I'm trying to create props in Sketch Up and bring them into Poser. When I bring them in, the textures do not look good. If I try to texture map them in Poser, I get only a single color from the texture map. I have looked around and it seems that the problem is the UV map, but I have not found a solution. Any advice? Thanks-

Dont know sketch up, havent tried it much, but have you created a UV map for it in there?

If not i can recommend HeadusUVlayout even though its a bit expensive (200$ hobbist), I think its worth it. Once you have gotten used to it, its a really good tool for making uv maps in i think.

Here is a demonstration its a bit long but it will show it quite well.  

Demonstration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkk8GoQ7g6A

Headus website:

https://www.uvlayout.com/

Blender does it all, for free.

if you export sketchup as wavefront.obj, it should come with mtl file, which is read by basic poser 4 shader system.  diffuse colour should refer to img file, e.g. texture.jpg.  use deep search in poser.  if it fails, re-assign mtls in free UVMapper.

I've gotta agree with vilters; Blender is brilliant and free ( http://www.blender.org/ ) and there are a billion (yes, I actually counted them) free tutorials available.  Youtube has 731,896...no make that 731,904 videos.  I struggled with Sketchup for many months before moving to Blender.  You might also find this blog of use ( https://blendertodaz.wordpress.com/ ).  Read the comment under 'On Hiatus'.  It details the Blender to Poser workflow.

Wow! You guys are all so helpful. I'm learning Blender now. Thanks!

A question for the OP... How did you overcome the geometry distortion that occurs when trying to use exported SketchUp models in Poser?  I've tried exporting as a obj frome SketchUp Make and the SimLab OBJ exporter plugin many times. Sometimes it works and sometimes I get crazy distortons in the geometry. From what I've been able to find out, the problem has to do with the way SketchUp builds the geometry and arranges the normals. 

I can get better results using AutoDesk's free FBX exporter. But in a lot of cases I  have to fix normals and distortions in my ancient copy of Cinema 4D or ZBrush 4 R6 ( for some just opening the OBJ in Z Brush fixes the mesh. I'm still a super noob in that program so I have no clue how it works).

The reason I persist with SketchUp is the large selection of free models on 3D Warehouse.  Otherwise I would have given up a long time ago.

As for Blender.. I've tried repeatedly to learn it over the years, but the program and my brain just can't work together.  It's a shame because it looks like a  great program and you sure can't beat the price!

What do you mean by "crazy distortons in the geometry"? Do you mean actual distortion or just shading anomalies?

A well-made sketchup model will import into poser just fine. Sketchup's biggest strength is also its biggest problem: SketchUp is so easy to use that you don't need to know anything about modelling, anyone who can click a mouse can start modelling something that looks ok on screen. It is also extremely forgiving of sloppy geometry. Unfortunately this means that a lot of the models out there were thrown together by clueless people.

Good luck finding a well-made sketchup model in 3D warehouse, the only ones I have come across there were pirated from pay-sites like Formfonts. The main thing to check for is inside-out surfaces, a lot of users just make both sides the same color so it "doesn't matter" which way the normals face - until you want to use the model in another application. Another common problem is internal polygons which divide the model into compartments, they cause headaches with smoothing and subdivision.

I had no problems with the geomotry, just the texture maps. I was able to mostly fix the problem by using the UV Toolkit in Sketch Up and expoeting as a .3ds file. Then my trial ran out and I could no longer export in .3ds or .obj formats, unless I paid them $590.00.

So now it's on to Blender.

Quote - The reason I persist with SketchUp is the large selection of free models on 3D Warehouse.  Otherwise I would have given up a long time ago.

As for Blender.. I've tried repeatedly to learn it over the years, but the program and my brain just can't work together.  It's a shame because it looks like a  great program and you sure can't beat the price!

I have to admit that I also use sketchup on occassion for the same reason.  There must at least eleventeen billion free models available. I only use it to export (as best as possible) to obj format.

Blender was ridiculously idiotic to learn but since the 2.5 release it's now (mostly) human usable.  Because of this the user base has exploded.  There's still some sore points but it's definately hit the big time.  

Quote - What do you mean by "crazy distortons in the geometry"? Do you mean actual distortion or just shading anomalies?

Thanks for the reply.. I get anything from shading distortons to holes in the mesh or odd welding of parts of the model.  It's also happened when I've tried to export something as simple as a wall with a door opening that I made myself.   I checked the normals in C4D and they were ok. Yet it still came into Poser with shading artifacts and a partially closed door opening ( a triangular poly inserted across the door opening).

Quote - I had no problems with the geomotry, just the texture maps. I was able to mostly fix the problem by using the UV Toolkit in Sketch Up and expoeting as a .3ds file. Then my trial ran out and I could no longer export in .3ds or .obj formats, unless I paid them $590.00.

So now it's on to Blender.

I didn't want to pay them either or get locked into their subscription plan. That's why I went with the separate obj exporter plug in for the free version.  Even so I still had some "issues" when using the trial version of Pro.  So there has to be something I'm doing wrong. 

Another reason for trying SketchUp was to find a possible replacement for the time when my old copy of C4D stops working. I can't justify the expense of upgrading anymore and SketchUp looked like it might be an easy way to make architectural elements for my scenes.

Now that Silo's finally been updated I might give that a go.  I didn't want to spend the time to learn a "dead" program, but it looks like there's new life in it now. And from what I've read it seems to "play nice" with Poser.

Quote - Blender was ridiculously idiotic to learn but since the 2.5 release it's now (mostly) human usable.  Because of this the user base has exploded.  There's still some sore points but it's definately hit the big time.  

I agree. Blender has gotten a lot better and I do try again each time there is a new release. Unfortunately I soon get frustrated with the interface and navagation and quit before even making a model.

I used to model, and build morphs for Poser figures in a golden odly "anim8or".
This Golden oldy took ages to get anything done.

Then I went to Hexagon, when Hexagon was free from DAZ.
That worked pretty good but had the bad habbit of crashing a fot leading to some major frustrations.

Then I discovered Blender.

I only use Blender to build clothing for Poser figures, (works like a charm), and to build morphs for, and to sculpt the Poser figures.

So? i only use a small part of Blender.

But, man, oh man, Blender and Poser are a combination from heaven.

The sculpting tools are what I had always been looking for, the morph building is as easy as they come, the UV mapping does exactly what is required.

Still discovering things, but my personal workflow has become so fluent, that I never looked back.

Quote - But, man, oh man, Blender and Poser are a combination from heaven.

The sculpting tools are what I had always been looking for, the morph building is as easy as they come, the UV mapping does exactly what is required.

I had a vicious battle with the skulpting tools before beating them into submission.  Surprisingly I found that the retopology tools where stupid-easy and worked the way one would want them too.  I bought a small tool for retopo that didn't work too well but don't mind supporting the community. 

Quote -
But, man, oh man, Blender and Poser are a combination from heaven.

Which makes me even MORE frustrated that my brain can't get around it.  You'd think I could seeing how I have a doctorate in a science related field. But some things like doing my taxes-and Blender just are beyond me! :cursing: :crying: :lol:

@ mjmdvm : Or any other end user:

If you have a Poser-Blender-Poser workflow issue, please feel free to contact me with the details.
tony-cross-1959@hotmail.be

I have figured out the UV Mapping, now I'm trying to export objects from Blender into Poser with their textures. Exporting as .obj gives me an .mtl file as well. Do I reattach them in Poser? If so, how?

Thanks for your help.

oy vilters anim8or aint so bad if you have narcolepsy ;-) lol to be honest I'd recomend it for a total newbie, solid stable but oh so basic

I did much the same route as you (keep meaning to go back to look at wings, had a lot of work done on it)

did you hate the "trials" think you got it rush home switch on an damn thing has run out ;-(

 @OP make sure the mtl and the obj are in same folder, thats it

ps IF you want to export from poser back to blender (to make morphs or changes)

on import obj click Keep Vert Order then tick the poly groups box

I know blender can be a bit WTH but if you get it you wish EVERYTHING else worked the same way ;-)

have fun