It only shows a limited set of tools, but all of them are relevant to what you’re doing or the area that you selected. Once you’re confident enough to use the rest of them, just click the arrow to the right of the toolbar.ĭialog Boxes SketchUp doesn’t have a technical name for its dialogue box, but it’s like palettes or inspectors you find in other modeling programs.Ĭontext menu whenever you right-click things in your modeling window, the context menu will appear with commands and options to open. It has all the essential tools and commands to get started. ToolbarSketchUp really makes it a point to do the heavy lifting for you instead of bombarding you with tons of tools to choose from, you’re greeted with the Getting Started toolbar. It’s sort of like a window to the three-dimensional world since it’s always in 3D view of your model, even if you’re looking at it from the top or sides. Modeling Window this is the big area in the middle of your screen, and where you will spend most of your time in SketchUp. It only has four main areas that you need to be familiar with. With the addition of small-scale modeling, SketchUp is just like any program you already use. These limitations are expected given that making model views look like photos are a specialized undertaking.

This means you won’t be bothered by providing measurements, plans, and sections, but you also won’t be able to create extremely detailed models like buildings and mansions. SketchUp focuses on making things appear hand-drawn by using non-photorealistic rendering. Well, how you want things to be arranged in 3D that is. You will only work with line and shapes, which gives you the freedom to arrange things how you want it. It’s not even necessary to read it’s manual or be familiar with special geometric concepts. That’s not to say you’ll be a sketch whiz in that time – it just means that SketchUp’s learning curve is shallow. In fact, you can build something recognizable in under four hours. The program’s popularity lies in how quickly you can build something, even if you’re using it for the first time. When it comes to 3D modeling software, it doesn’t get easier than SketchUp. Perfect training ground for new designers Just like Google Earth, it’s a useful but advanced feature.

Files Take your inspirations to SketchUp by building a model based on a JPG or CAD file of the product you want to build. In Google Earth It will take some time to learn this, but SketchUp allows you to create a model on top of a Google Earth aerial photograph. You can opt to delete him to start with a completely blank slate. Sketchup gives you three options to begin your designįrom Scratch The home page of SketchUp shows you a little person standing in the middle of your screen. An inexpensive and easy-to-use 3D modeling softwareĪs an artist, your program should not restrict how you want to create a model.

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