SketchUp is a 3D modeling program designed for professional architects, civil engineers, filmmakers, game developers, and related professions. It also includes features to facilitate the placement of models in Google Earth. It was designed to be more intuitive, flexible, and easier to use than other 3D CAD programs.
It is marketed as an easy-to-use conceptual tool with a simple interface. A well known feature in the SketchUp World is the 3D Warehouse. Users can use their Google Accounts to upload models, and then browse the 3D Warehouse for many components and models.
Some of its key features and uses include:
- A “smart” drawing cursor (inference) system that allows users to draw 3D objects using a 2D screen and mouse.
- Simple massing study capability via “push-pull”.
- “Follow Me,” which creates 3D forms by extruding 2D surfaces along predetermined paths.
- Ability to animate camera and sun movements.
- Interoperability with Google Earth
SketchUp was developed by startup company @Last Software, Boulder, Colorado which was formed in 1999. SketchUp was first released in August 2000 as a general purpose 3D content creation tool. It won a Community Choice Award at its first tradeshow in 2000. It quickly found a market in architecture and building design industries and was revised to suit the needs of working professionals. The key to its early success was in its fast learning curve, allowing for a shorter learning period than other commercially available 3D tools.
As of SketchUp 5, features were added to allow the user to extrude and widen as well as the ability for a face to “follow” the cursor around an object.
On March 14, 2006, Google acquired @Last Software, attracted by their plugin for Google Earth.
On January 9, 2007, SketchUp 6 was released, featuring a handful of new tools as well as a beta version of Google SketchUp LayOut. LayOut includes a handful of 2D vector tools, as well as page layout tools making it easier for professionals to create presentations without jumping to a third-party presentation program.
On February 9, 2007, a maintenance update was released. It corrects a number of bugs, but brings no new features.
On April 27, 2006, Google announced Google SketchUp, a freely-downloadable version of SketchUp. The free version is not as capable as SketchUp Pro 6, but it includes integrated tools for uploading content to Google Earth and to the Google 3D Warehouse, a repository of models created in SketchUp.
The free version of Google Sketchup exports to a number of 3D formats, including Google Earth .kmz files, while the Pro version extends support to include .3ds, .dwg, .dxf, .fbx, .obj, .xsi, and .wrl file formats. Google SketchUp can also save “screenshots” of the model as .bmp, .png, .jpg, .tif, with the Pro version also supporting .pdf, .eps, .epx, .dwg, and .dxf.
Ruby Application Programming Interface (API)
Ruby is a scripting language whose use in SketchUp was first introduced in SketchUp 4. Since its introduction SketchUp users have shown their creativity by creating hundreds of useful tools using SketchUp Ruby.
There is a Hello World Tutorial for Google SketchUp about creating dialog boxes.
Other Information
- Developed by Google (previously @Last Software)
- Initial release August 2000
- Latest release 6.4.112 (Windows) / 6.4.120 (Mac OS X) / December 14, 2007
- OS MS Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Apple Mac OS X (10.4-10.5) (Universal Binary)
- Available in English, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Spanish
- Type 3D computer graphics
- License Freeware/Proprietary
Links
- Website www.sketchup.com
- Google 3D Warehouse
- SketchUp Video Tutorials
- SketchUp Google Group
- SketchUp - Wikipedia
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