I have been learning to use Sketchup for a month or so now. I’m wondering if there are any plans on this site to do a blog on using Sketchup for architectural work like they do on the Fine Woodworking site for woodworking? I have found some excellent advice and articles here. I have attached a Sketchup file here of a shed I am building for my yard in case anyone would like to see it in Sketchup. Thanks, Jerry
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SU is fun to work with IMO. There's pretty much no limit to what you can do with it although somethings are more difficult than others programs. Have you signed on to the SU Community Forums yet? The online help is pretty good as well. Both can be found under the Help section in SU.
In your model you ought to make your rafters Components instead of Groups so that if you have to make a modification that will affect all similar rafters the changes you make to one will apply to all.
For stick building framing that I can't wrap my head around I've built my own component library to match locally available lumber (ie all the 2x stock in lengths my yard carries). Using components from that library can make for a very small (relatively) file size for what you're working with. Using Components creates less of a load on your PC than using groups for individual pieces. For fun I redid your model makeing components out of each of your framing pieces and cut the file size by 50%. Doesn't mean much when you're delaing with a file that was only 155kb to start but as your models get bigger it does make a difference. [No wait. that file went from 155kb to 36kb. Quite a bit more than 50%]
You forgot the doors to you shed. :)
Edited 8/19/2008 7:23 am ET by john7g
You forgot the doors to you shed. :)
You forgot the "R" to you your.
Where's the new improved version of his shed plan?View Image
Here's the exact same model sans door but smaller file size using components made from his existing pieces. Oh, and I broke things down into layers (and Colored by Layer). Not a big deal on small models but helps to keep things organized as they get bigger.
I'll try harde to remembe all the Rs next time.
Thanks - I'm getting just proficient enough with SU to be dangerous. Good tip.View Image
Your welcome.
Anything that is repeated should be a component. You can make variations of the components by making them Unique (rt click on the comp to get drop down menu).
The quickest thing that increased my speed was building my own component library, even if it was just a better way (or a way my convuluted thought process understands it) to organize components found already loaded elsewhere.
That's a good idea on the layers. I have actually learned quite a bit from doing that much. That was just kind of a preliminary thing I did. I actually started building it yesterday. I got the floor framing done and will put the plywood on today. I'm not a professional; just a homeowner who does my own remodeling, woodworking, etc. I do have a lot of the Sketchup sites bookmarked. I used a plugin called "housebuilder" to do the framing in the model. Here's the link to the site where you can download it: http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibraryDepot/Ruby/en_arc_page.htm.Get both the housebuilder and housebuilder_extension files.
This is important to know about layers, and it did not become clear to me until I had been doing a lot of work.
Draw everything on layer zero. Then use your other layers to organize the model by placing the groups or group or component or components on those layers.
Geometry consists of your lines, arcs, and surfaces, and that is what all belongs on layer 0. Make a simple cube, and then group it. When you made it, all its entities (the geometry) were placed in layer 0. Its group is a way SU has of capturing all that geometry in a bucket, and the bucket (the grouping) can be then assigned to a layer separate from layer 0.
For a house, my layer names typically look like site, footings, foundation, posts-beams-mudsills, deck, walls-exterior, etc., etc.
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"A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
Man your a genius with that sketchup. I've piddled with it quite a bit after seeing what you can do, but I suck. If I ever go to lake placid (which I intend to sometime I love the Adirondacks) may I look you up? I only make it as far as Old Forge and water safari and then figure I've spent too much money and decide to go home. We go there every year, reasonably inexpensive little vacation, and I like the drive.
I think I need to learn some of the basic stuff like groups, layers and components before I make any real headway, but you've given me hope to its possibilities or I probably would have given it up.
Sketchup is simple and easy to use and master. Google is the genius for offering it out for free. It will be the basis of the CAD software of the future. When I went to UMich, all the instructors were against it but I used it anyway. I found ways to make it look like other programs and worked at a speed that surpassed others on Rhino, 3dmax, and Autocad so I always had better renderings. I'll have to post some work sometime. BTW: I use it professionally too; nothing is more impressive to a client than to have a design consult one day then return the next with complete drawings and renderings.gk
How do you create drawings in SketchUp? Is that a function of the free utility or only in the pro-version
Google Sketchup, the free version, has a somewhat limited dimensioning tool, and the ability to do notes and callouts.
The only features missing in SU-free versus SU-Pro is the layout feature, a program many users have problems with, and the exporters for taking the work to other programs such as AutoCad, Photoshop, etc.
Go over to the Taunton Knots site (there is a link right on this page) and surf until you find the Blog called "Design-Click-Build." The author uses SU-Pro, but virtually everything you see him doing can be done with the free version.
I can use SU to design and detail and build a complete house, site to finish, but that is because it is me that is using the drawings. I am not asking others to use my fat little notebook of letter-sized drawings. Some just have to have C or D sized "traditional" prints, and I cannot do that with my software and hardware.
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"A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
I think the sanbox tool isn't in the free version, either.
The sandbox tools are in the free version.
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"A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
Really!? Looks like I need to update my copy. ;o)
I paid for the pro package, but before I did, I worked my way through various versions of the free packages.
When they brought out Pro, and they still do this, they offered it as a download for free, but it has a timer allowing, IIRC, eight hours of modeling time. Sort of a "try this," as a teaser.
What you get during the eight hours is the ability to use all the exporters, Layout, etc. The sandbox tools are there. What happens when the eight hours is up, is that you cannot use the exporters, and Layout won't open, but your sandbox tools are still there.
From then on you'll be working in SU Pro (expired), but what do you care? All the latest stuff will be there as in Google SU V.6, plus you can play in the sandbox.
Try that and see what happens, if you cannot get sandbox any other way. Sandbox is what I use to do terrain around buildings. I have not tried it for anything else.
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"A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
Yes, as Gene Said, the pro version has an exporter and layout tools that make the output of working drawings much easier now. But I didn't always have those options. When I started using Sketchup (version 1.3) I found other ways to print drawings. First is to turn a 3D drawing into a 2D drawing by making a section cut about 3' from the floor. The default thickness of the section is too thick (the default of all lines is too thick, turn off profiles) adjust the section cut width to 1. Turn off perspective; turn on parallel projection. Dimension in 2D mode. Make a scale to the side of the drawing and whatever labels you want in the drawing. Now for the compromise (I am not sure what options are available in the free version)I used to export to Autocad were I dimensioned, layed out, and adjusted lineweights but you will have to export as a 2d drawing (jpeg) and use a photo editing program to scale properly for printout based on the scale you draw in the corner or print it NTS (not to scale) bigger is better so take your jpeg to Kinkos and get it printed large. The likelyhood is that you will be building from your own print so it doesn't matter if the scale is a bit off. Often if I am building in the shop, I don't even print and few dims. I just work off the laptop. If you are printing for someone else to build then by all means, pay the measly $500 for the pro version so you can learn and use the layout feature and export feature. Sketchup Pro is the most powerful drawing program around for the money, the nearest comparable program is over $2000, but even if the others were free I'd still pay for Sketchup Pro.I guess that's it in a nutshell. There still is some work, even when you can export to another program. I've exported into Autocad, Illustrator, 3D Max, Rhino, and Photoshop. In design/build these days it pays to have ALL the tools; not just the ones that fit in your tool box.gk
grant
is your yankee sense of humor fully appreciated in lexington kentucky ?
carpenter in transition
is your yankee sense of humor fully appreciated in lexington kentucky ?
It's not even fully appreciated in my house.View Image
well, at least you are accustomed to the "deer in the headlights look"
carpenter in transition
Here are a some good resources:
In the SU Community Forums, look for, in the Tutorials subsection, the one called, I think, "How a Pro Models a House." It is pretty good.
Also, go here http://go-2-school.com/ and view all their excellent web video tutorials.
Finally, YouTube has a bunch, also.
Start looking at how plug-ins can enhance your productivity, and download the free rendering package, Kerkythea, for which the plug-in allows exporting files you can take into Kerky and render with precision sun angles.
Another thing you will want to get to know, is how to use the sandbox tools, to create the terrain around a structure or a group of them. Unless you are modeling work to be built in Normal, Illinois, where it is dead flat for hundreds of square miles, you will need to do terrain.
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"A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
It must be mentioned that there are by now over 500
Sketchup tutorials on Youtube.
As promised, here are some various uses and styles of Sketchup. Most require another program to finish the render process, usually Photoshop. A little practice and alot of trial and error can yield some interesting results. Recently, I aquired VRay rendering capabilities for Sketchup which allows for photo realistic output, but the learning curve is rather steep and I am yet to master it or create a quality rendering.
Sorry if the files are a little large, I did resize them as I usually output my renders around 3000ppi.
Enjoy.
Very nice. Do you do construction docs with su?
"Do you do construction docs with su?"Sort of. I often just do working drawings for myself straight out of Sketchup since I can keep my laptop handy for referring back to the model, but for construction documents I usually export to Autocad. Just easier to properly dimension there and my borders are already made and ready to go. Most of my work is a combination of programs.The layout feature in Sketchup still leaves a little to desire; but I have known Sketchup for long enough to know that they will iron out the kinks soon. Really a great company (used to be @last before Google bought in) as far as I know Google retained the original company just gave them a bunch of money, publicity, and distribution they deserve. gk
I think SU is a great tool too. I haven't come anywhere close to proficiency with it. I noticed that most of the gurus over at Chief Architect use SU and Photoshop and Chief Architect to fully exploit their computer design skils.