SketchUp 2014 For Dummies

Learn to:

• Harness the power of the latest SketchUp and SketchUp Pro features
• Produce professional-quality 3D models and designs
• Develop compelling presentations to showcase your work
• Create accurate 3D models that you can print with a 3D printer

Bring your ideas to life in brilliant 3D!

With this easy-to-use guide, you can begin creating professional-looking models right away — no modeling experience necessary! Whether you’re working from your imagination or a floor plan, find out the best way to get started and transform simple lines and faces into a 3D model that you can print, share, and explore inside and out!

• Know your tools — discover how SketchUp compares to other modelling programs and learn insider tips for using SketchUp’s tools
• Piece by piece — add walls, doors, windows, additional floors, stairs, and even a roof that you can remove to reveal a building’s interior
• Stay organized — copy and space elements easily, group related elements, and nest groups within groups
• Find a look — switch among preset styles, from sketchy edges to polished lines, and add materials such as brick, wood, or paint
• Show off — share your model as an image, let others find it in the 3D Warehouse, or assemble a 3D-printable model

Open the book and find:

• A complete introduction to SketchUp and a quick tour
• Tips on making quick models, adding styles, and more
• How to draw floors, walls, and roofs
• Tricks to adding premade doors, windows, and furniture
• How to create a 3D printable model from SketchUp
• Tips on making and modifying terrain
• How to create a realistic light and shadow study
• Details of starting from a 2D CAD file