Print at Dec 21, 2025, 8:37:16 PM View all posts in this thread on one page
Posted by 2trickpony at Feb 14, 2011, 8:22:47 PM
Solar modules on roof
Hi guys

I am trying to render my building that has many solar modules on the roof.
For some reason only a few of the modules are actually rendered correctly and the rest appear to be partly missing. I have played around with the elevation of the modules and also grouped/ungrouped them but with no luck.
The solar modules are on the roof of a building I created and then copied as new furniture, if that helps.

I can email design if required.

Cheers

Posted by 2trickpony at Feb 14, 2011, 8:35:32 PM
Re: Solar modules on roof
I thought it best to include the image to let you guys see the problem.

Cheers



Posted by hansmex at Feb 14, 2011, 9:13:37 PM
Re: Solar modules on roof
Stuart,

This is a well-known problem, caused by the SunFlow render engine. Every surface has two sides, the visible frontside, and the invisible backside. The problem occurs when a texture is only applied to the frontside. SunFlow can't decide which side is the good side, and starts messing things up. This problem occurs frequently with DAE models imported from the Sketchup Warehouse.

For Sketchup models there are two solutions that I know of:
1 - within Sketchup apply textures on both faces, i.e. front and back
2 - install and use a Sketchup plug-in called FrontFace (link).

Hans
----------------------------------------
Hans

new website - under constuction
hansdirkse.info

Posted by 2trickpony at Feb 14, 2011, 10:14:02 PM
Re: Solar modules on roof
Thanks Hans

I used the Frontface plug-in with Sketchup and it worked a dream.

Thanks again

Stuart

Posted by Puybaret at Feb 14, 2011, 10:25:30 PM
Re: Solar modules on roof
Very nice design. I would be pleased to see the fixed version. smile
----------------------------------------
Emmanuel Puybaret, Sweet Home 3D creator

Posted by 2trickpony at Feb 15, 2011, 4:54:54 PM
Re: Solar modules on roof
No problem Emmanuel, here you are:
The sides of the building are supposed to be grey but for some reason they are rendered in cream, any ideas?



Posted by Puybaret at Feb 15, 2011, 5:09:08 PM
Re: Solar modules on roof
You get this color because the sun must below in the sky, and the color of the sun light depends on its location in the sky. Choose a day in the summer and you'll get grey walls.
----------------------------------------
Emmanuel Puybaret, Sweet Home 3D creator

Posted by 2trickpony at Feb 15, 2011, 8:46:16 PM
Re: Solar modules on roof
Brilliant, thanks Emmanuel.

Posted by WriterBLAlley at Nov 4, 2014, 3:13:26 AM
Re: Solar modules on roof
How does that plugin work? All I can get it to do is turn a colored face white.

Posted by okh at Nov 4, 2014, 7:31:16 AM
Re: Solar modules on roof
If you are referring to the Frontface plug-in, I am not sure you really need it. In Sketchup:
- Select surfaces by material (Materials window or right click).
- Use Entity Info window to apply material to both sides.
(you may need to explode or treat components/groups individually).
ok