SketchUp For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Introduction

Here’s a shot in the dark: You’ve heard about SketchUp before and maybe even already tried it once or twice. In your first model, you got tripped up trying to move some object around, and ultimately, you just didn’t have time to figure things out. Sound familiar?

SketchUp is one of the most popular 3D modeling applications in the world, but most people who try it don’t quite figure things out. For a while, the tagline on SketchUp’s website was “The easiest way to draw in 3D.” We think this is accurate, but it’s also true that at a baseline, drawing in 3D may not be so easy!

The good news is that what you’ve heard is true: SketchUp is a fantastic way to get acquainted with 3D modeling. But it takes some oomph on your part to pick up something new.

The oomph is worth it. When SketchUp clicks, you can feel like you’ve uncovered a new superpower. Visualizing ideas is a gateway to playing with different concepts, refining those concepts into useful plans, and then building models as projects. With 3D models and 2D drawings, you up-level your power to make ideas real.

About This Book

This is a book for people who are new to 3D modeling in SketchUp. We start by getting you set up and ready to go. We zero in on things that may trip you up, and we help you build a foundation for getting what you want out of SketchUp. Along the way, you may pick up a few technical things about polygon counts and Z-fighting, but we keep the jargon optional and focus on helping you think spatially ...