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Google released the next version of its incredibly popular and 3D modelling software, SketchUp. Its an application that lets you draw 3D models of anything that catches your fancy… objects, furniture, your room, your house, your school or university. Absolutely anything. And ever since it first came in, the most appealing aspect of the software has been the sheer ease with which users could approach, the previously scary world of 3D modelling. Heck, I’ve seen clients from my office come back with quick proposals for their offices and residences!
As always, there is a free version available for download, and the neat professional version. It also comes bundled together with an application called Layout. Layout is more the presentation package, that allows you to compose the generated 3D models’ various views (plans, elevations, sections, etc), add text and various other graphics to generate either “working” or presentation drawings. The new version comes bundled with another application called the Style Builder. Its a unique addition to the SketchUp Pro package that lets you add your own custom ’styles’ to the way the software renders the 3D model. You can add in an immense amount of linetypes; whether they be charcoal, pens, pencils, markers, literally anything to truly personalize the final output.
Ok! So thats the overall package. The things that have got me pumped to take this one out for a spin are the following:
1. Dynamic Components: Yep! Thats right… For the people who’ve used a CAD application like AutoCAD are familiar with the Dynamic Block that lets you scale, stretch blocks, that intelligently add certain elements to the block, rather than just a literal stretch. For instance, if you dragged a set of stairs vertically, you’d get more steps for the new height. If you pulled a conference table out, you’d get more chairs, even spaced out to accomodate for the new length. You get the picture. Wow! Now, thats possible with SketchUp!
2. Interact Tool: Now with a single click you can ‘interact’ with you model. Discussing options with your client? Click, click, click to go through various colour schemes. Or through varying widths for window openings etc. Nice!
3. 3D Warehouse Search: Now you access the millions of models on the 3D warehouse from right within the component window in SketchUp. Accessing fabulous components couldn’t have been easier.
4. Crossing Lines break a Line: Another small but very neat improvement over the previous versions. Boy the number of times you’d have to go over the models to split faces! The little addition makes the line (and further on, the face) break into segments, when you cross over with another line.
Now these are just the tip of the iceberg. My two cents, from what I’ve seen over the past couple of days mucking around on the application. I haven’t spent much time on the Layout and Style Builder apps to comment, but shall surely get around to that in the future. I leave you with a video of the programmers introducing the new features of Google SketchUp 7.
Related official blurbs at:
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