Importing Sketchup files with curves - how to improve mesh before import?

Rhino Rhino for Windows
1

Is there any way in either Sketchup or Rhino to improve the mesh settings so I get much smoother surfaces once model is imported into rhino? Or is this just down to the level of detail on the original sketchup model?

2

Yes. Meshes are facetted representations of smooth surfaces. Once exported from Sketchup, there is nothing Rhino can do with them to make them smoother.

–Mitch

3

Thanks Mitch - I know this is a Rhino forum but is there a command in Sketchup that I can apply to smooth edge before I export? Guess bit like turbosmooth in 3DS…

4

Soften edges looks like it might do it… Thanks for your help

5

I believe Soften Edges just determines the angle that the edge of facets will (or will not show) on screen. So if you want a cylinder to not show it’s faceted edges you adjust Soften Edges until the surface appears smooth but it isn’t actually altering the geometry - the cylinder still has the same number of faces.

6

Here’s something I Googled… You would need to do this while creating circles/arcs, it might also be possible afterwards (saw something somewhere about the “Entity” tool). But I don’t know Sketchup… The info talks about reducing the number of facets, but you could also increase them…

–Mitch

7

You can select an arc in SketchUp and the number of facets shows in the Entity Info panel. Select the number and type in a higher number and you’ll get a smoother arc.

But this only works for arcs - and it doesn’t make the facets into an actual arc - it just smooths them out by increasing the number of facets.

8

there’s artisan

i’m guessing it’s not going to work in your situation ,or, it may take a lot of prep work since it wasn’t modeled in a subd mindset from the get go (creasing etc)…

what’s your model like? are the surfaces like a car fender or something?

idk, the way to get finer meshes in sketchup is to make them with the desired polycount from the get go… once the meshes are made, they’re done…

but you have to be careful as sketchup will start choking relatively quick with higher counts.

that stuff aside (and me not knowing your needs ; )

rhino is in your toolkit but you’re concerned with getting better surfaces out of sketchup? :confused: