An Introduction to Google SketchUp

SketchUp is a tool much used by architects and other design professionals because it can enable clients to better understand the essential elements of a proposed design. Many people have some difficulty 'reading' and interpreting 2D plans and SketchUp helps overcome that barrier. Because SketchUp is easy to use and contains tools to quickly build 3D geometry, it has gained a considerable following, especially among architects and others the building and construction industry. Of great interest to us and users of this softwaretutor.net eLearning site, is the ability of SketchUp to allow the importation of geometry (models) to and from CAD software tools such as AutoCAD, IntelliCAD, MicroStation and GardenCAD.

Once a 3D model has been built, whether that has occurred inside SketchUp itself, or in other CAD software, SketchUp contains tools to render, to create 'see though' and hidden line views, to orbit around the design and create a walk through the 'virtual' site. The Professional version of the software also allows inter alia, sun studies - you can nominate a point on the earth's surface and the time of day and SketchUp will employ ray tracing to accurately predict the shadows which will be cast by your model.

SketchUp can also be used as a two way conduit. It produces quite sophisticated and complex 3D models which can be printed directly or exported to other software such as CAD software [AutoCAD, IntelliCAD, GardenCAD, MicroStation] rendering software [3D Studio Max] and image editing software [Gimp, Paint Shop Pro]. From there, renderings can be placed in desk top publishing software such as Adobe's InDesign for fine presenation of the design ideas.