus]

This is about importing rather than exporting.

[honoluludesktop]

Sorry, didn't read the post clearly. I don't use LO, so guess I can't say for certain, but how can't importing a DXF into SU then opening them in LO not suffice. A acad line has a property thickness, so perhaps what's required is for SU's importer to retain that property as a style for SU and LO to use.

As we know SU is not interested in supporting a free DXF translator, perhaps in the future Pro versions, thickness, and other Acad properties will be better supported for both.

[Gaieus]

Well, IMO that should indeed be the workflow especially considering the retained communication with the SU file itself.

In "modern" LayOut you can already assign different line weights, styles and colours to your inserted SU elements so doing it that way would make sure that your document will be consistent.

[bjanzen]

I hear you, Gai... yes, vector import is best done for now by trying to get a vector format into SketchUp, then importing the model from SketchUp and vector rendering in LayOut.

b

[George]

I hear you, Gai... yes, vector import is best done for now by trying to get a vector format into SketchUp, then importing the model from SketchUp and vector rendering in LayOut.

b

Hello bjanzen and Gaieus,

I just started working with Layout (PC).

I've been experimenting ... Trying to bring a vector copy of a (complete) DXF floor plan into Layout. The only way I've found so far is to import the DXF into SU and then send it to Layout. As I'm sure you know, this removes all the line types from the drawing, rendering it useless for practical use in the field. I regularly use Adobe Acrobat Standard v9.3.1 for creating PDFs of our CAD construction documents. However, it appears there's no way to import a PDF into Layout on a PC.

I would desperately like to combine an assortment of key SU model views with our formal working drawings in Layout. How do I get there?

-Geo

[Gaieus]

Hi Geo - and though you are not new here, still nice to see another Sage!


Anyway, this is something I didn't even think about (I use vectors only because they are vectors and never really use any weights) so I guess this is indeed a valid request or wish then - but certainly only in case these styles are preserved when importing (in a later release?)

[George]

Hi Geo - and though you are not new here, still nice to see another Sage!

Yeah, I thought I'd stop by to see the new board version. Looks good from this end of the wire.

I’m still pondering how to make more use of Layout.

Working on a PC, it seems Layout ceases to have much use once I’m past the presentation stage. Aesthetic presentations are an important part of homebuilding. However, the workflow in a Design/Build firm is perpetually towards the final working drawings. Layout would be useful throughout the building cycle if I could use it to bring everything together, from preliminary SU models to final CAD working drawings (importing a PDF copy of Excel and Word documents would be useful too).

The demand for more detailed formal working drawings is increasing with the complexity of our dwellings and the sudden realization (as if no one knew this before the big crash) that better plans mean better business. This article, in the September ’09 issue of ‘Builder’ — The Magazine of the National Association of Home Builders (US), points out the direction builders, designers (and their tools) need to be headed.

http://www.builderonline.com/cost-saving-ideas/the-great-cost-chasm.aspx

-Geo

[honoluludesktop]

George, As I don't use LO at all, I had not thought in depth about file transfers to it. I can however, understand your frustration with trying to use LO as the primary means to assemble and create graphic documents. I speculate that Dxf2Su doesn't support anything that SU itself doesn't require as surface modeler, like line weights and fonts. Wounder is it's manageable for SU and LO support different Dxf compatibilities.