NEWER VERSIONS OF LUMION
- export to node-files in areal3d
- each type of tree / light etc (via selection) will be exported as node-file (dae and skp per file)
- now simply import all nodefiles in lumion, allign them......
- select the file via pivot and import any element (lumion selector) to the selected nodes
do this for every imported node files.
attention:
lumion now removes the node-source-file from the model. yet it is still possible to place it again from the library and eventually update it from a newer version of the sketchup model.
OLDER VERSIONS OF LUMION
From the AREAL3D - pulldown-menu in Sketchup it is possible to export
all AREAL3D-trees; AREAL3D-lights and AREAL3D-user-elements
as so called NODE FILES.
LUMION itself offers so called 'node file import',
where components in a selected imported sketchup file can be replaced by a selected Lumion-element.
How does it work:
- draw trees, lights and elements in sketchup with AREAL3D.
- when all elements are placed, export the nodefiles from the main pulldown menu,
- export trees, lights, user elements
- separate skp-files for each element-type will be generated in the node-submenu
of the AREAL3D folder structure
- now, in lumion, import the basis model first on a selected layer
- select now a layer for trees
- import a node-file and align it in LUMION with the basis model
- select now the desired tree or plant for this nodefile
- now mouse-over the pivots and select the node-file vie keys up/down
- with the edit tool now click on the pivot and select
EXTRA > >> PLACE ITEMS ON NODES >> ITEM TYPE
- now there are two scenarios:
A . The selected sketchup node file is opened in sketchup.
Here lumion lets you select the nodefile from the harddisc again (file open dialogue appears).
After confirming and opening the file the active LUMION-element will be placed exactly
at the position of the imported nodes (works with tousand of elements).
B. Your node file is not opened in skp.
in that case the import starts inmediately.
After this you can even delete the node files in lumion, or keep them on a separate layer for updates.
UPDATING:
Imagine, that you change the positions of your trees in sketchup.
It would be impossible to change exactly everything manually in lumion.
Here you can
- export nodefile again from sketchup (it overwrites the old one)
- update the nodefile (reload) in lumion
- delete the desired elements (to be replaced) in lumion (easier to do from separate layer)
- place via nodes-import again in lumion
Selective deleting in lumion allows you to exchange element-type by element-type, if needed.
I recommend to try out the functionality.
And it is a real time saver in huge projects, where sketchup and lumion shall show the same foliage.
With this functionaloty you can import
- 9 different tree types
- 9 different light types
- 9 different user elements
Although in LUMION the node-import is limited to trees and lights, this can be a mighty helper in the workflow.
Then in lumion it is also possible to replace trees by other lumion elements.
LIGHTS:
If you import the lights with one nodefile on one hand and the bulbs in the correct height with another,
you can populate your latterns with bulbs in LUMION easily.
NODES FROM SKETCHUP:
Nodes from AREAL3D are simple cylinders with one material. You can easily make them invisible, if you assign the transparent material to them. You can also redefine the node-component in AREAL3D in whatever you like.......
Placing via node-placement still works (components are still there, but invisible).
NOTE:
Especially in big project this can help to synchronize lumion and sketchup (in this one way).
I have requested a lumion node export in their forum, but had no luck yet.
By this one could populate lumion and repopulate sketchup.....maybe one day.....
IMPORTANT:
All imported files from Sketchup must have the same origin.
In LUMION you can perfectly allign all separate node-files to the basis model imported in Lumion via TRANSFORMATION >> ALIGN.
