Using Trimble Connect Visualizer
The Trimble Connect Visualizer uses the Unity graphics engine to render SketchUp models. Using the Trimble Connect Visualizer, you can navigate your rendered model, take snapshots, and even adjust the environment.
Model Navigation
Use the following keyboard or mouse shortcuts to navigate a model in Trimble Connect Visualizer.
To do this: | Use this: |
|---|---|
Zoom in or out | Scroll forward or backward with the mouse wheel. Press the W and S keys on the keyboard. |
Pan the model | Click and hold the middle mouse button and drag the model. Press the A and D keys on the keyboard to pan left and right. Press the Q and E keys on the keyboard to pan up and down. |
Rotate model | Place the cursor over the point of rotation, hold down the left mouse button, then drag the model to rotate. |
Look around | Hold down the right mouse button and drag to look around. |
Enter/Exit Full Screen | Press F11 |
Side Panel Tools
Environmental Controls
Environmental Controls contains the following options:
Adjust the skybox, or background, and its behavior. Custom skyboxes can be used but must be in a 2:1 aspect ratio.
Change the position of the sun. Use the sliders to adjust the horizontal and vertical positions, or use the lock to lock down the relationship between the sky and sun.
Adjust the visibility and position of the ground plane. Use the icons to enable or disable the ground plane, or move the slider to adjust the height.
Materials
Trimble Connect Visualizer attempts to map the materials used in a SketchUp model to the materials used in the Trimble Connect Visualizer catalog. The following options appear in the Materials interface:
Sliders to adjust the RGB values, opacity, specular level, and roughness of the material.
An option to enable or disable the material override mode.
Visual Settings
The Trimble Connect Visualizer offers a variety of options that can change the look and feel of a scene.
VR Mode
The VR Mode allows you to view your rendered model in virtual reality. VR Mode uses the OpenVR API and requires:
An OpenVR-compatible device. Please check the technical specifications of a device to make sure it is compatible with VR Mode in Trimble Connect Visualizer.
The compatible device is attached and configured correctly.
Steam and SteamVR.
After entering VR mode, you can use your keyboard and mouse, or a paired controller, to navigate your model. If using a keyboard and mouse, the controls are the same as in the regular 3D mode of the visualizer. If using a controller:
Move using the left stick.
Rotate around the global vertical axis using the right stick.
Move up and down using the left and right trigger buttons.
To run, hold down the left stick.
Snapshots
Clicking the Snapshot icon takes an instant snapshot of the current view. By default, all snapshots are saved in the following folder:
C:\Users\<username>\Pictures\TrimbleConnectVisualizer
The snapshot tool exports the current viewport in the following resolutions:
High Resolution (3840xxxxx)
Low Resolution (1920xxxxx)
Create Views and Fly Paths
A View shows the model from a specific angle. Views can also be used to create animated fly paths by setting waypoints. To create views and fly paths:
Open the Create Views interface.
Navigate the model and use + to add waypoints. Remove unwanted waypoints using X.
Use the toggle to turn off the sun animations.
Press Play to see your fly path.