I have finally got some time to follow your great tutorial, Nighthawk, but have become stuck early on. I have downloaded Blender and the plugins, but can't get the 'user preferences' window to work (to allow me to add shp files). When I click on user preferences in the file menu, it just opens an empty white window. I have googled it but can't find a solution. It is Blender v2.69 that downloaded from your link. Any ideas please?

Chris

Ok, let's have a look at this. What is your operating system exactly?

Good afternoon.

I have got into user preferences another way (bottom bar) and now have a different problem. Import/export shapefiles is not on the list of addons that comes up. When I type Esri into the field, the list goes empty.

I did download the plugins in your links but I am not sure they are in the right place yet. Would this make a difference?

Chris

I have now managed to get the plugins working (ok, my knowledgable friend did it for me) and have followed your excellent tutorial to produce an STL file from the DEM. Thankyou again for figuring this out.

My next challenge is to learn how to stretch the z axis to exaggerate the mountains.

Chris

Good to hear you got it working. About your next challenge:

1. Select the DEM with right mouse button
2. Press "s" while mouse is inside viewport (s activates the Scale function)
3. Press "z" also inside viewport (limits the scaling effect to the Z axis only)
4. Move the mouse to alter the scale.
5. Instead of moving the mouse, you can also type in a number using the keyboard. For example "1.5" for 150% or "2" for 200%

If you get stuck, you can always cancel the operation using ESC button.

Nighthawk

Thanks again Nighthawk. Your advice was spot on and I have managed to adjust the scale and play with the dimensions.

My next challenge, if you're not sick of me yet, is this;

I sent the stl file of my map model to a cnc workshop who opened it in Solidworks. Apparently there is a 'facet normal problem'(stl face errors) with the file I sent and I need to 'repair' them by stitching them together. I've no idea what this means or how to do it. Is it something to do with the model not being 'watertight'?

Chris