Synopses & Reviews
You can quickly and easily model in 3D! Get going with SketchUp 8 so you can start creating today
Where do you want your imagination to take you? SketchUp will help you get there. This powerful software lets you easily create 3D models, and Chopra shows you how. In no time, you'll build 3D settings, add textures, create animated walkthroughs, export your models into Google Earth, and more. There's no limit to what you'll be able to do!
Get to know your components create SketchUp components to simplify your life as you design 3D models
Keep your geometry organized learn how to use the twomain tools to organize your model and work cleanly
Build a model from scratch import a photo and build whatyou see by tracing with SketchUp's modeling tools
Whip up some style discover how and where to apply styles, then add shadows for a more realistic look
Show off your models from walking around a building tosetting up scenes with different camera views, find out howto best present your work
Open the book and find:
What you should and shouldn't expect SketchUp to do
All about establishing the modeling mindset
Steps for using components to build smarter models
How to model with photographs
Methods for working with styles and shadows
Techniques for geo-modeling for Google Earth
Tips on exporting images and animations
How to stay organized with layers and pages
Visit the companion Web site at www.dummies.com/go/sketchup8fd for a bonus chapter and videos demonstrating more of what you can do with Google SketchUp!
Learn to:
Harness the power of the latest SketchUp and SketchUp Pro features
Produce professional-quality 3D models and designs
Develop compelling presentations to showcase your work
Export models to Google Earth and print and share your designs
Synopsis
Go 3D with Google's exciting architectural design software for Mac and WindowsWhether you need to learn 3D modeling for business or you're just eager to see what you can create, Google SketchUp and Google SketchUp 8 For Dummies are for you. Available in both a free hobbyist version and a full-featured professional version, SketchUp explodes the myth that 3D modeling software must be complicated to learn and use. This book will take you step by step through downloading and using both versions on both Mac and Windows. There are even video walkthroughs on the companion Web site.
- Google's exciting 3D modeling software offers hobbyists as well as architects, engineers, and industrial designers a less complicated tool for architectural rendering, urban planning, set design, game design, and other uses
- This guide explains both the free and professional versions for both Windows and Mac
- Covers the basic concepts of 3D modeling and how to build a 3D model, print or share your work online, export your drawing to another design package or Google Earth, and create a detailed set of plans
- Companion Web site features video walkthroughs
Google SketchUp 8 For Dummies gets you up and running with 3D modeling quickly and easily.
About the Author
Aidan Chopra is the product evangelist for SketchUp at Google. He writes and edits SketchUpdate, a popular e-newsletter and blog that reaches hundreds of thousands of SketchUp users worldwide.
Table of Contents
Introduction.Part I: Getting Started with SketchUp.
Chapter 1: Meeting Google SketchUp.
Chapter 2: Establishing the Modeling Mind-Set.
Chapter 3: Getting Off to a Running Start.
Part II: Modeling in SketchUp.
Chapter 4: Building Buildings.
Chapter 5: Falling in Love with Components.
Chapter 6: Going Beyond Buildings.
Chapter 7: Keeping Your Model Organized.
Chapter 8: Modeling with Photographs.
Part III: Viewing Your Model in Different Ways.
Chapter 9: Working with Styles and Shadows. Chapter 10: Presenting Your Model Inside SketchUp.
Part IV: Sharing What You’ve Made.
Chapter 11: Working with Google Earth and the 3D Warehouse.
Chapter 12: Printing Your Work.
Chapter 13: Exporting Images and Animations.
Chapter 14: Creating Presentation Documents with LayOut.
Chapter 15: Diving Deeper into LayOut.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 16: Ten SketchUp Traps and Their Workarounds.
Chapter 17: Ten Plugins, Extensions, and Resources Worth Getting.
Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Discover Even More.
Index.
Bonus Chapter 1: Exporting to CAD, Illustration, and Other Modeling Software.
Bonus Chapter 2: Building Your Own Dynamic Components.