IDA5D

BIG (Blender, Inkscape, Gimp)

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Modelling Seminaarinmäki buildings with Inkscape and Blender

by Saana Tammisto & Ari Häyrinen

We use Inkscape (www.inkscape.org) and Blender (blender.org) for modelling our targets. The process is following: Floor plans and cross-sections are scanned and the floor plans are re-drawn in Inkscape. The plain SVG file is then imported to Blender and the rest is modelled in Blender. The scanned cross-sections are used as reference images inside Blender.

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How to draw the floor plan in Inkscape?

After opening a new document, import your scanned floor plan (.jpg or other picture format) to Inkscape.
File -> Import or Ctrl+I.

Select the picture you want to import.

The floor plan is now on "Layer 1". Add a new layer for your drawing.
Layer -> Add layer.

Name the layer. :)

Select the new layer.

Select Rectangle Tool (F4) from the tool box and draw the edges..

..rectangle by rectangle.

In case the rectangles you draw have color filling :) open Fill and Stroke dialog box (Shift+Ctrl+F) and select Fill -> No Paint.

After you have outlined the building (outer edge and rooms), select all (Ctrl+A) the rectangles and..

convert them to Paths.
Path -> Object to Path or Shift+Ctrl+C.
Later, convert all drawn objects (rectangles) to paths.

Select (Shift allows you to select many Paths) all the "rooms" with Select Tool (F1) and Combine their Paths.
Path -> Combine or Ctrl+K.

If you need to break apart the combined paths press Shift+Ctrl+K.

Select the Node Tool (F2) and open Align and Distribute menu (Shift+Ctrl+A).

Select all the nodes, you wish to align and use the horizontal and vertical Align buttons.

Draw the doorways with Rectangle Tool (F2). (Don't forget to convert them to Paths! Shift+Ctrl+C)

NB: Don't draw the front door (or window openings) - the outer edge must be solid!!

Select the "rooms" and "doorway" with Select Tool (F1). Choose Union from boolean operations.
Path -> Union or Ctrl++.

You might also need other boolean operations.

Don' forget to Save your drawing! Ctrl+S!

Use the Inkscape SVG to save the floor plan and the drawing.

After saving your work in Inkscape SVG format, select Layer 1 (the lower layer, where the floor plan picture is located).

Delete Layer 1. Your drawing will (or should) remain on the new layer you have earlier created and named.

Now select File -> Save As and save the drawing using Plain SVG (and a slightly different file name!).

When you are closing the document (and Inkscape), select the Close without saving from the opening dialog box.

Now the floor plan is ready and you can open Blender and continue reading these most comprehensible instructions.. :)

Next: Importing the Plain SVG file to Blender