[Willesa]

We really need more options for tile layouts as well as a disappearing effect when we place tiles over openings (like windows). It’s really, really time consuming having to do even a simple subway pattern using the editable wall tiles. Using the surface tool only goes so far as most often we have to photoshop our images before we can even add them to the surface.

I think it would be a great idea if we could use the surface tool, click all of our points and then add whatever we want. Like set it up with options, when the surface is made, have options to choose from like brick layout, herringbone layout, hexagon patterns, chevron, etc., import the tile picture and have it positioned in the correct direction with the correct dimensions and with grout joints. There just has to be an easier way to make tile look nice and in the position it’s meant to be in. It would be so helpful for us, our customers and our contractors. Right now I have to two step all of my tile layouts. I throw tile in 2020 and I have to tell my customer “it’s not going to look this bad in real life” then I use CAD to show the actual layout. Having used other programs in the past (CAD, Revit, 3ds Max, etc), 2020 is by far the most difficult to make certain things look as realistic as possible. You add all these weird features to the rendering options (like making your drawing look like a cartoon) but we can’t even make a herringbone tile pattern. It’s kind of absurd.

 

I know someone out there is smart enough to figure out a better way to add tile, please do it.

 

[Kristopher Papaleo]

Hi Willesa,

Click HERE to check out the article we have to demonstrate how to draw a surface around a window.

Click HERE to check out the article we have on how to import textures to Design. When importing images, make sure to get a Seamless Texture (something that will make sense when being tiled over). There is a website I know of -3djungle.net- you can visit to download some seamless textures. Simply visit the website, create a free account and download any of the textures available there. Then you can use the article to import it to the program.

Hope this helps you out!

Kris

[Willesa]

That’s not helpful at all. Because our tile manufactures do not have great pictures of their tile being “seamless”. I’ve already attended 2020 training and I’ve learned all of that. I know how to draw a surface around a window, it doesn’t mean the rendering won’t look bad.

 

One example is that most of the time we only have access to 1 picture of the tile I want to use. So If I want a “subway” pattern, I have to photoshop the single image I have into a pattern and import it into my textures, but the sizing gets very distorted.

 

My point is that to get the tile to look even close to what the end result will be it is VERY time consuming and never looks good. About 90% of the time I cannot find a good enough picture of tile to use in my designs (of the ACTUAL tile we will be using in the customer’s home). There are so many shapes and patterns and all 2020 does is chop up images that you put into your drawing.

 

I’m attaching a couple of pictures for reference. There are NO options within 2020 as it is right now to make this easier. This needs to be addressed. When you have customer’s spending 200K on a project and you can’t show them a close rendition of their space it makes us look like we don’t know what we’re doing. FYI, it’s not even just tile that gets all messed up. See my example of the artwork too.

 

 

As for the examples below, it took me so long to get the hex tile to look as good as it does in the drawing. As you can see, I used the surface around the wall cutout, that is not a problem. The issue is how awful it looks and how time consuming it is. We can’t ONLY use 2020, we are forced to use other programs as well. We pay thousands of dollars a year for 2020, I shouldn’t HAVE to pay for photoshop too. If CAD can do it, 2020 can do it. My customer immediately saw the tile in the picture and just said “Well I sure hope it’s installed better than how it looks in your drawing”.

 

I feel like 2020 LIMITS our creativity.

Attachments:

1. Example-2..pdf
2. Example-1..pdf

[Erik Tornquist]

I can certainly sympathize with your frustration. The subway style tiles are fairly laughable, best I’ve found within the 2020 catalog is a white brick. As you can imagine, the textures/reflections are off.  The WORST is dealing with exterior backgrounds (trees, landscapes, etc…). It’s always a lousy tiling situation, even importing images. The image should automatically adjust it’s self to the window size or something like that. I don’t know. And the lack of varying floor tile is disappointing. It’s mostly a lot of out-of-date tile.

With that Said, the SketchupTextureClub is fantastic! They have alot of varying textures/materials/backgrounds/etc… I’m always importing and creating textures from them. You can be a member or get the free stuff- which there is plenty of.
Sometimes MSI or other tile companies will have tile images you can grab and import that work well.

[Kristopher Papaleo]

Hi Willesa and Erik,

I’m going to add this to our Wish list and hopefully we will get to see more textures and materials added to the programs library!

Regards,

Kris

[Erik Tornquist]

You’re the best.