2. Podium Browser- What's new and what's coming.
Podium Browser In July hundreds of new render-ready components were added included many public and residential exterior 3D models such as benches, fences, curbs, exterior light fixtures, new interior light fixtures, new 2D people. If you have Podium Browser Paid content, click on Show Only Recent Files to see what has been uploaded in the last few weeks.
We are currently working on these items for August 2013: twenty more 3D trees, Bega light fixtures, a new library of 2D face-me people, 3D curtains and new materials. Podium Browser Paid Content has over 5,000 render ready components. Still only $59.00 for a permanent license.
Need access to the stand alone Podium Browser web site outside of SketchUp? Please click here to read how to access it.
3. Podium Walker featured in Land8
John Atkins, one of the "early adopters" of Podium Walker has written an in-depth article for Lands8 called "Which Animation Software Is Right For Landscape Architecture?". He compares two products, Podium Walker ($99.00 USD) and Lumion (nearly $4,000 USD). If you are looking for a photo-realistic animation program but have a budget, the best alternative may be Podium Walker.
We are currently testing the beta version of Podium Walker 64 bit. If you are a Podium Walker user, please download it and test it. This version will render and animate SketchUp models in the over "one million faces" category.
Hidden LEM is now supported in the beta. Mac 64 bit beta is next.
Learn more about this photo-realistic plug-in for SketchUp that works with SU Podium and Podium Browser here.
4.Free plug-ins for SketchUp and SU Podium are now SU 2013 ready and in .rbz format.
Several Cadalog free plug-ins for SU Podium or for SketchUp in general, have been updated for SketchUp 2013 and have had their install file format revised to .rbz.
The .rbz format is SketchUp 8 and 2013 Extension format and is convenient for installation. Please download the Cadalog plug-ins from the download page. These are all free and come with no support.
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EditInPlace is a SketchUp utility that allows you to edit groups and components in a separate SketchUp instance. It was free for SU Podium and SU Animate users and now is free for anyone.Read about EditInPlace here. |
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SUGrid creates a construction grid to snap to in any planar XYX plane. It was included with SU Animate and now is free for anyone. Watch a short video tutorial on SU Grid here.. |
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Windows Only. Cadalog BeamTools is a comprehensive, parametric, table driven library of industry standard C, I, H, L Angles, T sections for SketchUp. It works only in Windows. |
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OmniGrid is the venerable plug-in for SU Podium V2 or for Podium Walker that allows you to create a grid of point lights above or below a planar surface (SketchUp face). By creating a grid of omni lights Omni Grid creates a relatively even source of light over a wide space. It is best for interior rendering. A superior even source of light is LEM in SU Podium V2. |
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IFC2SKP for SketchUp 8/ 2013 Beta is a Windows only plug-in for SketchUp 8 and 2013.
This application works inside SketchUp Windows (not Mac) and has the ability to load IFC data from BIM (CAD) applications
such as ArchiCAD, Revit and Microstation. |
5. Progress Report on SU Podium V2+, Viso3D Mac, Podium Walker 64 bit
SU Podium V2 Plus is still just around the corner. We are in the final days of alpha testing but still have one or two bugs to fix. V2+ will be a FREE upgrade for SU Podium V2 users. It will be a fairly substantial upgrade with two major new features and a lot of smaller additions to make Podium even easier to use.
A major feature to V2 Plus is the Podium Image Editor which allows for a limited amount of image "post processing" right inside SketchUp and directly from OOPR.
Another feature is Preset Editor. We have also done away with web dialog boxes and are using native Windows and Mac user interface. (no more blank dialogs).
Viso3D Mac Version SketchUp plug-in Export for the iPad. We are happy to say that this is finally in an alpha phase and is working. There was not enough time to finish tests to make it available in time for this edition of What's New but we are confident it will be ready in early August for Mac users, at least in beta.
Podium Walker 64 bit is a big leap forward in terms of how large of a SketchUp model it can handle. We have tested models up to two million faces. The Windows 64 bit beta is available. This beta now can handle Podium hidden LEM lighting and fixes some other minor issues.
6. Webstore specials - Viso3D - $19.95. 25% off 2nd license of Podium and Browser
Click on the image above to link to the www.viso3d.com web page.
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Viso3D is comprised of two programs. One is a SketchUp plug-in currently for SketchUp Windows only. This plug-in converts the SketchUp model to a file that can be read on your iPad. File format is called .xcs.
The other program is an iPad viewer which will read the .xcs file and provide walk-thru navigation features. The $19.95 introduction price will end on September 1, 2013. The Mac version beta is coming in August. |
The 25% discount on your second purchase special is still in place as it has proven to be popular. If you already own one license of SU Podium or Podium Browser, get the second license of each for 25% off the list price. Buy here
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