SketchUp
From SketchUp Wiki
Google SketchUp is a 3D modeling tool to create open format 3D Content for any compatible site or application, especially Earth and the 3D Warehouse.
SketchUp is the upload and download, or input and output tool for the 3D Warehouse.
Contents |
[edit] Download
Download SketchUp from Google for MacOSX and Windows. System requirements can be found here.
[edit] Export formats
Information on SketchUp exports can be found here.
[edit] Pro Version
Google & co. promote the SketchUp Pro Version heavily, giving the SketchUp free version a mildly controversial "personal use only" license. The Pro version provides high res presentation, more export formats, features, and professional support.
[edit] Building
Align the (X, Y, Z) axes to your subject, which should be "cornered into" the axes.
Build for good display rendering performance with "low poly" techniques.
- Use as few faces as possible.
- Ensure faces are "outward" using "View > Face Style > Monochrome", and to reverse a face use "Right click select, Reverse Faces".
- Use components for repeated features: Select geometry (location), then "Edit > Make Component".
- Delete faces that are not visible and erase extra lines.
- If you see flickering, eliminate Z-Fighting by deleting excess faces and reducing the total number of faces.
- Clean up using Purge Unused.
[edit] Networking
SketchUp exports 3D Models as KMZ files containing industry standard COLLADA models. These are powerful formats with broad interoperability for other applications and tools beyond Google.
[edit] Programming
SketchUp can be extended using simple little Ruby scripts.
