Using Google SketchUp Pro for making architecture in Oblivion

[Site Bot]

Article link: Using Google SketchUp Pro for making architecture in Oblivion

 

Google SketchUp Pro is the 3D modelling program developed by Google specifically to allow people to easily create 3D models of various buildings to be used in Google Earth. It is free and the learning curve is really tiny compared to other 3D modelling applications. While it's not as powerful as something like Blender, SketchUp will perform most jobs admirably and easily. There are a lot of sites spread around the web with tutorials on how to use SketchUp. SketchUcation has a lot of good information.

 

Now on to the juicy part about SketchUp Pro in regards to Oblivion modding. It can export to 3DS format with full texture information etc meaning it will easily import into NifScope and save as a .nif file. I've done this with a few of the models that are freely available for SketchUp already. Which has lead me to place a to-scale and textured replica of New York City into Oblivion. And man does it look good! I'll upload screens as soon as I find some answers to permission questions regarding the use of the models that you can download directly into the client in mods.

 

Anyway, I know this article doesn't have a whole lot of meat to it but I hope that someone who may have been intimidated by 3D modelling in the past will give SketchUp a shot. It's easily learned and is just about perfect for making any kind of architecture for an Oblivion mod.

 

Note: There is a free version but It does NOT export to .3DS format. There is, however, an evaluation version of Pro that will do so - just finish your job before the trial expires :P

 

Thanks for taking the time to ready this :D

[LHammonds]

Export to 3DS must be a new feature to SketchUp 8 as this was not the case in earlier versions. I think you had to rename the .kmz files to .zip and extract the Colada (.dae) file from it and import into Blender...and then export to NIF directly.

 

EDIT: Ah ha! Your article should be titled "Google SketchUp Pro" because the FREE version does not export 3DS. Reference

[cryomancer20x6]

You're right. It looks like I accidentally downloaded the evaluation version. I'll make edits to the article tomorrow when I have more time. I'd never used it before, but I have to say I'm quite impressed with it. I will rename it and make the minor edits to reflect that the pro version does this. Thanks for catching that!

[SnowyOmen]

cryomancer20x6 said:

"replica of New York City into Oblivion"

 

Pics or it didn't happen, friend. :) This, I MUST see to believe.

[jjjblkrose]

That would be insane to have NY in Oblivion.........