Editing Importing Paths Into Photoshop From Sketchup

== Overview == 

The goal is to create a scene in perspective that can be traced in Photoshop using Photoshop brushes.

== Exporting artwork from Sketchup ==

=== Sketchup ===

Create some geometry. If it's necessary to come back to a specific view, create an ACT (Advanced Camera Tools) camera to preserve the view. <ref>[[One_Point_Perspective_in_SketchUp#Manipulating_the_view_on_the_scene|Manipuating ACT Cameras]] - Wiki</ref>

Best Practice: Export the scene in pieces and then import those pieces as separate layers in Illustrator to make selecting object easier.

'''Export''' > '''2D Graphic''' > '''EPS'''

=== Adobe Illustrator ===

* Open the .eps file. It may be necessary to do some cleanup.
** Remove any clipping masks by selecting the Clipping Mask in the '''Layers''' pane, then '''Object''' > '''Clipping Mask''' > '''Release'''
** Ungroup the lines by selecting their containing group in the '''Layers''' pane, then '''Object''' > '''Group''' > '''Ungroup''' (<kbd>⌘</kbd>+<kbd>⇧</kbd>+<kbd>G</kbd>)
** There may be a rectangle around the vectors. Delete that shape.
** Scale down the artwork to fit on the artboard. 
* '''TODO:''' The vector art comes in with a lot of redundancy. To create the best vector art for use in Photoshop, it would be nice to clean up the vector art in Illustrator, but it is tedious work, and if the geometry is changed in Sketchup, all that work would need to be done all over again.
* Save in Illustrator format.

== Photoshop ==

The simplest way to get the artwork into Photoshop is to copy it in Illustrator, then create a new path in the '''Paths''' pane, and paste the vectors as paths. 

To trace the vectors using a brush, select the brush, select the path in the '''Paths''' pane (or select specific vectors using the '''Direct Selection''' tool), and stroke the path.

To stroke the path, either click the '''Stroke''' icon at the bottom left of the '''Paths''' pane, or from the '''Paths''' pane hamburger menu at the upper right, select '''Stroke'''. With the latter method, a dialog will pop open with the option to '''Simulate Pressure''' which will give a more varied stroke, depending on the brush, if selected.

== External Links ==

=== See Also ===
* [https://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=329103#p329103 Workflow - best way to use Sketchup > Illustrator] - SkechUcation Forums

=== References ===
<references />

[[Category:SketchUp]][[Category:Photoshop]][[Category:Perspective]][[Category:Design]]