5 replies to this topic

[jessz]

Is there an easy way to make extruded 3D maps (what MapInfo calls "Prism maps") in Illustrator, using its 3D feature? I need to make several US maps, with different states extruded to different heights. I've tried grouping and ungrouping the states, but I always get a mess (I want the states to still be contiguous).

[frax]

I actually wouldn't think so, since Illy doesn't know anything about topology...

[Hans van der Maarel]

On a hunch, I would suggest trying Sketchup Pro. Low-cost, easy to use and export to Illustrator.

[rudy]

On a hunch, I would suggest trying Sketchup Pro. Low-cost, easy to use and export to Illustrator.

Can you actually import Illustrator files to SketchUp? I assume it would be easier to draw your areas in Illustrator than in SketchUp.

[Hans van der Maarel]

Can you actually import Illustrator files to SketchUp? I assume it would be easier to draw your areas in Illustrator than in SketchUp.

Illustrator -> SketchUp is only possible through DXF (boo! hiss!), but I would guess the 3D capabilities of SketchUp are dramatically better than Illustrator, and it offers a PDF or AI export.

Aside from DXF, there are other ways of getting into and out of SketchUp that might be worthwile:
Interoperability diagrams

[Dennis McClendon]

My limited experiments with Illustrator-->Sketchup were disappointing. I had no trouble with the import, but in Sketchup my rectangles (building footprints) didn't stay polygons. They became four line segments instead.