Skatter

Skatter is a cool SketchUp extension that can really help you speed things up when you're rendering lots of objects. If you've ever felt bogged down by too many items in your model, this tool is for you!

Choosing the Right Host

The first step is to pick your host, which means deciding where you want to add new objects. You can place them on flat surfaces, along curves, or even at specific points in your model. It’s super flexible!

Avoiding Certain Areas

You can also mark areas where you don’t want to scatter objects. If needed, you can even draw these spots yourself! This way, you have full control over what gets filled and what stays empty.

Selecting Your Objects

Next up is picking the object to scatter. You can either multiply an existing object from your model or load something new from the library. It’s like having a whole toolbox at your fingertips!

Defining Distribution Types

To get the look just right, you can define how the objects are spread out. Choose from options like grid, random, or uniform distributions. There are plenty of ways to make it just how you want it!

Tweaking Density and Altitude

You can adjust the density (that’s how many items fit in a space), as well as altitude and slope ranges. Want more trees on a hill? No problem! You’ve got those tools right here.

Smooth Transitions

If you want to avoid harsh cutoffs between different areas, Skatter lets you tweak falloff parameters like altitude and slope. This ensures everything blends together nicely.

Randomizing Placement

You can even randomize placements with features like rotation and scaling to break up any patterns that might look odd. Nobody wants their scene looking too repetitive!

Efficient Scattering Techniques

This extension helps ensure that only visible objects are scattered or those close enough to be seen by the camera. This is super handy when dealing with tons of scattered items.

Your Productivity Booster!

If you're looking to be more efficient and productive when scattering large numbers of items in SketchUp, check out Skatter here!