SketchUp The Bit-Tech Case Design Competition - Take 2 Decision Thread

^^ You sir, appear to be smart (ish).

 

it appears that way, yet to be proven! lol!

 

I'd be so in on this one. I dunno about using other programs, i don't really ca, all i can use is sketchup and *shudder* pro desktop

 

Can moderators enter contests? If so - somebody wake up Nexxo! His Ada and Babbage ideas are way sweet.
Which brings me to another question:
Are we able to enter ideas that have already been posted but not built? I imagine there are a ton of 'what Ifs' that have been in Modding that might be included in in a contest - even if they never get built.

john

 

Solution.. Just set the renderer to be a common free application. Kerkythea comes in mind. That way any and all case construction would fall down to one point. Know your CAD software and do it good.
I suggest a shared setup in Kerkythea.
Same background and lighting. Or same starting point.
You choose camera and object position and orientation.
Someone shared a setup a while ago. I'll dig the forums unless said person is in the competition and is willing to share it anyhow.
My $0.02

 

maybe you could have someone not entering to contest (that has the fancy 3d programs) to take each persons sketchup file (for those who dont use a fancier program) and render it for them to be submitted.

it really shouldn't matter but really how its rendered does make an effect on how its judged.

you can still output really great looking pictures in sketchup though.

 

the only problem is that even though we say rendering shouldn't be part of the judgement, some parts and designs wil inevitably look 'alright' in sketchup then 'awesome' in a program which works better with transparencies or the like. i'm with sticking to sketchup. it's a free program and it means everybody has the same modelling limitations in creating the model. there are some things that sketchup can't do that a program that costs money can do. maybe two categories: SU and unlimited

 

ewww, Kerkythea

 

Even a simple model, with transparences on certain surfaces can express what the user is trying to create, just look at what Dark~3nergy did.

Yes there will be a certain amount of 'oooooooo thats one shiney' but sketchup can still output decent renders.

I think the arguement towards a single app is flawed, as any pro user can blow anyother person away even in sketchup.

CAD software is just a tool, and even the cheapest tools can work better in skilled hands rather than a noob somehow getting hold of a CNC machine, if that makes sense.

Its the creativity and the design process that goes into this comp that needs marking.

Maybe in order to stop uber crazy developement it should be done in a time limit, say one week to develope a post your entry.

 

I still think it;s not going to be fair if you start using all these different things, like what as said a badly rendered model looks better the a well modeled model on it's on.

People are going to vote for the rendered one as it looks more real and so on.

 

I have to say that I agree with bentleya and use only SU like the last one.
and have a second contest with "unlimited" programs.

 

I'd say make it Sketchup + Kerkythea. Kerkythea is not as bad as you guys think, and although it might not as good as Vray it is free. Same chances for everyone y/k.

Ever tried assigning a leathery material to a curvy surface created with Sketchup? It's not possible due to the way Sketchup creates these surfaces. In other programs it's a piece of cake.

An alternative would be True Space. It's free (thanks Microsoft) and far more powerful than Sketchup, although not as easy to use.

The raytracing software would have to be Sketchup as well though.

What will happen if you make it unlimited is that only the pros will participate. Because even if you get the better software the err.. free way, there is no way you could master it in such a short time.

I'd say make it Sketchup only. It was fun seeing the different cases evolve (esp. Cheaps last minute entry), and we'd most likely miss out on this process as everyone is only posting finished pictures. As has been said, it's about the creativity involved, not the pros sacking all the prices. Maybe even get rid of them.

 

Can Mnpctech sponser prize items again for the next contest?

 

well, we would also need someone to "administrate" the competition.

 

I'll be happy to Admin it, and I won't enter. It would be fun.

 

I voted any.

It's not a sketchup comp, but a design competition. Making it sketchup only would be like saying the photos entered in potm can only have pp from paint.net.

 

of coaruse you can bill and who added the poll?

 

THIS!!

It would really even the playing field. Everyone gets to build or design in the program he's comfortable with, and we will still get the same chances where it comes to the rendering.
Anather advantage is that we'd be able to create a great "ending video" with all our design displayed in one go, with one camera moving through the room. We would need somebody with a kickass setup to render it though, but i see Mankz already applied

I'm definately gunna enter this time, and i'll do it all in SU. I really dont believe in the "lets vote on concepts and ideas only" thing, people will vote for the best looking rig, regardless of why it looks better.

 

Another idea: Let's not use a case as a starting point. Most did only use the mobo tray anyway. Let people come up with whatever comes to mind.