suasive_sketchup

Welcome to our free Sketchup in 6 Days (2 hours/day) online course

2009-02-05T19:36:00.001-08:00

SketchUp is a powerful yet easy-to-learn 3D software, and best of all the basic version is free (although the pro version is well worth the $500)!. It was designed to be more intuitive, flexible, and easier to use than other 3D CAD programs. Its a program that has come closer than any other, in capturing the feel, speed, and flexibilty of designing by hand on paper. You can accurately design every aspect of your project without being bogged down by the technology. You can create 3D models of anything you want. We are not an official training centre for sketchup, we just want to help you get started. For information on official google sketchup training go here.

Google offers a wide range of tutorials, videos and other learning tools. But it can be a bit daunting to just start learning without a bit of structure. So we’ve organized some of google's materials into a 6 day (2 hours/day) course that will give you the necessary skills to learn Sketchup and start using it.

If you have an understanding of design and already use some form of CAD software you should be able to use the software at a professional level right away after going through the tutorials we’ve organized. You’ll notice it has a slight bias towards architects (it is our background), but you can use it for modelling any sort of design project.

If you don’t have a design background you may find some of the concepts a little more difficult, but keep at it, we’ve tried to use google's tutorials and videos that are accessible to you as well.

You need the following minimum requirements:

• 600 MHz processor (2 GHz recommended)
• 128 MB RAM (2 GB recommended)
• 128 MB of available hard-disk space or more (500 MB recommended)
• 3D class Video Card with 128 MB of memory or higher. Please ensure that the video card driver supports OpenGL version 1.5 or higher
• Hi-Speed Internet Connection (to download and view the software and tutorials)
• Sound Card (to listen to the tutorials)

You can skip ahead to each lesson using the links on the right.

So let’s get started.

Lesson 1 : Introduction and Set-up

2008-11-18T15:18:00.000-08:00

In this lesson you will accomplish five things:

Part 1: Install and setup your free version of Google SketchUp
Part 2: Get your reference materials
Part 3: Get a brief introduction to Sketchup
Part 4: Build Your first model
Part 5: Play around a bit

I will get you set-up, introduce some basic concepts, and help you try out SketchUp for the first time. Don't get to focused on doing everything right (well, you should try to install it properly at least tho), just try your best, I will come back and expand on the concepts and modeling in later tutorials and videos. This lesson takes about 2-3 hours.

Part 1 : Install and setup Google Sketchup

Ok , first you need to get the software (its free).

Download Google SketchUp 7 (should open in a new window)

Go to the above link and select download Google Sketchup 7 (not the pro version). Follow the provided instructions and install Sketchup on your computer.

Now lets open up sketchup and make sure its set up.

Open sketchup. A splash screen will come up and it will prompt you to pick a template, pick the one that best meets what you do and the units you use. Then click on the "start sketchup" button. Hurray you now have sketchup working on your computer!

One more crucial thing: at the top of the window there are a variety of menu items. Click on View > Toolbars > Large Toolset to check it off. A new expanded toolset should appear to the left of the screen. You will need these later. Ok, you are all set. Close SketchUp and lets start learning.

Part 2 : Get your reference materials

Ok you are going to want to have some key reference materials you can refer to as you work through sketchup.

Download Quick Reference Card (should open in a new window)

Download Sketchup Manual (should open in a new window)

Click the above links, and choose the appropriate versions for your computer and open and save these files in a safe place so you can refer to them as needed. Print the Quick reference card and keep it in front of you as you work through the rest of the course. Do not print the manual unless you want to print over 800 pages, but it is useful to have on your computer as it covers virtually every aspect of the program.

Part 3 : Introduction to Sketchup

Watch the following three videos produced by google. This is just an introduction on how SketchUp works, it’s not important to take notes, just watch the videos, listen what they have to say, try to absorb as much as you can, but we will come back to key concepts as you work through the excercises.

Part 3.1 - Concepts

A great starter video for anyone trying Google SketchUp.

Part 3.2 - Drawing Shapes

This video covers some of the best practices for drawing shapes in Google SketchUp.

Part 3.3 - Modify Tools

Covers some of the abilities of the push/ pull tool.

Part 4 Build your first model.

Ok, you remember all that?! Don’t worry we will come back to these concepts as we go along. But let’s get you started on your first model.

Dowload Introduction to SketchUp Tutorial. (should open in a new window)

Click the above link, download the tutorial using the "download model" button and choose sketchup 6 version, open the tutorial in sketchup and follow the tutorial's on screen instructions. Some warnings about these being for sketchup 6 or read-only may pop up, but just ignore those.

Part 5 Play around a bit.

Create a Chair

This video will show you how to create a simple chair in Google SketchUp two different ways, and then show a 3rd more advanced method to introduce some new tools. Open sketchup and try to to follow along, pausing as necessary. Don't get too hung up here, we will go into more detail on the concepts introduced in later tutorials and videos. Just try your best, and if its too difficult, you can come back to this later in the course (not everyone will be able to do this yet).

Wow your first day and you already built something in Sketchup. Pretty easy huh? Well why not take the rest of your time today to play around a bit and see what you can make.

Got a question (although you may want to hold off a bit as we will get into greater detail later in the course)? Ask us. Have comments? Post them or tell us. As always, I’m here to help.

Best regards,
Christopher Glebe, www.suasivevisual.com

Videos and tutorials produced by Google for Sketchup. For more information go to Google Sketchup.

Lesson 2 : Using the SketchUp Toolbar

2008-11-18T15:14:00.002-08:00

Ok, I took it easy on you in the last session, but now we are really going to motor through some concepts with a series of 10 Parts (11 videos and 6 tutorials). This will likely take about 2-3 hours to go through. Once again I would advise against taking notes, just try to absorb as much as you can, we will reinforce each point with future tutorials and videos. We will cover the following points:

Part 1 : Push Pull
Part 2 : Selections
Part 3: Rotate
Part 4: Rectangle, Circles, and Polygons
Part 5: Arc
Part 6: Move
Part 7: Lines
Part 8: Eraser
Part 9: Freehand
Part 10: Follow Me

Each part will have one or two videos to watch. Watch each one in its entirety and if there is an accompanying tutorial, click on the link, click on “download model” in the new window, choose the SketchUp 6 version, then open it in SketchUp and follow the on screen instructions. Once again, some warnings about these being for SketchUp 6 or read-only may pop up, but just ignore those.

You may find it useful to open both SketchUp and this lesson and arrange them side by side (see below image) so you can easily move back and forth between the lessons and SketchUp as you go (maximizing/restoring down SketchUp as you need). But we will leave that up to your own preference.

Part 1 : Push Pull

Shows how to use the push/pull tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• Pull any flat shape into 3d
• Tips for accuracy and efficiency
• Cut away geometry
• Inferring to other geometry

Download Tutorial and open in Sketchup (should open in new window)

Part 2 : Selections

Shows how to use the select tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• Basic selections
• Window selections
• Modifier keys to add to and subtract from your selection
• Tips for accurate and quick selection sets

Part 3: Rotate

Shows how to use the rotate tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:

• How rotate works
• Examples of the rotate tool in action

Lock or define the orientation of the tool

Download Tutorial and open in Sketchup (should open in new window)

Part 4: Rectangle, Circles, and Polygons

Shows how to use the various shape tools in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Rectangles

Video Outline:
• Drawing rectangles on any surface
• Draw a perfect square or golden rectangle
• Being accurate

Circle/ Polygon

Video Outline:

• Drawing a circle or polygon
• Changing the number of sides of a circle or polygon
• Viewing addition information through the entity info dialog box

Download Tutorial and open in Sketchup (should open in new window)

Part 5: Arc

Shows how to use the arc tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• How to draw arcs
• Drawing tangent arcs
• Drawing continuous smooth arcs
• Defining number of arc segments

Download Tutorial and open in Sketchup (should open in new window)

Part 6: Move

Shows how to use the move tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• Move is an auto-selecting tool
• Pre-select objects for more control
• Moving objects with precision
• Common problems
• Select, Copy and Autofold videos will show more about the move tool

Part 7: Lines

Shows how to use the line tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:

• Best practices for drawing lines/ edges
• Drawing accurately
• Dividing edges

Download Tutorial and open in Sketchup (should open in new window)

Part 8: Eraser

Shows how to use the eraser tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• Erase single or multiple edges easily
• How to soften or hide edges with the eraser

Download Tutorial and open in Sketchup (should open in new window)

Part 9: Freehand

Shows how to use the freehand tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• Use freehand to draw free form edges

Part 10: Follow Me

Shows how to use the follow me tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• Introduction to follow-me capabilities
• Tips about how the shape and path work together
• Speedy tips that create instant follow-me results
• Creating lathed objects

Ok now you should be sufficiently saturated, to take a break. We've introduced a lot of concepts, and next lesson we will try to get you to do some more models that reinforce what you've learned.

Got a question (although you may want to hold off a bit as we will get into greater detail later in the course)? Ask us. Have comments? Post them or tell us. As always, I’m here to help.

Best regards,
Christopher Glebe, www.suasivevisual.com

Videos and tutorials produced by Google for Sketchup. For more information go to Google Sketchup.

Lesson 3 : Lets Model

2008-11-18T15:13:00.005-08:00

Now that you've been exposed to some of the basic concepts its time to put them into practice (don't worry the tutrials and videos will remind you how as you go) and learn a few new concepts. This will likely take about 2-3 hours to go through. On last time, I would advise against taking notes, just try to absorb as much as you can, I will reinforce each point with future tutorials and videos. We will cover the following points:

Part 1 : Paint Bucket
Part 2 : Lets build a simple house
Part 3: Scale
Part 4: Offset
Part 5: Tape Measure
Part 7: Protractor
Part 6: Dimensioning
Part 8: Text & 3D Text
Part 9: Axes
Part 10: Navigation
Part 11: Position Camera/ Look Around
Part 12: Walk
Part 13: Sections

For each tutorial, click on the link, click on “download model” in the new window, choose the sketchup 6 version, then open it in SketchUp and follow the on screen instructions. Once again, some warnings about these being for SketchUp 6 or read-only may pop up, but just ignore those.

You may find it useful to open both SketchUp and this lesson and arrange them side by side (see below image) so you can easily move back and forth between the lessons and SketchUup as you go (maximizing/restoring down sketchup as you need). But we will leave that up to your own preference.

Part 1 : Paint Bucket

OK lets quickly learn how to add some colour to your models. This video

shows how to use the paint bucket tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Now for another tutorial...

Dowload Introduction to Colours and Materials Tutorial. (should open in a new window)

Click the above link, download the tutorial using the "download model" button and choose sketchup 6 version, open the tutorial in sketchup and follow the tutorial's on screen instructions. Some warnings about these being for sketchup 6 or read-only may pop up, but just ignore those. This tutorial was originally made for sketchup 5, so there are some slight differences, but I am sure you will figure it out.

Part 2 : Lets build a simple house

Ok now its time for a little review, and the best way to do this is to try and apply everything you have learned. Below is a three part tutorial that will help you build a simple model of a house. Finish each tutorial in its entirety, before moving to the next part. To start each tutorial, click on the link, click on “download model” in the new window, choose the sketchup 6 version, then open it in sketchup and follow the on screen instructions. As usual, some warnings about these being for sketchup 6 or read-only may pop up, but just ignore those.

Download Tutorial "Start a Drawing, Part 1" and open in Sketchup (should open in new window)

Download Tutorial "Start a Drawing, Part 2" and open in Sketchup (should open in new window)

Download Tutorial "Start a Drawing, Part 3" and open in Sketchup (should open in new window)

After you have finished part 3 of the tutorial, lets look at a more complete version. Download the model using the below link:

Download Simple 3D House (should open in new window)

Once you have it open, and lets look at some new toolbars. Using the menus at the top, use View > Toolbars > Face style , View > Toolbars > standard, and View > Toolbars > Views to turn on some more toolbars. You should get something like this:

Save the model using File > Save As at the top of the screen. Call it "simple3Dhouse.skp". You will want to keep this for the next lesson as well.

Try out each of the new toolbar buttons that look like houses or cubes. Click on them and get an idea how they work, don't spend too long, just try them out. Don't save it again.

Ok lets go back to exploring the toolbar a little more:

Part 3: Scale

Shows how to use the scale tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 4: Offset

Shows how to use the offset tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 5: Tape Measure

Shows how to use the tape measure tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 6: Dimensioning

Shows how to use the dimension tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 7: Protractor

Shows how to use the protractor tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 8: Text & 3D Text

Shows how to use the text and 3D text tools in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 9: Axes

Shows how to use the axes tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 10: Navigation

Shows how to use the navigation tools in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 11: Position Camera/ Look Around

Shows how to use the position camera/ look around tools in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 12: Walk

Shows how to use the walk tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 13: Sections

Shows how to use the section tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

SketchUp should be a little easier to understand now. Next lesson we will review what you have learned and get you to experiment a little more.

Got a question (although you may want to hold off a bit as we will get into greater detail later in the course)? Ask us. Have comments? Post them or tell us. As always, I’m here to help.

Best regards,
Christopher Glebe, www.suasivevisual.com

Videos and tutorials produced by Google for Sketchup. For more information go to Google Sketchup.

Lesson 4 : Let's Review

2008-11-18T15:13:00.003-08:00

We've covered a lot of information and concepts using the google tutorials and videos, now its time to try experimenting with each of the toolbar tools a little on your own. We're going to watch each video again now thatyou have a firmer grasp on how to use sektchup. Open the file you save last lesson - simple3Dhouse.skp, and go through each of the videos again and spend about 5 minutes experimenting with the concepts introduced in each video and make sure you understand how each concept works. If you spend roughly 10 minutes per part, this will take about 2 hours to complete. I have been advising against notes up until now, but now may be a good time, to take some notes if you feel you need it. You also may want to bookmark google's new to sketchup video (should open in a new window) tutorials, which contains all these videos and more for your reference.

We're going to review the following 21 videos:

Part 1 : Push Pull
Part 2 : Selections
Part 3: Rotate
Part 4: Rectangle, Circles, and Polygons
Part 5: Arc
Part 6: Move
Part 7: Lines
Part 8: Eraser
Part 9: Freehand
Part 10: Follow Me
Part 11: Scale
Part 12: Offset
Part 13: Tape Measure
Part 14: Protractor
Part 15: Dimensioning
Part 16: Text & 3D Text
Part 17: Axes
Part 18: Navigation
Part 19: Position Camera/ Look Around
Part 20: Walk
Part 21: Sections

Each part will have one or two videos to watch. Watch each one in its entirety and experiment with each concept in the 3D house model.

You may find it useful to open both sketchup and this lesson and arrange them side by side (see below image) so you can easily move back and forth between the lesson and sketchup as you go (maximizing/restoring down sketchup as you need). But we will leave that up to your own preference.

Part 1 : Push Pull

Shows how to use the push/ pull tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• Pull any flat shape into 3d
• Tips for accuracy and efficiency
• Cut away geometry
• Inferring to other geometry

Part 2 : Selections

Shows how to use the select tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• Basic selections
• Window selections
• Modifier keys to add to and subtract from your selection
• Tips for accurate and quick selection sets

Part 3: Rotate

Shows how to use the rotate tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:

• How rotate works
• Examples of the rotate tool in action

Lock or define the orientation of the tool

Part 4: Rectangle, Circles, and Polygons

Shows how to use the various shape tools in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Rectangles

Video Outline:
• Drawing rectangles on any surface
• Draw a perfect square or golden rectangle
• Being accurate

Circle/ Polygon

Video Outline:

• Drawing a circle or polygon
• Changing the number of sides of a circle or polygon
• Viewing addition information through the entity info dialog box

Part 5: Arc

Shows how to use the arc tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• How to draw arcs
• Drawing tangent arcs
• Drawing continuous smooth arcs
• Defining number of arc segments

Part 6: Move

Shows how to use the move tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• Move is an auto-selecting tool
• Pre-select objects for more control
• Moving objects with precision
• Common problems
• Select, Copy and Autofold videos will show more about the move tool

Part 7: Lines

Shows how to use the line tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:

• Best practices for drawing lines/ edges
• Drawing accurately
• Dividing edges

Part 8: Eraser

Shows how to use the eraser tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• Erase single or multiple edges easily
• How to soften or hide edges with the eraser

Part 9: Freehand

Shows how to use the freehand tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• Use freehand to draw free form edges

Part 10: Follow Me

Shows how to use the follow me tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Video Outline:
• Introduction to follow-me capabilities
• Tips about how the shape and path work together
• Speedy tips that create instant follow-me results
• Creating lathed objects

Part 11: Scale

Shows how to use the scale tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 12: Offset

Shows how to use the offset tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 13: Tape Measure

Shows how to use the tape measure tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 14: Dimensioning

Shows how to use the dimension tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 15: Protractor

Shows how to use the protractor tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 16: Text & 3D Text

Shows how to use the text and 3D text tools in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 17: Axes

Shows how to use the axes tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 18: Navigation

Shows how to use the navigation tools in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 19: Position Camera/ Look Around

Shows how to use the position camera/ look around tools in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 20: Walk

Shows how to use the walk tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 21: Sections

Shows how to use the section tool in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

You are now ready to model just about anything in SketchUp. You may want to take a break from the lessons for a few days and experiment, perhaps try to apply what you have learned to an simple actual project. The next lesson we will introduce some more advanced concepts.

Got a question (although you may want to hold off a bit as we will get into greater detail later in the course)? Ask us. Have comments? Post them or tell us. As always, I’m here to help.

Best regards,
Christopher Glebe, www.suasivevisual.com

Videos and tutorials produced by Google for Sketchup. For more information go to Google Sketchup.

Lesson 5 : More Advanced Concepts

2008-11-18T15:13:00.001-08:00

By now you should have a fairly clear understanding of the basics of SketchUp. Now its time to expand that knowledge a little with the focus on getting things done a little faster.

We're going to review the following 8 videos:

Part 1: Components
Part 2: Copy and Arrays
Part 3: Mirror
Part 4: Layers
Part 5: Inferencing
Part 6: Accuracy
Part 7: Autofold
Part 8: Intersect with Model
Part 9: Inference Locking

Each part will have a video to watch. Watch each one in its entirety and experiment with each concept in the 3D house model or other models you may have saved by now. From now on its up to you to experiment with each concept (no more guided tutorials).

You may find it useful to open both sketchup and this lesson and arrange them side by side (see below image) so you can easily move back and forth between the lesson and SketchUp as you go (maximizing/restoring down sketchup as you need). But we will leave that up to your own preference.

Part 1: Components

Shows the basics of components in Google SketchUp with tips and best practices.

Part 2: Copy and Arrays

You can create quick and easy copies as well as repeated copies, or arrays.

Video Outline:
- Making one copy
- Creating multiple copies or arrays
- Changing the number of copies
- External vs Internal arrays
- Creating circular arrays

Part 3: Mirror

Although there isn't an actual mirror tool in SketchUp, it is easy to mirror anything with the scale tool.

Video Outline:
- Mirror objects using the scale tool
- Use modifier keys
- Mirror symmetrical components or shapes for efficiency

Part 4: Layers

Using layers in SketchUp is different than many other applications. This video covers how you should use layers, the layer dialog box as well as some layer tips.

Part 5: Inferencing

The way SketchUp infers to other geometry is one of the key features that makes working in SketchUp so fast and easy. It is a key concept that every SketchUp user should understand, and takes some practice to become proficient in, but you'll be so much better for doing so.

Part 6: Accuracy

This video covers multiple tools in showing how you can be accurate and precise in SketchUp.

Part 7: Autofold

Autofold is part of the move tool, activated by pressing the Alt key or Apple key on a Mac. Autofold let's you move a point, edge or surface in any direction automatically creating fold edges as needed to do so.

Part 8: Intersect with Model

Video Outline:
- What is Intersect with Model?
- Basic intersections
- Intersecting options
- Intersecting tips

Part 9: Inference Locking

Inference locking is the ability to draw or move in only one locked direction in SketchUp. This video will teach you how to use this technique and show a few examples of inference locking in use.

You should now have an idea how quickly you can model and explore concepts in Sketchup using the variety of intuitive tools built into the program.

Got a question? Ask us. Have comments? Post them or tell us. As always, I’m here to help.

Best regards,
Christopher Glebe, www.suasivevisual.com

Videos and tutorials produced by Google for Sketchup. For more information go to Google Sketchup.

Lesson 6 : Congratulations.

2008-11-18T15:12:00.000-08:00

Congratulations, you now should have all the skills you need to start using SketchUp in a professional environment. Pretty easy now that you've spent some time learning the fundamentals isn't it? Thats the great thing about SketchUp. You should be able to create and modify fairly complex models , and understand the basics of how SketchUp works. But you're 3D education doesn't end here. There are still a lot of processes and time saving tequniques you can learn.

Google offers a wide range of videos, support forums and tutorials for a variety of tasks and concepts. I've included a lot of them in these lessons, but as you work through your're first few projects, you can further expand your knowlegde and skill sby refering bhack to the past tutorials, as well as some more advanced ones that google offers.

You can find more information here:

Main website.
Bonus packs of materials and useful objects like furniture.
Forums for asking questions, finding answers and examining case studies how other users produced their models.
Video Tutorials. All the tutorials we've covered plus many more useful instructional videos. Architects and related design fields should be sure to do the tutorials found here to learn how to use SketchUp with CAD.
Self-paced tutorials are great for review and learning new skills.

Take some time to explore all the information that Google has to offer online. You should find that if you use SketchUp for your work in a couple of months it will become as easy as using AutoCAD or sketching with your pencil. Keep it up, your clients will thank you.

SketchUp does have some limitations when it comes to rendering and presentation. My company suasive_visual, can take the model's you create and import them into more advanced rendering software saving a lot of time and money. We also can create models from scratch, improve existing models, and use advance video tools to produce mroe complex renderign and animations from SketchUp itself.

If you ever have any questions? Ask us. Have comments? Post them or tell us. As always, I’m here to help.

Best regards,
Christopher Glebe, www.suasivevisual.com

Videos and tutorials produced by Google for Sketchup. For more information go to Google Sketchup.