Google SketchUp® 7 For Dummies®

Book description

Google SketchUp is the exciting free software package that makes 3D available to everybody. Whether you need to build 3D models for work, or you’ve just always wanted to explore 3D modeling, Google SketchUp was made for you. Still, it does take a bit of understanding to get started, so turn to Google SketchUp 7 For Dummies.

In classic For Dummies tradition, Google SketchUp 7 For Dummies gets right to the point so you can start creating 3D models right away. You’ll learn to:

  • Set up SketchUp, learn about edges and faces, use inferences and guides, and build your first model

  • Establish a basic end-to-end workflow for creating and sharing models

  • Model non-boxy objects like terrain, characters, bottles, and spheres

  • Add details like stairs, gutters, and eaves

  • Spruce up your models with styles and shadows to add effects, make objects pop, and enhance realism

  • Use the LayOut function to draw with vector tools, add text and callouts, and print your work

  • Design buildings and objects, export your models to other design programs or to Google Earth, and explore 3D animation

On the book’s companion Web site, you’ll also find a bonus chapter and videos demonstrating more about what you can do with Google SketchUp. Google SketchUp 7 For Dummies also shows you what SketchUp can and can’t do, and offers tips for solving common problems. Add a new dimension to your work today!

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Author
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. Publisher's Acknowledgments
  5. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. Foolish Assumptions
    3. How This Book Is Organized
      1. Part I: Getting Started with SketchUp
      2. Part II: Modeling in SketchUp
      3. Part III: Viewing Your Model in Different Ways
      4. Part IV: Sharing What You've Made
      5. Part V: The Part of Tens
      6. On the Web site
    4. Icons Used in This Book
  6. I. Getting Started with SketchUp
    1. 1. Meeting Google SketchUp
      1. 1.1. Things You Ought to Know Right Away
      2. 1.2. Where SketchUp Fits in Google's World
      3. 1.3. Comparing SketchUp to Other 3D Modeling Programs
        1. 1.3.1. Jumping right in
        2. 1.3.2. Understanding the difference between paper and clay
      4. 1.4. What You Should (and Shouldn't) Expect SketchUp to Do
      5. 1.5. Taking the Ten-Minute SketchUp Tour
        1. 1.5.1. Hanging out at the menu bar
        2. 1.5.2. Checking the status bar
        3. 1.5.3. Taking a peek at the dialog boxes
    2. 2. Establishing the Modeling Mind-Set
      1. 2.1. It's All about Edges and Faces
        1. 2.1.1. Living on (with, actually) the edge
        2. 2.1.2. Facing the facts about faces
        3. 2.1.3. Understanding the relationship between edges and faces
      2. 2.2. Drawing in 3D on a 2D Screen
        1. 2.2.1. Giving instructions with the drawing axes
        2. 2.2.2. Keeping an eye out for inferences
          1. 2.2.2.1. Point inferences
          2. 2.2.2.2. Linear inferences
        3. 2.2.3. Using inferences to help you model
          1. 2.2.3.1. Locking inferences
          2. 2.2.3.2. Encouraging inferences
      3. 2.3. Warming Up Your SketchUp Muscles
        1. 2.3.1. Getting the best view of what you're doing
          1. 2.3.1.1. Going into orbit
          2. 2.3.1.2. Zooming in and out
          3. 2.3.1.3. Just panning around
        2. 2.3.2. Drawing edges with ease
        3. 2.3.3. Injecting accuracy into your model
        4. 2.3.4. Selecting what you mean to select
        5. 2.3.5. Moving and copying like a champ
          1. 2.3.5.1. Moving things around
          2. 2.3.5.2. Modeling with the Move tool
          3. 2.3.5.3. To preselect or not to preselect
          4. 2.3.5.4. Making copies with the Move tool
        6. 2.3.6. Making and using guides
          1. 2.3.6.1. Creating guides with the Tape Measure tool
          2. 2.3.6.2. Using guides to make your life easier
        7. 2.3.7. Painting your faces with color and texture
          1. 2.3.7.1. The Materials dialog box
          2. 2.3.7.2. The Paint Bucket tool
    3. 3. Getting Off to a Running Start
      1. 3.1. Setting Things Up
      2. 3.2. Making a Quick Model
      3. 3.3. Slapping on Some Paint
      4. 3.4. Giving Your Model Some Style
      5. 3.5. Switching on the Sun
      6. 3.6. Sharing Your Masterpiece
  7. II. Modeling in SketchUp
    1. 4. Building Buildings
      1. 4.1. Drawing Floors and Walls
        1. 4.1.1. Starting out in 2D
          1. 4.1.1.1. Switching to a 2D view
          2. 4.1.1.2. Dusting off SketchUp's drafting tools
        2. 4.1.2. Coming up with a simple plan
          1. 4.1.2.1. Drawing an interior outline
          2. 4.1.2.2. Offsetting an exterior wall
          3. 4.1.2.3. Putting in the interior walls
        3. 4.1.3. Going from 2D to 3D
          1. 4.1.3.1. Getting a good view
          2. 4.1.3.2. Pushing/pulling your way to happiness
        4. 4.1.4. Adding doors and windows
          1. 4.1.4.1. Using SketchUp's handy-dandy components
          2. 4.1.4.2. Making your own openings
      2. 4.2. Staring Down Stairs
        1. 4.2.1. The Subdivided Rectangles method
        2. 4.2.2. The Copied Profile method
      3. 4.3. Raising the Roof
        1. 4.3.1. Building flat roofs with parapets
        2. 4.3.2. Creating eaves for buildings with pitched roofs
        3. 4.3.3. Constructing gabled roofs
        4. 4.3.4. Making hip roofs
        5. 4.3.5. Sticking your roof together
          1. 4.3.5.1. Getting to know Intersect with Model
          2. 4.3.5.2. Using Intersect with Model to make roofs
    2. 5. Falling in Love with Components
      1. 5.1. Grouping Things Together
      2. 5.2. Working with Components
        1. 5.2.1. What makes components so great?
        2. 5.2.2. Exploring the Components dialog box
          1. 5.2.2.1. Info and buttons
          2. 5.2.2.2. The Select pane
          3. 5.2.2.3. The Edit pane
          4. 5.2.2.4. The Statistics pane
        3. 5.2.3. Creating your own components
          1. 5.2.3.1. Making a new component
          2. 5.2.3.2. Editing, exploding, and locking component instances
      3. 5.3. Taking Advantage of Components to Build Better Models
        1. 5.3.1. Modeling symmetrically: Good news for lazy people
          1. 5.3.1.1. Working smarter by only building half
          2. 5.3.1.2. The coolest things since radially sliced bread
        2. 5.3.2. Modeling with repeated elements
      4. 5.4. Discovering Dynamic Components
        1. 5.4.1. Getting acquainted with DCs
        2. 5.4.2. Using Dynamic Components
          1. 5.4.2.1. Smart Scaling
          2. 5.4.2.2. Component Options
          3. 5.4.2.3. The Interact tool
          4. 5.4.2.4. Poking around to see what happens
        3. 5.4.3. Building your own Dynamic Components
          1. 5.4.3.1. Coping with Component Attributes
          2. 5.4.3.2. Damn the torpedoes: Smart Scaling
          3. 5.4.3.3. Moving right along: Smart Replication
          4. 5.4.3.4. Just for good measure: Rotation and Animation
    3. 6. Going Beyond Buildings
      1. 6.1. Extruding with Purpose: Follow Me
        1. 6.1.1. Using Follow Me
        2. 6.1.2. Making lathed forms like spheres and bottles
        3. 6.1.3. Creating extruded shapes like gutters and handrails
          1. 6.1.3.1. Drawing your profile in place
          2. 6.1.3.2. Drawing your profile somewhere else
        4. 6.1.4. Subtracting from a model with Follow Me
      2. 6.2. Modeling with the Scale tool
        1. 6.2.1. Getting the hang of Scale
        2. 6.2.2. Scaling profiles to make organic forms
          1. 6.2.2.1. Combining Scale and Push/Pull
          2. 6.2.2.2. Combining Scale and Follow Me
      3. 6.3. Digging Around in the Sandbox
        1. 6.3.1. Taking inventory of the Sandbox tools
          1. 6.3.1.1. From Contours
          2. 6.3.1.2. Flip Edge
          3. 6.3.1.3. From Scratch
          4. 6.3.1.4. Smoove
          5. 6.3.1.5. Stamp
          6. 6.3.1.6. Drape
          7. 6.3.1.7. Add Detail
        2. 6.3.2. Roughing out a site
    4. 7. Keeping Your Model Organized
      1. 7.1. Taking Stock of Your Organization Options
      2. 7.2. Seeing the Big Picture: The Outliner
        1. 7.2.1. Taking a good look at the Outliner
        2. 7.2.2. Making good use of the Outliner
      3. 7.3. Discovering the Ins and Outs of Layers
        1. 7.3.1. What layers are — and what they're not
        2. 7.3.2. Using layers in SketchUp
          1. 7.3.2.1. Adding a new layer
          2. 7.3.2.2. Moving entities to a different layer
        3. 7.3.3. Staying out of trouble
      4. 7.4. Putting It All Together
    5. 8. Modeling with Photographs
      1. 8.1. Painting Faces with Photos
        1. 8.1.1. Adding photos to faces
        2. 8.1.2. Editing your textures
          1. 8.1.2.1. Moving, scaling, rotating, shearing, and distorting your texture
          2. 8.1.2.2. Stretching a photo over a face
          3. 8.1.2.3. Scaling your model until the photo looks right
        3. 8.1.3. Modeling on top of photo textures
          1. 8.1.3.1. The thing you have to know
          2. 8.1.3.2. Modeling with projected textures: A basic workflow
          3. 8.1.3.3. The tricky case: Mapping photo textures to curved surfaces
      2. 8.2. Modeling Directly from a Photo: Introducing Photo-Matching
        1. 8.2.1. Looking at all the pretty colors
        2. 8.2.2. Getting set up for photo-matching
        3. 8.2.3. Modeling by photo-matching
  8. III. Viewing Your Model in Different Ways
    1. 9. Working with Styles and Shadows
      1. 9.1. Changing Your Model's Appearance with Styles
        1. 9.1.1. Choosing how and where to apply styles
        2. 9.1.2. Applying styles to your models
        3. 9.1.3. Editing and saving your styles
          1. 9.1.3.1. Tweaking edge settings
          2. 9.1.3.2. Changing the way faces look
            1. 9.1.3.2.1. Front color/Back color
            2. 9.1.3.2.2. Style
            3. 9.1.3.2.3. Transparency
          3. 9.1.3.3. Setting up the background
          4. 9.1.3.4. Working with watermarks
          5. 9.1.3.5. Eyeing the watermark controls
          6. 9.1.3.6. Adding a watermark
          7. 9.1.3.7. Editing a watermark
          8. 9.1.3.8. Tweaking modeling settings
          9. 9.1.3.9. Mixing styles to create new ones
          10. 9.1.3.10. Saving and sharing styles you make
            1. 9.1.3.10.1. Saving the styles you've made
          11. 9.1.3.11. Updating an existing style
          12. 9.1.3.12. Creating a new style
            1. 9.1.3.12.1. Using your styles in other models
      2. 9.2. Working with Shadows
        1. 9.2.1. Discovering SketchUp's Shadow Settings
          1. 9.2.1.1. Turning on the sun
          2. 9.2.1.2. Setting a shadow's time and date
          3. 9.2.1.3. Choosing where shadows are displayed
        2. 9.2.2. Using shadows to add depth and realism
          1. 9.2.2.1. Lighting indoor spaces
          2. 9.2.2.2. Making 3D objects pop
        3. 9.2.3. Creating accurate shadow studies
          1. 9.2.3.1. Telling SketchUp where you are
          2. 9.2.3.2. Displaying accurate shadows for a given time and place
    2. 10. Presenting Your Model Inside SketchUp
      1. 10.1. Exploring Your Creation on Foot
        1. 10.1.1. These tools were made for walking
          1. 10.1.1.1. Standing in the right spot: The Position Camera tool
          2. 10.1.1.2. Stepping out with the Walk tool
        2. 10.1.2. Stopping to look around
        3. 10.1.3. Setting your field of view
      2. 10.2. Taking the Scenic Route
        1. 10.2.1. Creating scenes
        2. 10.2.2. Moving from scene to scene
        3. 10.2.3. Modifying scenes after you've made 'em
          1. 10.2.3.1. Reordering, renaming, and removing scenes
          2. 10.2.3.2. Working with scene properties
          3. 10.2.3.3. Updating scenes
            1. 10.2.3.3.1. Updating all the scene properties at once
            2. 10.2.3.3.2. Updating scene properties selectively
      3. 10.3. Mastering the Sectional Approach
        1. 10.3.1. Cutting plans and sections
          1. 10.3.1.1. Controlling individual section planes
          2. 10.3.1.2. Setting section-plane visibility
          3. 10.3.1.3. Getting different sectional views
            1. 10.3.1.3.1. Making a section perspective
            2. 10.3.1.3.2. Generating an orthographic section
        2. 10.3.2. Creating section animations with scenes
  9. IV. Sharing What You've Made
    1. 11. Working with Google Earth and the 3D Warehouse
      1. 11.1. Getting the Big (3D) Picture
      2. 11.2. Taking the Ten-Minute Tour of Google Earth
        1. 11.2.1. Getting Google Earth
        2. 11.2.2. Getting your first dose
          1. 11.2.2.1. Flying around
          2. 11.2.2.2. Going someplace specific
          3. 11.2.2.3. Making some placemarks
      3. 11.3. Building Models for Google Earth
        1. 11.3.1. Understanding the process
        2. 11.3.2. Finding a site and bringing it into SketchUp
        3. 11.3.3. Modeling on a Google Earth snapshot
          1. 11.3.3.1. Building on top of a snapshot 101
          2. 11.3.3.2. Letting SketchUp take care of the details
          3. 11.3.3.3. Thinking big by thinking small
        4. 11.3.4. Viewing your model in Google Earth
          1. 11.3.4.1. Exporting from SketchUp to Google Earth
          2. 11.3.4.2. Saving your model as a Google Earth KMZ file
      4. 11.4. Becoming a SketchUp All-Star with the 3D Warehouse
        1. 11.4.1. Getting to the Google 3D Warehouse
        2. 11.4.2. Uploading your models
    2. 12. Printing Your Work
      1. 12.1. Printing from a Windows Computer
        1. 12.1.1. Making a basic print (Windows)
        2. 12.1.2. Decoding the Windows Print dialog box
          1. 12.1.2.1. Printer
          2. 12.1.2.2. Tabbed Scene Print Range
          3. 12.1.2.3. Copies
          4. 12.1.2.4. Print Size
          5. 12.1.2.5. Tiled Sheet Print Range
          6. 12.1.2.6. Print Quality
          7. 12.1.2.7. Other settings
      2. 12.2. Printing from a Mac
        1. 12.2.1. Making a basic print (Mac)
        2. 12.2.2. Deciphering the Mac printing dialog boxes
          1. 12.2.2.1. The Document Setup dialog box
          2. 12.2.2.2. The Print dialog box
      3. 12.3. Printing to a Particular Scale
        1. 12.3.1. Preparing to print to scale
        2. 12.3.2. Printing to scale (Windows and Mac)
    3. 13. Exporting Images and Animations
      1. 13.1. Exporting 2D Images of Your Model
        1. 13.1.1. Exporting a raster image from SketchUp
        2. 13.1.2. Looking at SketchUp's raster formats
          1. 13.1.2.1. Tagged Image File (TIFF or TIF)
          2. 13.1.2.2. JPEG (or JPG)
          3. 13.1.2.3. Portable Network Graphics (PNG)
          4. 13.1.2.4. Windows Bitmap (BMP)
        3. 13.1.3. Making sure that you're exporting enough pixels
          1. 13.1.3.1. Exporting enough pixels for a digital presentation
          2. 13.1.3.2. Understanding resolution Exporting images for print
      2. 13.2. Making Movies with Animation Export
        1. 13.2.1. Getting ready for prime time
        2. 13.2.2. Exporting a movie
        3. 13.2.3. Figuring out the Animation Export options settings
          1. 13.2.3.1. For sending in an e-mail
          2. 13.2.3.2. For uploading to YouTube
          3. 13.2.3.3. For viewing on-screen (computer or projector)
          4. 13.2.3.4. For exporting to DV (for viewing on a TV with a DVD player)
    4. 14. Creating Presentation Documents with LayOut
      1. 14.1. Getting Your Bearings
        1. 14.1.1. Some menu bar minutiae
        2. 14.1.2. A dialog box discourse
        3. 14.1.3. Setting up LayOut preferences
          1. 14.1.3.1. Preferences
          2. 14.1.3.2. Document Setup
        4. 14.1.4. Tooling around
      2. 14.2. Getting Set Up
        1. 14.2.1. Starting out with templates
        2. 14.2.2. Creating a new, blank document
        3. 14.2.3. Adding pages to your document
        4. 14.2.4. Moving around your document
      3. 14.3. Simplifying Layout with Layers
      4. 14.4. Bringing in Everything You Need
        1. 14.4.1. Inserting images and model views
        2. 14.4.2. Working with inserted model views
          1. 14.4.2.1. A bit of general advice
          2. 14.4.2.2. The SketchUp Model dialog box
        3. 14.4.3. Inserting text
      5. 14.5. Presentation-Perfect Images
        1. 14.5.1. Cropping with clipping masks
        2. 14.5.2. Drawing something from scratch
      6. 14.6. Living Life after LayOut
        1. 14.6.1. Printing your work
        2. 14.6.2. Exporting a PDF
        3. 14.6.3. Exporting an image file
        4. 14.6.4. Going full-screen
  10. V. The Part of Tens
    1. 15. Ten SketchUp Traps and Their Workarounds
      1. 15.1. SketchUp Won't Create a Face Where I Want It To
      2. 15.2. My Faces Are Two Different Colors
      3. 15.3. Edges on a Face Won't Sink In
      4. 15.4. SketchUp Crashed and I Lost My Model
      5. 15.5. SketchUp Is Sooooo Slooooooooow
      6. 15.6. I Can't Get a Good View of the Inside of My Model
      7. 15.7. A Face Flashes When I Orbit
      8. 15.8. I Can't Move My Component the Way I Want
      9. 15.9. Bad Stuff Happens Every Time I Use the Eraser
      10. 15.10. All My Edges and Faces Are on Different Layers
    2. 16. Ten Plugins, Extensions, and Resources Worth Getting
      1. 16.1. Components
        1. 16.1.1. Form Fonts
        2. 16.1.2. Sketchupmodels.com
      2. 16.2. Ruby Scripts
        1. 16.2.1. Smustard.com
        2. 16.2.2. Ruby Library Depot
        3. 16.2.3. SketchyPhysics
      3. 16.3. Renderers
      4. 16.4. Hardware
    3. 17. Ten Ways to Discover Even More
      1. 17.1. Put Away Your Wallet
      2. 17.2. Now Get Out Your Wallet
    4. 1. Exporting to CAD, Illustration, and Other Modeling Software
      1. B1.1. Exporting Drawings in 2D
        1. B1.1.1. Sizing up the export formats
        2. B1.1.2. Exporting a 2D drawing
        3. B1.1.3. Getting to know PDF and EPS
          1. B1.1.3.1. Portable Document Format (PDF)
          2. B1.1.3.2. Encapsulated Postscript (EPS)
          3. B1.1.3.3. Navigating the PDF/EPS Options dialog box
            1. B1.1.3.3.1. Drawing (Image) Size
            2. B1.1.3.3.2. Drawing (Image) Scale
            3. B1.1.3.3.3. Profile Lines (Windows only)
            4. B1.1.3.3.4. Section Lines (Windows only)
            5. B1.1.3.3.5. Extension Lines (Windows only)
            6. B1.1.3.3.6. Line Quality (Mac only)
            7. B1.1.3.3.7. Other Windows-only controls
        4. B1.1.4. Coming to terms with DXF and DWG (in 2D)
          1. B1.1.4.1. Drawing Scale & Size
          2. B1.1.4.2. Profile Lines
          3. B1.1.4.3. Section Lines
          4. B1.1.4.4. Extension Lines
        5. B1.1.5. Peeking at EPIX
      2. B1.2. Exporting 3D Data for Other Software
        1. B1.2.1. Gathering your marbles (so that you don't lose them later)
          1. B1.2.1.1. Examining your 3D file format options
          2. B1.2.1.2. Exporting your 3D model
      3. B1.3. Getting a handle on OBJ, FBX, XSI, and DAE (Collada)
        1. B1.3.1. Wrapping your head around 3DS
        2. B1.3.2. Dealing with VRML
        3. B1.3.3. Handling DWG and DXF (in 3D)

Product information

  • Title: Google SketchUp® 7 For Dummies®
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: March 2009
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9780470277393