SketchUp

Infobox Software
name = SketchUp



caption = A screenshot of Google Sketchup in Windows Vista which demonstrates its modeling abilities.
developer = Google (previously @Last Software)
owner = Google
released = August 2000
latest release version = 6.4.112 (Windows) / 6.4.120 (Mac OS X)
latest release date = December 14 2007
operating system = MS Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Apple Mac OS X (10.4-10.5) (Universal Binary)
language = English, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Spanish
genre = 3D computer graphics
license = Freeware/Proprietary
website = [http://www.sketchup.com/ www.sketchup.com]

SketchUp is a 3D modeling program designed for architects, civil engineers, filmmakers, game developers, and related professions. It also includes features to facilitate the placement of models in Google Earth. It was designed to be more intuitive, flexible, and easier to use than other 3D CAD programs. [Google. [http://sketchup.google.com/product/features.html What makes SketchUp great] ]

It is marketed as an easy-to-use conceptual tool with a simple interface. A well known feature in the SketchUp World is the 3D Warehouse. Users can use their Google Accounts to upload models, and then browse the 3D Warehouse for many components and models.

Some of its key features and uses include:
*A "smart" drawing cursor (inference) system that allows users to draw 3D objects using a 2D screen and mouse.
*Simple massing study capability via "push-pull".
*"Follow Me," which creates 3D forms by extruding 2D surfaces along predetermined paths.
*Ability to animate camera and sun movements.
*Interoperability with Google Earth.

History

SketchUp was developed by startup company @Last Software, Boulder, Colorado which was formed in 1999. [ [http://www.sketchup.com/?id=3] ] SketchUp was first released in August 2000 [ [http://www.sketchup.com/?id=4&recordid=3] ] as a general purpose 3D content creation tool. It won a Community Choice Award at its first tradeshow in 2000. [ [http://www.digitalcad.com/Htm/Articles/2000/11_00b/digicad.htm A/E/C SYSTEMS Fall 2000] ] [ [http://www.sketchup.com/?id=4&recordid=1] ] It quickly found a market in architecture and building design industries and was revised to suit the needs of working professionals. The key to its early success was in its fast learning curve, allowing for a shorter learning period than other commercially available 3D tools.

As of "SketchUp 5", features were added to allow the user to extrude and widen as well as the ability for a face to "follow" the cursor around an object.

On March 14 2006, Google acquired @Last Software, [ [http://www.sketchup.com/index.php?id=7&recordid=109 SketchUpdate ] ] attracted by their plugin for Google Earth.

On January 9 2007, "SketchUp 6" was released, featuring a handful of new tools as well as a beta version of "Google SketchUp LayOut". LayOut includes a handful of 2D vector tools, as well as page layout tools making it easier for professionals to create presentations without jumping to a third-party presentation program.

On February 9 2007, a maintenance update was released. It corrects a number of bugs, but brings no new features.

Tools

Some basic tools used in SketchUp are:

Drawing tools

*LineThis is used to draw a regular straight line.
*ArcThis tool can create an arc from two points and a drag.
*FreehandThis allows the user to scribble and create a freehand figure.
*CircleThe user can make circles by clicking a point and dragging out the radius.
*PolygonPolygons are constructed in much the same way as circles; they are clicked and dragged.
*RectangleThis tool is used to make rectangles, by clicking and dragging to adjust the length and width.
*Follow meThis tool makes a polygon be extruded along a set path.
*3D TextThis tool allows the user to create 3D text, with customizable fonts, sizes, and formatting.

Editing tools

*Push/pullThe push/pull is a tool that grabs a two-dimensional surface and pushes or pulls it into three dimensions. This, Google claims in the tutorial, is the main idea of Google SketchUp. U.S. patent #6,628,279 is a patent for this technology.
*RotateA protractor is used to angle selected geometrical pieces.
*MoveThe user's mouse can select and move pieces on the three different axes or on some combination of the three.
*LinkOther useful tools can be found at SketchUp's [http://www.suwiki.org/suwiki/index.php?title=
] .

Patents

SketchUp holds a PatentUS patent|6628279 on its [http://www.suwiki.org/suwiki/index.php?title=Push/Pull Push/Pull] technology:

"System and method for three-dimensional modeling: A three-dimensional design and modeling environment allows users to draw the outlines, or perimeters, of objects in a two-dimensional manner, similar to pencil and paper, already familiar to them. The two-dimensional, planar faces created by a user can then be pushed and pulled by editing tools within the environment to easily and intuitively model three-dimensional volumes and geometries."

The patent was applied for in November 2000, and awarded in September 2003(US patent|6628279).

Google SketchUp

On April 27 2006, Google announced Google SketchUp, a freely-downloadable version of SketchUp. The free version is not as capable as SketchUp Pro 6, but it includes integrated tools for uploading content to Google Earth and to the Google 3D Warehouse, a repository of models created in SketchUp.

The free version of Google Sketchup exports to a number of 3D formats, including Google Earth .kmz files, while the Pro version extends support to include .3ds, .dwg, .dxf, .fbx, .obj, .xsi, and .wrl file formats. Google SketchUp can also save "screenshots" of the model as .bmp, .png, .jpg, .tif, with the Pro version also supporting .pdf, .eps, .epx, .dwg, and .dxf.

Ruby Application Programming Interface (API)

Ruby is a scripting language whose use in SketchUp was first introduced in SketchUp 4. Since its introduction SketchUp users have shown their creativity by creating hundreds of useful tools using SketchUp Ruby.

There is a [http://www.suwiki.org/suwiki/index.php?title=Hello_World%21 Hello World Tutorial] for Google SketchUp about creating dialog boxes.

User community

3D Warehouse

The 3D Warehouse is a website where modelers can upload their models and have them rated and reviewed. You can also download models from there to use in projects such as taps and sinks to cars and trains. The Warehouse is used primarily for cataloging Google Earth models but in recent months, a community of modelers has developed. There are now not only models for household items and buildings, but sci-fi objects and competitions held by users.

Gallery

SketchUp users can share their work for free in the [http://sketchup.google.com/community/gallery.html Gallery] on the [http://www.sketchup.com/ SketchUp official website] . This gives a place where users can share their work in many fields including Architecture, Construction, Education K-12, Game Development, GIS, Graphic Art, Higher Education, Industrial Design / Furniture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Mechanical Design.

ketchUcation

[http://www.sketchucation.com/ SketchUcation] is a gateway to the SketchUp Community. Information on worldwide training locations, Training CDs & DVDs and online training. But also tutorials on the User Interface of SketchUp such as the Tools and Menus as well as a growing number of function-specific tutorial videos or how to model objects. There is also a Blog and a Forum. Coming in the Fall of 2007 is a Game Development subsite. Other sections such as SketchUp add-ons and tutorials on the Panels and VCB will be added soon.

The SketchUp Components Collection

The [http://scc.jazzle.co.uk SketchUp Components Collection] is a moderated collection of SketchUp Components, currently focused on those useful in planning PC modding projects.

ketchUpModels.com

[http://www.sketchupmodels.com/ SketchUpModels.com] provides a marketplace for people from around the world to earn income from the sale of their 3D models. Every time a 3D model is sold on SketchUpModels.com 50% of the profits go to the user who built the model. 3D models are resold over and over without any additional work, giving the user who built the model an endless possibility for earnings with every model they post on the site.

uWiki

[http://suwiki.org/ SuWiki] is a Wiki encyclopedia for SketchUp users. It provides an open environment for SketchUp users to find, and contribute to article and tutorials on the use of SketchUp.

chool - SketchUp Educational Community

[http://go-2-school.com/ School] is a web community for SketchUp users centered around four main offerings: 1) [http://go-2-school.com/live/ Live Training Classes] for SketchUp and Google Earth, 2) [http://go-2-school.com/podcasts/ The Sketchup Show podcast] - free weekly SketchUp video tutorials, 3) School Series: SketchUp Level 1 & Level 2 [http://go-2-school.com/training/ Training DVDs] - beginning and intermediate level training DVDs, and 4) [http://go-2-school.com/forums/ Forums] - SketchUp user discussion boards.

ketchup In Education

Sketchup is being used in both [http://sketchup.google.com/customers/edu/primary.html K-12 Education] programs, as well as [http://sketchup.google.com/customers/edu/tertiary.html Higher Education] programs. Educators who teach Sketchup in the classroom can apply for a free [http://sketchup.google.com/customers/edu/educatorapp.html Pro Educator License] , as well as a discounted [http://download.sketchup.com/downloads/education/EDU_Network_Lab_form_1107.pdf Network Lab License] .

Forums

Many users also share their ideas and knowledge about SketchUp and other modeling programs in:
* [http://groups.google.com/group/SketchUp/topics SketchUp Google Group Forum] , and
* [http://www.sketchucation.com/community/forums/suc/ SketchUp Community Forum] .

Plugins

*SketchUp maintains a web site of [http://sketchup.google.com/download/plugins.html plugins] for SketchUp. Both 3rd party plugins and plugins developed by SketchUp.
* [http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibraryDepot/Ruby/RUBY_Library_Depot.htm Ruby Library Depot]

Other Add-ons

* [http://www.idx-design.com/ IDX-Renditioner] Photo Realistic Rendering Plugin for SketchUp PC and SketchUp Mac
* [http://www.suplugins.com/ SU Podium] Photo Realistic Rendering Plugin for SketchUp PC and Mac
* [http://www.vray.us/vray_for_sketchup.shtml VRay for SketchUp] Photo Realistic Rendering Plugin for SketchUp PC only
* [http://forums.renderplus.com/wiki/index.php?title=IRender IRender] Integrated Ray Trace Renderer for SketchUp using the AccuRender engine.
* [http://www.renderplus.com/pdf/pdf_product.htm RPS 3D PDF] for interactive 3D PDF documents.
* [http://forums.renderplus.com/wiki/index.php?title=RpReports RpReports] — for assigning attributes and reporting on components.
* [http://edrawings.geometricglobal.com/Downloads/eDrawings+for+SketchUp/index.aspx eDrawings] Share, markup, measure & review your SketchUp designs in self executable (*.exe) and HTML formats.
* [http://www.indigorenderer.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=38&Itemid=62 SkIndigo] Exporter for rendering of Sketchup files in Indigo.
* [http://www.3dpaintbrush.com/content/sketchup.aspx 3DPaintBrush] Create near photo-realistic images & animations from your SketchUp, 3DS, STEP/IGES/OBJ and DWG/DXF 3d models.

ketchUp 3D Challenge

In July 2007, the SketchUp user community created a new design for the [http://sketchup3dchallenge.blogspot.com/ 3D Challenge] , a popular modeling competition that had been held in SketchUp forums in the past. Competitions are weekly, open to anyone, and their subjects range from chess sets to space ships. The 3D Warehouse's capabilities have been tapped to create an uploading and tagging system for entries, and judging is performed using a community voting system, where anyone can vote.

Notes

ee also

*Google

External links

;Official:
* [http://www.sketchup.com/ SketchUp Homepage]
* [http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/ Google 3D Warehouse]
* [http://sketchup.google.com/vtutorials.html SketchUp Video Tutorials]
* [http://groups.google.com/group/SketchUp SketchUp Google Group] , includes forums.;Third-party:
* [http://sketchupgraphics.com The Sketchup Graphics Blog]
* [http://www.suwiki.org The SketchUp Wiki] ;Spam:
* [http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/ SketchUp Community Forums]
* [http://scc.jazzle.co.uk/ The SketchUp Components Collection]
* [http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/productCd-0470137444.html "SketchUp For Dummies"]
* [http://sketchupmovietrivia.blogspot.com/ SketchUp Movie Trivia]
* [http://www.sharphue.com/edu] SketchUp lesson plans