How to convert/import skm file to calibz

[michaelgia 12]

Hi, is there any way to import a sketchup .skm texture as a calibz into the chief library?

I use Techobloc stone for façades quite a bit and have been winging it with stone materials from the Buechel/M-Rock/Coronado libraries. 

 

Techobloc's website has files for autocad hatch patterns and sketchup textures, as do a lot of other mfrs. would be nice to convert these to import into Chief. 

[Greg_NY61 83]

I open the skm with sketchup> apply texture to surface>Screen capture> make texture seamless and export as JPG or whatever and import to CA as material. You can make a collection of textures you use all the time.

Here is an example I grabbed one .skm file BaltimoreWall_ChamplainGrey1 from that site and made a texture, added pattern to it and here it is.

BaltimoreWall_ChamplainGrey1.calibz

[michaelgia 12]

Ok thanks, so there's no instant magic procedure then. 

I can also import the jpeg of the material from the manufacturer's website and create my own material with it. 

Its just that I'm horrible at creating a "seamless" pattern with material like stone. 

[jcaffee 109]

There's a SketchUp extension to strip jpegs out of skm files.  I don't remember the name, but if you search the Extension Warehouse... 

[Greg_NY61 83]

The plugin is by Christina Eneroth called Material Extractor it's free as most plugins in sketchup.

 

I use gimp to make seamless textures its very simple to make them and Gimp has a tile tool to see how it will look when applied to a large surface.

[Ridge_Runner 76]

14 minutes ago, Greg_NY61 said:

The plugin is by Christina Eneroth called Material Extractor it's free as most plugins in sketchup.

 

I use gimp to make seamless textures its very simple to make them and Gimp has a tile tool to see how it will look when applied to a large surface.

Greg, would you be so kind as to give a brief step-by-step on how you make it seamless? I have/use Gimp some but not enough to get this process down so it works smoothly. I have done it in the past by using some Photoshop instructions I pulled off the internet as a guide (in principle only of course). It would certainly be appreciated and possibly help others here also.

 

Thanks to all of you on this forum for your help. You guys are great.

 

Thanks, Mike

[jcaffee 109]

If anybody is using Photoshop, then I would suggest...

 

http://www.the-orange-box.com/portfolio/free-seamless-textures-generator-v-2/

 

It's free, has a low learning curve, and few quirks.

[michaelgia 12]

Check out...

 

 

Thanks Greg!  I feel like I've just harnessed a new super power. 

 

[Greg_NY61 83]

21 hours ago, michaelgia said:

Check out...

 

 

Thanks Greg!  I feel like I've just harnessed a new super power. 

 

Nice job Mike! It looks good, glad to be of help.

[Ridge_Runner 76]

Thanks for posting this video. Exactly what I was hoping for.

 

Mike

[michaelgia 12]

Youre welcome. 

...and to think I've been wasting hours with photoshop all this time. 

We need to thank Greg however, he mentioned Gimp. 

[rlackore 355]

Gimp is a great tool, and I've used it for years. However, I'd like to put a plug in for PixPlant - it's the easiest, fastest method I've found for creating seamless textures. It will quickly output diffuse, displacement, normal and specular maps from an imported image (or pasted from the clipboard). It's easy to learn (took me about 3 minutes to figure out the basics) and not terribly expensive.

 

[michaelgia 12]

22 hours ago, rlackore said:

Gimp is a great tool, and I've used it for years. However, I'd like to put a plug in for PixPlant - it's the easiest, fastest method I've found for creating seamless textures. It will quickly output diffuse, displacement, normal and specular maps from an imported image (or pasted from the clipboard). It's easy to learn (took me about 3 minutes to figure out the basics) and not terribly expensive.

 

Ok I've checked out the tutorials and I have my finger on the purchase button, because it really does seem like the easiest and best way to create patterns, as you say, but can you post a jpeg of a facade or wall that you've created that you're proud of? 

....please?

or post a calibz of a brick or stone pattern you've created and actually use?

Or are you still exploring?

 

thanks,

- Michael

[rlackore 355]

Here are some:

 

 

Of course, the quality of the texture is a direct result of the quality of the image used for input.