If you want to learn to create 3-D models using Google SketchUp, this Missing Manual is the ideal place to start. Filled with step-by-step tutorials, this entertaining, reader-friendly guide will have you creating detailed 3-D objects, including building plans, furniture, landscaping plans -- even characters for computer games -- in no time.
Google SketchUp: The Missing Manual offers a hands-on tour of the program, with crystal-clear instructions for using every feature and lots of real-world examples to help you pick up the practical skills you need. Learn to use the basic tools, build and animate models, and place your objects in Google Earth. With this book, you will:
Learn your way around the SketchUp workspace, and explore the differences between working in 2-D and 3-D
Build simple 3-D shapes, save them as reusable components, and use SketchUp's Outliner to show or hide them as you work
Tackle a complicated model building with lots of detail, and discover timesaving tools for using many components
Animate the model by creating an interior walkthrough of your building
Dress up your model with realistic material shading and shadows, and place it in Google Earth
It's easy to get started. Just download the program from Google.com, and follow the instructions in this book. You'll become a SketchUp master in a jiffy.
Basic SketchUp Skills
Chapter 1 Building a Bench: Your First SketchUp Model
Firing Up SketchUp for the First Time
Creating Your First SketchUp Document
Bench: Starting Your First Model
Selecting Objects
Turning Your Bench Seat into a Component
Assembling the Bench Components
Placing Components with Precision
Painting Your Bench with Materials
Adding to Your Scene
Chapter 2 Starting Off in Two Dimensions
Drawing Lines with the Line Tool
Erasing Lines and Surfaces
Drawing Polygons and Circles
Drawing Circles
Creating Complex Shapes
Drawing Rectangles and Arcs
Using the Freehand Tool
Moving Objects
Editing Geometry
Tools Tour
Chapter 3 Drawing in Three Dimensions
Navigating 3-D Drawings
Finding 3-D Inferences
Using the Push/Pull Tool
Surface Orientation and Surface Colors
Using the Move Tool in 3-D
Building a House
Chapter 4 Drawing a Basic House
Locking an Inference
Working with Sloped Surfaces
Making Doors and Windows
Using the Offset Tool
Building a Roof with an Overhang
Initial Landscaping: Front Walk and Driveway
Chapter 5 Working Smarter with Groups and Components
Creating a Group
Creating Components
Speeding Up Construction with Arrays
Editing Components
Using the Make Unique Command
Exploring the Components Window
Using the Flip Along Command
Exploding Components and Groups
Deleting Components
Using Dynamic Components
Chapter 6 Changing Styles and Applying Materials
Changing Face Styles
Applying Colors and Materials (Windows)
Applying Colors and Materials (Mac)
Changing Face Styles: Take 2 (Mac and Windows)
Working in the Styles Window
Editing and Modifying Styles
Modifying Styles Using the Mix Tab
Chapter 7 Organizing with Outliner and Layers
Organizing with Outliner
Building Stairs: The Divide and Conquer Method
Working with Layers
Advanced Construction Techniques
Chapter 8 Drawing a Hipped Roof and Using Follow Me
Making Construction Lines
Using the Protractor Tool
Using the Follow Me Tool
Preselecting the Path for the Follow Me Tool
Making Spheres with Follow Me
Making Complex Profiles Follow a Path
Following Complex or Irregular Paths
Making Stairs and a Railing
Chapter 9 Advanced Techniques for Groups and Components
Making Groups and Components
Understanding SketchUp's Sticky Behavior
Editing a Group
Creating Components with "Glue to" Options
Copying and Placing Components
Placing Components in Your Model
Editing Components
Saving Components for Reuse
Swapping Components in Your Model
Chapter 10 Matching Your Photos in SketchUp
How Photo Match Works
Shooting Photos for Photo Match
Importing a Photo for Photo Match
Calibrating the Photo Match Image
Building a Model from a Picture
Applying an Image to a Model
Creating 3-D Details from a Texture Image
Finding Models with Photo Textures
Adding Realism and Movement
Chapter 11 Adding Shadows and Placing Your Model in Google Earth
Flicking the Light Switch
Changing Shadow Angles
Controlling the Strength of the Shadows
Choosing Whether Faces and Edges Cast Shadows
Chapter 12 Saving Views and Animating with Scenes
Creating a Scene
Studying Shadow Movement with Scenes
More Ways to Move the Camera
View Cross-Sections with Section Planes
Saving, Printing, and Sharing Projects
Chapter 13 Importing, Exporting, and Printing
Importing 3-D Models
Importing 2-D Images
Exporting from SketchUp
Exporting from SketchUp Pro
Exporting Animations
Printing SketchUp Views
Chapter 14 Finding, Creating, and Sharing Components
Finding Components in the 3D Warehouse
Creating a Dynamic Component (SketchUp Pro Only)
Sharing Components
Chapter 15 Designing Edge Styles in Style Builder (SketchUp Pro)
Style Builder Overview
Creating Images for New Sketchy Edge Styles
Editing Strokes in Style Builder
Opening a New Style in SketchUp
Chapter 16 Presenting Your Model with LayOut (SketchUp Pro)
Christopher Grover lives in Fairfax, California with his wife and two daughters. Chris received degrees in Creative Writing and Film from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. He's worked as a technical writer, advertising copywriter and product publicist for more than 25 years. His freelance articles have been published in a variety of magazines from Fine Homebuilding to CD-ROM World. Chris's latest project is launching Bolinas Road Creative, an agency that helps small businesses promote their products and services. He's also the author of Word 2007: The Missing Manual and Word 2007 for Starters: The Missing Manual.
