Modeling the Correct Level of Detail

Yeah... Screw threads are awesome, but do you NEED them in your model? That all depends on what your model is for! Follow along as Aaron shares a few thoughts on when you do and do not need fine detail in your SketchUp model.
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[@LeeL-l7p]

Awesome video! I've come back to this again since getting the awareness from the first time I saw this about my level of detail. I'd love to see a video that focuses on performance tips. For example, I'm still not clear on whether I hide sections of my model if that affects my performance. Anything you can offer on this note is greatly appreciated. By the way, I love these videos! I feel like I get to have the direct experience of your help.

[@keggyification]

Keep it light folks, you'll thank Aaron in the end. Great video thanks.

[@ChelseaPensioner-DJW]

I started draughting on a board using ink and paper... yes ink and paper, so imagine the hours that would be used if you drew every little detail, well the budget would be blown. So I took the way of just remembering that a lot of the drawing work is just showing representations of items needed for manufacture. Although I worked with many a design engineer with degrees hanging out of orifice who struggled with that concept, which I interpreted as an insult to the tradesmen actually putting the components together. So much brains and no common sense.

[@ahnaf_ameer_ashraf]

Best wishes 😮❤

[@erikemerson1578]

I always struggle with placing multiple drawings on a layout page. What are some tricks to getting a good layout in layout?

[@richardhaas1989]

In other words, just model what the next person needs to make what you have drawn. A text box specifying "3 inch #8 Flathead screws typ." with indications on the model for exact placement, may be all that's needed.

[@across8339]

Thank you Aaron, very well explained. It is fairly frequent that I produce a model with a future use in mind and this can lead to excessive geometry. In your bolt example it may be that later I will want to show the assembly process, with bolts rendered either with threads or just a simple line to infer a thread. This is where I would use an external component model of either a simple bolt or a detailed version, that can be loaded in (right click component > “Reload…”) to replace an instance of the bolt without needing to move it. Perhaps you could do a video on the topic of “Reload…” & “Save as…” components, including the need to make unique, controlling the position with Axis, etc?

[@LostMarkTwain]

You're totally right. We need a way to select the Level of Detail (LOD) by a view or specifically to a single element/object (nut and bolt). I would like to know if sketchup is capable of this. i.e.: Create a parametric nut/bolt set that could change LOD according to the view. Thaking this to the limit, if you could show or hide the threads and nut of the bolt if it wouldn't be seen in the view would be awesome. A huuuge number of poligons in our models is not visible! This must be the top priority in BIM modeling software development. My question: Can we achieve this with SU OOTB?

[@across8339]

@@LostMarkTwain Yes this is possible with Sketchup, without plugins. A few years ago I had a refurbishment project of a local train station, that included models of new canopy columns. We had a software engineer create a detailed model of the column and spandrel panels but it had over 200,000 polygons. I imported his model and used it to position in my main model but then made a duplicate, with much of the detail removed to leave only the frame. Switching out one model for another was very quick, if a high detail render was needed. I am hoping that Aaron will make a video on this type of workflow as it can also lead on to team-led construction, where markers are placed in a main model and others then work on component parts, that are brought back into the main and updated as needed.

[@LostMarkTwain]

@@across8339 I get it. But this is a manual process, right? I am looking for an automatic switch of LOD within an element. Like a predefined set of versions of the same element. One for LOD100, 200, 300, 400, 500. And I could set, lets say, "LOD100 for appliances and LOD400 for cut doors/windows in a section" for a specific view in a layout. (?)

[@across8339]

@@LostMarkTwain It sounds like you have a very specific use-case, there may be a plugin to assist but the geometry would still need to load even if not displayed.

[@LostMarkTwain]

@@across8339 So... If the geometry is set "inside" the element it always count as load in the file? In other words, all the element LOD versions count in the poligon count of the file?

[@christophermorin9036]

Excessive Geometry? That's my middle name! Right now I'm designing a tiny home with a cinderblock tornado shelter beneath it with individually modeled Cinderblocks Including the mortar between them lol!

[@gusbert]

You might lose your head in that last model!

[@MichałKazana]

Zaineteresowana Polska spolecznosc zapraszam na PW. Jako partner sketchup oferuejmy swietne ceny!