I was farting around online this afternoon and playing around with a home design program I have when I was directed to google’s new Sketchup . It’s a very easy to use design/play-around/design program that allows you to build anything you want with the help of extremely easy to use controls, and then add things to it to make it look real… sort of like rendering a 3D drawing program to look like a picture.
The models you make are either 2D or 3D and look really cool when done. So if you are planning a new addition to your house, or want to build a new home all together, or want to make a seriously cool tree-fort then this is your program. (of course, I am partial to the tree houses )
I have the full program–it is way cool. Actually it wasn’t originally a google program–they must have bought it. If I remember @lastsoftware developed it.
I have seen dozens of these 3D programs–but they all had serious limitations and I have to admit I have been very impressed by this one.
I recall at the last AIA convention I was at (where I bought my version) and the booth had all these Architects sitting around throwing various scenarios at the drafter–and damn if he didn’t draw quickly each thing they threw at him. So I decided to try it and it was so simple and straightforward to use.
My daughter who was 9 at the time picked it up in no time–so that also really impressed me. I think it will help people visualize things quickly
I agree with everyone… And there goes my free time as well. I’m interested to see what the true applications are… I’m learning Autocad right now, and and very psyched to see what this can do.
I guess this has been out for a little while. Glad I just discovered it
well you know you can import an autocad file into it and use it as a base to draw from? In my opinion SketchUp isn’t very good for a floorplan study per se–but it is a great too to study forms and massing.
I have imported floor plans and then used that as a background to extrude the form and that works well–not perfect, but well.
also you can use google earth in it as well—I have never done that myself–but a young Architect in my office did and it was pretty impressive
Agreed with everyone else. It’s a fun little widget, and although I don’t have any plans for it right this moment, I can see how it can come up useful.
Thanks for the link (although I’m pretty sure people will be asking me to make drawings for them long after the novelty has worn off for me).
Of course, as I read the index page and saw this:
“In keeping with our **‘3D for Everyone’ **mission…”
-and started to hum the tune to the “VD is for Everybody” PSA from years ago. (yes, it’s on YouTube.)
It’s occasionally used around the office, and some seem to like it. Myself, I prefer to work directly in 3DSMax, 'cause I’ve been using it so long that I can basically “sketch” in it.
I did play around with Sketchup for a while, though. I kinda liked it, but I could never figure out how to make a sphere…
I want to second this - has anybody figured it out? I know it’s possible because I found models from the 3-D warehouse that have (semi)-spheres in them and I want to make a dome. But I can’t find anything in the help that describes how to do it.
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