Search This Blog

Monday 31 October 2011

Tips on how to use Google skethup

Hi!
Today I will give a few tips on how to use 'Google Sketchup' ^^ a software that allows you to produce 3D modeling.  When you are using Sketchup, avoid using other applications because the system will tend to slow down due to lack of memory space.  
What is 3D Art?
Producing object that can be seen from any angle.  It has depth, proportion, shape and volume.
What is the difference between 3D Art and digital 3D Art?
Digital 3D Art can be animated and editing can be done on it to give a better presentation.
The advantage of 3D modeling:  
Corrections, editing can be done to the virtual model.
The model can be viewed from every point in an animation video.
Notes:
Panning/pan: a tool used in sketchup that allows you to move the object on the screen
Make a Closed Loop: means the line drawn must end at its starting point
These tips will come in useful when you start using Sketchup.

To open Sketchup on Apple mac:
Go to Finder_Application_Sketchup
Choose: Simple Template_meters

Mouse tips:
Roll the centre button to change the position of the origin.
Press the centre button to get the orbit tool used to view the image in different planes.

Keyboard shortcuts:
The command key as shown in the picture below:
On some keyboards the command key has the apple logo on it instead of the word command.

Press command key and 'Z' will undo.
Press command key and 'B' will turn cursor to orbit tool.
Press command key and 'C' will copy.
Press command key and 'X' will cut.
Press command key and 'V' will paste.

To make a square:
Choose the icon square tool.  Hold the mouse button and drag until icon 'square' appears.  If the icon 'Golden section' shows up, it means that the quadrilateral obtained is not a square. 
Measurements are displayed at the lower rigth corner of the display, for example you can select the square then enter 1m,1m in that measurement box then press enter on the keyboard to obtain a square with the 1m by 1m dimensions.
Note: To display the large tool set, go to: View_Toolbars_Large tool set
To include more 3D dimensions to the square or rectangle, use the push, pull tool.  You can then turn the shape into a 3d form like for ex: a cube or cuboid.
To undo, you can also go to Edit_Undo or use keyboard shortcut command and 'Z'.

These were some of the basics.  Look forward to my next post where I'll expalin how to make a pyramid on Google Sketchup ^_^
    

No comments:

Post a Comment