Google Sketchup

So I figured I would try learn Google Sketch-Up as a way of getting perspective right.

I could design simple models on Sketchup, print them, make images based on those sketches and then elaborate and add my own detail and such.

Heres how it went anyway.



I started by making this front. I made a rectange, extruded a cuboid out of it, then proceded to make more rectanges and pushing them inwards... I dont know the opposite of the word extrude. Intrude? Even making an arch was easy with the curved line tool. This program really appeals to me as its so easy to start with. As I tried to do more complex stuff it wasnt so easy though.

One problem I ran into already is that to make a symmetrical design it requires a lot of faffing about with the Tape Measure tool, so if I want to learn this program that is one thing I will need to learn to use properly.


I then decided to make a kind of church or monastery based on a skeleton type symbol I seem to keep drawing, I dont know where it comes from. I am not religious but it seems to resemble a crucifix / fish bone. Odd.

It wasn't hard to make the roofs, just drawing simple shapes and extruding them is an easy process. I think it requires you to get used to how the program works, plan your model on paper then work through it methodically. This program certainly doesnt lend itself well to designing on the go as if you mess something its extremely difficult to correct it.


This is how the model looks from above. Its really difficult to get it to look symmetrical as I havn't found a way to tell the program exactly which plain you want to move an object along, I cant find a way to do it. Maybe this is a limitation of Google Sketchup?
My freind has told me if modelling is all I want to do, I may find Maya easier. Maya is the photoshop of the 3D modelling world so I'm told, you can do everything on it from simple modelling, textures and lighting, to fluid physics and animation.


Making a cone was annoying, I found a simple guide on how to do it from google though and it turned out to be very easy using the Copy/Follow tool. The results werent ace though. It said the best way to do would be to work from the central axis point of the whole design plane but surely you couldn't always do that?





This is how the building ended up looking from the front. I'll carry on playing with this.

Here is an example of what SketchUp is capable of...