Often I get clients wanting to send me either a Revit model or a SketchUp model, and they assume the process can be fast-tracked with the 3D model being provided. Revit and SketchUp software are great for what they are, but for me, they both propose issues. The Revit model and the SketchUp have double faces and flipped normals, which are detrimental to me. Double faces are elements occupying the same space, like walls on top of walls; flipped normals are when the geometry points the wrong way. Rendering software tries to optimize and only sees the element toward the normal; when flipped, the software can’t see it correctly. So, if you draw a wall in Revit or Sketchup counterclockwise, the normals will face in when you need it facing out unless it is an interior wall. Revit and SketchUp don’t care, but rendering engines do.
Revit models have a ton of unneeded information, and the Revit model is often part 3D and part 2D (drafted with 2D lines), making it challenging to understand.
SketchUp has a low learning curve, so very little training is needed. However, minimal training means the model is usually sloppy. Again, for its purpose, SketchUp is great; for quick design intent models.
The Caccavo model came to me as a SketchUp model. Regarding this SketchUp model, it was modeled well. Still, it took me about a day to fix the flipped normals, delete the double geometry, and replace low-resolution geometry with high-resolution geometry. If I had started with a 2D drawing, it would have taken me about the same time.
What a great-looking house! I have said many times I love brick! White brick and black windows are my new favorite.
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