[Plugin] Export 2d with Alpha (1.0.1) — 13 September 2010

[shahkoorosh]

If you go back to the first page - where you downloaded the .rb file from you will see it says you require a support 'library' of files.
Use the link to get it, extract it and place its folder into the Plugins folder.
After Sketchup restarts it ought to find the required files in that folder and so your errors should stop...

Capture.PNG

Thanks dude, It's worked

[seen]

Thank you very much

[optimaforever]

Hello Thom,

This script is very useful.
Now when you export a batch of cameras from SU it resets the output resolution to your default 800x600.
Is it possible to keep the last output resolution by default? (I mean, if I saved a PNG in 2000x1000, the next output will keep 2000x1000 instead of 800x600)...
Thanks anyway.

Ryo

[thomthom]

I have an update coming up soon. Not ready yet though.

[Rich O Brien]

You can change the code using a text editor.

I've mine setup to my resolution.

[raineysky]

I have an update coming up soon. Not ready yet though.

Add mindreader to your list of skills. I just did a two hour search of the forums regarding transparent backgrounds and came across this. THANK YOU!!!

[RichardU]

I have an update coming up soon. Not ready yet though.

I'm looking forward to it. Thanks.

[RichardU]

Cookieware donation sent. I don't know how you plan to update this, but it is very useful as is.

Thanks,

Richard

[thomthom]

Cookieware donation sent. I don't know how you plan to update this, but it is very useful as is.

Thank you!

I have an update in development - more of a merge, transformation with V-Ray Tools (Don't worry, no V-Ray needed.)

CameraTools.png

Important new feature is that it tries to make up for the camera shifting that occurs when you set the aspect ratio.

[GIphil]

Excellent Plugin! The export values are a bit strange but I am just being picky! Thanks for your hard work!

[thomthom]

Strange values?

[Frederik]

Lately I've experienced that when I export a scene with transparency, in a resolution 4000x3000, I can see the transparency using the standard Windows Image viewer, however, I'm unable to open the png-file in PhotoShop...
It's just saying that it's unable to parse the file...
Also... I can't see the image if I try to use XnView...

[thomthom]

Sample file?

[Frederik]

Here you go...
(NB! 37.8Mb) https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9887081/Test-for-Thomthom.png

Like I said, I'm able to open and see it with the standard Windows Image browser and I can open it in i.e. Firefox as well, but not in Adobe PhotoShop CS5.1 and XnView also have an issue when trying to see it...

[Frederik]

OK...
I found a way to make it work...
Open the file with Microsoft Office Picture Manager and export it to a new png-file...
The size will reduce from 37.8Mb to 1.58Mb and I can't see any quality loss...
Check this https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9887081/Test4Thomthom2.png
I'm able to open the new file in PhotoShop...

Edit: Well... It seem that I need to do something before it works, like use the crop tool and then export it...
The result is that the file size reduces significantly and then I'm able to open it in PhotoShop without any quality loss...
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9887081/Test4Thomthom3.png
Strange...

[thomthom]

37.8MB for a 4400x2250px PNG image??? That ain't right.

Inspecting your file in a hex editor and it's full of NULL bytes. :s
The plugin leaves the writing for the image to SketchUp. And I've never seen this before.

My first thoughts are that this is a issue local to your machine. Are you for instance saving to a network drive etc?

[Frederik]

My first thoughts are that this is a issue local to your machine. Are you for instance saving to a network drive etc?

Well... In case it's something with my 'puter I wonder what's causing this, cause I've never experienced this before...
I'm just saving the image on my desktop, not on any network drive or another strange location...
Like I said... Very strange...

Edit: I've now tried to save the png-file to some other locations (eg. a folder on the C-drive, on the desktop, on a network drive), but the result remain identical...

[thomthom]

I don't know what it is to be honest.
Does it happen to all models?
Do you have another computer nearby where you can try?

[Frederik]

Does it happen to all models?
Do you have another computer nearby where you can try?

Just did and it's the same...

If I save in resolution 800x600px it works fine and I can open it in Photoshop...
The file size is 1.83Mb in this resolution, but I also set the compression to 0...

[thomthom]

Compression should only apply to JPEG.

If you export a similar 2D image from File > Export 2D?

[Frederik]

...but I also set the compression to 0...

Looking for a smiley banging the head into the wall...
Seem that this was causing the issue...
If I leave the compression at 0.9, I'm able to open the file in res. 4400x2250px in Photoshop and the file size is 2.76Mb, which seem reasonable...

Perhaps you should lock the compresion to a specific value or make sure that it can't be set to 0 (read: zero)...

[Frederik]

Compression should only apply to JPEG.

Then it should - by default - be "in-active" when saving to png IMO...

If you export a similar 2D image from File > Export 2D?

No problem, but then I can't get the transparency I need...

[thomthom]

I had no idea it would cause oddities for PNG files... :s
The documentation (*roll eyes*) says:

(optional) Float compression factor for JPEG images, between 0.0 and 1.0

http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/develop ... rite_image

So I figured there was no need to disable/enable depending on filetype - which I have no means of obtaining either as the filedialog comes after the options (SketchUp API limitation). And 0.0 is a valid value for JPEG - at least according to the API... though I've never tried to set it that low.

This sounds like a SketchUp bug - or very poor API documentation.
Unfortunately there isn't a whole lot I can do to address this.

[thomthom]

hm... looking at the docs again, 1.0 is best quality - 0.0 is worst. Compression is probably incorrect label (I just inherited the API argument name) - Quality is probably a better label.

[Frederik]

This sounds like a SketchUp bug - or very poor API documentation.
Unfortunately there isn't a whole lot I can do to address this.

No worries, Thomas...
You have my deepest respect regardless of this...
At least I found the reason and know what to do to avoid this in the future...

[Frederik]

hm... looking at the docs again, 1.0 is best quality - 0.0 is worst. Compression is probably incorrect label (I just inherited the API argument name) - Quality is probably a better label.

Getting slightly confused...
Are you going to update the plugin then...?

Question:
Why are the user not able to select the file-type from the drop down list...?
If the user had to select the file-type (i.e. JPG or PNG) the compression could be inactive when png is selected and transparency can be inactive (obviously) when the user have selected jpg...

[thomthom]

That could possibly be an option. Might do that ... some time. But currently my priorities are Bezier Surface and Vertex Tools.

[Frederik]

That could possibly be an option. Might do that ... some time. But currently my priorities are Bezier Surface and Vertex Tools.

Take your time, Thomas...

[quentinbuilder]

I have installed the plug-in and also the required TT_lib2. The export option exists in views pulldown. I select and get the window where I select resolution, transparency- then I get a file browser window and the file option is blank and it does not seem to save a file- I must be doing something wrong. Does this work with SU8 free version?
Thanks
Quentin

[thomthom]

Works with free version yes, but due to a bug in the API you must manally type the file extension of the file.