Architectural Design with SketchUp: Component-Based Modeling, Plugins, Rendering, and Scripting

Table of contents

1. Cover
2. Acknowledgments
3. Chapter 1: Introduction
   1. About This Book
   2. 3D for All
   3. How Does SketchUp Fit into the Designer’s Toolbox?
   4. Windows or Mac, Free or Pro?
   5. How This Book Works
   6. Let’s Go!
4. Chapter 2: A SketchUp Refresher
   1. Let’s Get Started!
   2. Interface and Program Setup
   3. Working with Templates
   4. SketchUp’s Tool Set
   5. SketchUp Best Practices
5. Chapter 3: Using SketchUp to Inform Your Designs
   1. Group- and Component-Based Modeling
   2. Using Dynamic Components to Your Advantage
   3. Where Does SketchUp Fit into the BIM Workflow?
   4. Geo-Based Modeling
6. Chapter 4: Using Plugins Effectively
   1. What Does a Plugin Do?
   2. Plugin Overview
7. Chapter 5: Rendering in SketchUp
   1. Let’s Get Visual!
   2. Overview of Rendering Methods
   3. Rendering Software
   4. Setting Up Rendering Components
   5. Rendering Tips
   6. Making Renderings Presentable
8. Chapter 6: Creating Geometry Using Ruby Scripting
   1. Why Computational Geometry?
   2. Setting Up Your Computer
   3. Intro to Ruby and the SketchUp API
   4. Creating Geometry with Ruby
   5. Transformations Change Things Up
   6. Attracted to Attractors
   7. What Else Is Possible with This?
   8. Some Pitfalls and Things to Watch Out For
9. Appendix A: SketchUp Quick Reference Cards
10. Appendix B: Ruby Class and Method Reference
11. Appendix C: SketchUp API Class and Method Reference
12. Appendix D: Creating Your Own Plugins
13. Appendix E: Dynamic Component Function Reference
14. Index