Just a simple render I have quickly done today in Bryce.  All the models, except characters, are from Sketchup Warehouse.  The characters are Lara Croft which I have picked up at DeviantArt and posed them in Xnalara, a new (gaming) program I have started playing around with only recently.

Laura

The biggest problem when using models from 3D Warehouse, as noted above is that most people don't care or know about "clean modeling"... That and many of the better looking models are a messed up copy of someone else's model which that person butchered with their "customization"... This is especially true with vehicles. Sometimes tracking down the original model will show a vast difference between the two... But regardless, the biggest problems with most lazy SketchUp models is use of Ngons and flipped normals... Within the professional SketchUp user community it is often repeated over and over to avoid these mistakes...  But since it is such an easy program to learn, most people don't care to learn the right way to model, instead opting to just run with it and only address problems after their bad modeling habits are ingrained.

Most people are not aware of much beyond the base program, but there are hundreds of plugins that are available that make SketchUp a fairly complete modeling program... Sadly most people never look much into it.

Couldn't agree more, but like mjc1016 pointed out, there are some good models to be had, especially if you know your way around modeling and can fix or salvage them. I just found a great file with several Halloween pumpkins on it that are well modeled and have good textures. I seperated them and made some quick normal maps and they work great. here is an example of one of them.

The biggest problem when using models from 3D Warehouse, as noted above is that most people don't care or know about "clean modeling"... That and many of the better looking models are a messed up copy of someone else's model which that person butchered with their "customization"... This is especially true with vehicles. Sometimes tracking down the original model will show a vast difference between the two... But regardless, the biggest problems with most lazy SketchUp models is use of Ngons and flipped normals... Within the professional SketchUp user community it is often repeated over and over to avoid these mistakes...  But since it is such an easy program to learn, most people don't care to learn the right way to model, instead opting to just run with it and only address problems after their bad modeling habits are ingrained.

Most people are not aware of much beyond the base program, but there are hundreds of plugins that are available that make SketchUp a fairly complete modeling program... Sadly most people never look much into it.

I've found  lot of very good furnituyre models through SU. 

The biggest problem when using models from 3D Warehouse, as noted above is that most people don't care or know about "clean modeling"... That and many of the better looking models are a messed up copy of someone else's model which that person butchered with their "customization"... This is especially true with vehicles. Sometimes tracking down the original model will show a vast difference between the two... But regardless, the biggest problems with most lazy SketchUp models is use of Ngons and flipped normals... Within the professional SketchUp user community it is often repeated over and over to avoid these mistakes...  But since it is such an easy program to learn, most people don't care to learn the right way to model, instead opting to just run with it and only address problems after their bad modeling habits are ingrained.

Most people are not aware of much beyond the base program, but there are hundreds of plugins that are available that make SketchUp a fairly complete modeling program... Sadly most people never look much into it.

Basically, what it all boils down to is that SketchUp content (not the program itself or all the content) is not really modelled to be used OUTSIDE of SU.  Most people creating content in SU either don't know HOW to make things that would be easily used in another platform or (some of them) don't care to (it is more work...).  One of the items that makes a model more universal is UV mapping it...

Does anyone know how to prevent surfaces from "kalidascoping" when importing models into DAZ. I import a lot of vehicle models into DAZ from the 3D web site sketch up. When ever change the paint to simulate custom finishes, air brushing, or graphics the image kalidascopes all over itself. I know it can be done cuz I've seen it done before. When ever I try to import those models I don't have a problem changing the images but I can't figure out how it's done in the first place. I've tried the smoothing feature in sketch up with a sketch up model but it doesn't help. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Yeah, you need to UV the model... There is a free plugin for SketchUp call ThruPaint and another one called SketchUV... They will allow you to projection map a model in SketchUp. I'd explain more but almost every time I've explained anything SketchUp related it instantly gets sidetracked by another post and the OP gets more interested in that and I end up having wasted time explaining something nobody cares about.

Sketchup doesn't produce UV maps on its models that Daz Studio can read and the geometry is highly reliant on booleans which Daz Studio can't handle.

Can you post an image of what you are seeing...I suspect the problem is lack of proper UV unwrapping.

Agreed. If the model is not UVmapped, then any image you apply to it will be all out of shape. Sketchup models are more trouble than they are worth when trying to get them to work correctly in DS, especially detailed ones.

Many will work fine with solid color paint jobs...but anything else, you may as well grab some good reference images, a modelling program and start laying out polys...you will spend more time fixing the problems converting them to something usable in Studio than it takes to build from scratch...and that leaves out accuracy/scaling issues. 

There are a few SU models that are worth playing with (at least vehicles)...either they have few problems or are not done anywhere else...more with other items, but over all it's way more work than it's worth.

Can you post an image of what you are seeing...I suspect the problem is lack of proper UV unwrapping.

Agreed. If the model is not UVmapped, then any image you apply to it will be all out of shape. Sketchup models are more trouble than they are worth when trying to get them to work correctly in DS, especially detailed ones.

there seems to be a trend lately to criticise stuff for lack of opening doors, separate props now clean textures, seems the desire to just plonk and render has overtaken kitbashing and tweaking stuff to suit your needs.

As a person who started off my 3D hobby with iClone 3 and sketchup models with 3Dxchange2 I soon learnt to modify and adapt stuff because there is a lot of seriously lowpoly crap on the 3D warehouse albeit free, discovering DAZ Poser content after seeing prices of other stuff on sites like Turbosquid and the lowpoly gaming stuff was a godsend!!

If you have ever loaded a Unity, Arteria3D or Unreal model in a 3D rendering app you'd know what I mean.

If Len wants to criticise he need look no further than some of the stuff on the Reallusion Marketplace (not the content store) made by other users hoping to get a quick buck, hell I even have a store with only a couple simple freebies I admit.

Wow, half the month gone and I'm the first entry. Here's a Pinup for Halloween 2016

Trick or Treat!
Hunting for goodies!

Paid: Cadet Uniform A3 TY V4 - Renderosity

No count:
Aiko3+
Munster house .skp convert to .obj

Red:
Winter for A3 #
koz longhair p5 5 down
Boots
20s hat #
Star Pendant #
Candy bucket & candy

Orange:
Vixen #
Koz longhair V3
Witch hat & pendant (5 down)
DayBreak Babydoll dress - no link
DB Casual Set Jacket #
LD stockings for A3
HDSA3 pumps - no link
Fruit bowl #
Candy

Green & purple:
Studio Maya Western hat hair. - no link
Harrington #
Christa skin tex #
DB Casual set top #
DB Fetish skirt #
Goth Lady sleeves & boots
Z3D stockings - poserclub - no link
Bag #

Scene:
Jack-O-Lantern #
Halloween sign #
Camp Fire by Eric VanDycke - no link

Poses from several sets adjusted with some dial tweaking.
# free site registration required.

Software used:
Sketchup Pro
Poseray
Paint Shop Pro 9
Rendered in DAZ Studio 3/64bit

Wow, half the month gone and I'm the first entry. Here's a Pinup for Halloween 2016

Trick or Treat!

Paid:
Cadet Uniform A3 TY V4 - Renderosity

No count:
Aiko3+
Munster house .skp convert to .obj

Red:
Winter for A3 #
koz longhair p5 5 down
Boots
20s hat #
Star Pendant #
Candy bucket & candy

Orange:
Vixen #
Koz longhair V3
Witch hat & pendant (5 down)
DayBreak Babydoll dress - no link
DB Casual Set Jacket #
LD stockings for A3
HDSA3 pumps - no link
Fruit bowl #
Candy

Green & purple:
Studio Maya Western hat hair. - no link
Harrington #
Christa skin tex #
DB Casual set top #
DB Fetish skirt #
Goth Lady sleaves & boots
Z3D stockings - poserclub - no link
Bag #

Scene:
Jack-O-Lantern #
Halloween sign #
Camp fire - lost link

Poses from several sets adjusted with some dial tweaking.
# free site registration required.

Software used:
Sketchup Pro
Poseray
Paint Shop Pro 9
Rendered in DAZ Studio 3/64bit

Yay...we have an entry.

All links verified

ENTRY ACCEPTED

Please move to Entry Thread

Wow, half the month gone and I'm the first entry. Here's a Pinup for Halloween 2016

Trick or Treat!

Paid:
Cadet Uniform A3 TY V4 - Renderosity

No count:
Aiko3+
Munster house .skp convert to .obj

Red:
Winter for A3 #
koz longhair p5 5 down
Boots
20s hat #
Star Pendant #
Candy bucket & candy

Orange:
Vixen #
Koz longhair V3
Witch hat & pendant (5 down)
DayBreak Babydoll dress - no link
DB Casual Set Jacket #
LD stockings for A3
HDSA3 pumps - no link
Fruit bowl #
Candy

Green & purple:
Studio Maya Western hat hair. - no link
Harrington #
Christa skin tex #
DB Casual set top #
DB Fetish skirt #
Goth Lady sleaves & boots
Z3D stockings - poserclub - no link
Bag #

Scene:
Jack-O-Lantern #
Halloween sign #
Camp Fire by Eric VanDycke - no link

Poses from several sets adjusted with some dial tweaking.
# free site registration required.

Software used:
Sketchup Pro
Poseray
Paint Shop Pro 9
Rendered in DAZ Studio 3/64bit

Re model conversions, there's also http://www.greentoken.de/onlineconv/ ; but that tends not to like some of the DMI3D files for some reason. I've had better success with http://www.meshconvert.com/ especially for converting from lwo format to obj format.

Re new question, has anyone seen a claw machine? Reference attached.

There are some at Sketchup Warehouse but not as good as your reference image.  I was also looking for some yesterday.

Thanks launok. I might just try to model a simple one.

Has anyone seen any beer taps for a bar, preferably with a customizable handle?

--MW

Free in 3ds format which can be converted: http://archive3d.net/?a=download&id=4a84eb8a

Paid Poser set that includes drink taps: https://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/late-nights-at-the-bar/86283

Paid set with variety of labels: https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models/food/beverage/spilling-beer (includes obj format)

Low priced set with labels: http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/3d-beer-tap-2-model/1066046 (includes obj format)

Low priced generic: http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/bar-beer-tap-3d-obj/518911 (includes obj format)

Free Keg tap: http://www.sharecg.com/v/5790

I started my 3D journey with Google Sketchup with iClone3 standard and 3Dxchange2 to import the meshes.

Really? I always thought that Google Sketchup was something new! LOL

I started my 3D journey with Google Sketchup with iClone3 standard and 3Dxchange2 to import the meshes.

Re model conversions, there's also http://www.greentoken.de/onlineconv/ ; but that tends not to like some of the DMI3D files for some reason. I've had better success with http://www.meshconvert.com/ especially for converting from lwo format to obj format.

Re new question, has anyone seen a claw machine? Reference attached.

There are some at Sketchup Warehouse but not as good as your reference image.  I was also looking for some yesterday.

Thanks launok. I might just try to model a simple one.

Has anyone seen any beer taps for a bar, preferably with a customizable handle?

--MW

Re model conversions, there's also http://www.greentoken.de/onlineconv/ ; but that tends not to like some of the DMI3D files for some reason. I've had better success with http://www.meshconvert.com/ especially for converting from lwo format to obj format.

Re new question, has anyone seen a claw machine? Reference attached.

There are some at Sketchup Warehouse but not as good as your reference image.  I was also looking for some yesterday.

Does anybody know of a free school bus with an interior?

If you have SketchUp there are plenty old style school busses with interior at Sketchup Warehouse, i.e.

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=baf23c88-eb91-4fc3-838e-ef7eafc87bd0.

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=uef7bc058-a236-4f55-bfba-401898239ea1

Exported as on .obj works great in Bryce for instance.

I have been looking for something like this too.   Considering using the "Dine on the Orient Express" as interior base.  Would love to see Ravnheart do some matching cars, in the "shiny brass" style.

http://www.daz3d.com/dinner-on-the-orient-bundle

http://www.daz3d.com/dine-on-the-orient

There is this free sketchup model, but I have not had much luck importing sketchup models so far:

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model.html?id=a7a263d67a658702d68117a3077778d7

Turbosquid has another steampunk engine model, but again no carriages

http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/train-steampunk-obj/813809

Will report back if I find anything else.