Hillarys: the project

According to Sam various designs of SketchUp mix perfectly with the surrounding environment and it takes appropriate space. By using SketchUp introduction of various material links many zones, increase sophistication, and give a very minimalist approach to the design.

Most of the owners wanted maximum use of outdoor space and also created a view from the inside. In this place, a glass pool window was framed into the designs for providing beautiful pictures.

SketchUp to reality

Sam founded this company, De Vries Designs in 2018. He founded this company after working in Perth’s landscape firm, Tim Davies Landscaping. He would come to WA before working in the mining industry.

Sam has a specific flair for pools and landscaping. In portfolio Sam shows about his high end work. He would love those particular projects which help him to be a designer.

He has a background in construction. His father was a builder. Sam completed a bachelor of design and major subject was industrial design at Victoria university of Wellington. So he has experience of both sides of the industry.

He started to use SketchUp at university in 2008. One lecturer from university introduced SketchUp with Sam or students of class. After that he used SketchUp every time while working.

He also said that SketchUp has various advantages.

1. It is very easy to learn and easy to use.
2. SketchUp helps to easily translate the ideas and concepts for a site.
3. Sketch also has a great advantage that it is able to communicate ideas and concepts easily with the clients because this software can show the clients their planning in 3D.
4. Users also can adjust the plan very easily in the office or sites. Users also can modify various things without any hesitations.

He makes a model and designs the landscaping in the actual setting. So the clients properly see the actual planning and users understand that the model can work both in a visual and practical way.

Sam also used SketchUp as part of the approval process. When he shows the models to the clients specially the cross sections so they can understand the whole modelling process.

Sam said that he believes that during the construction phase the looks of projects are also very important. He takes his tablets everywhere. To show the contractors the SketchUp renders is very important. They understand the project better and a detail of information is also included in this.

SketchUp software also affects the personal skill of Sam. SketchUp proves that what is designed is what is built. He can show the potential customers of his previous projects and also compare the designs to photos of the finished projects.

So the customers can understand that they will get in real life what is on the screen. This software increases their confidence level.

Features

• SketchUp pushes the abilities of the designers.
• It also extends the creativity of users.
• SketchUp also helps the users to explore various ideas practically.

The post De Vries Design Completed Projects with SketchUp appeared first on SketchUpFamily.

SketchUp is useful right from the initial phases of the design to the completion of the project. We’ve compiled some of the best plugins will have a detailed discussion about them and their uses in 3d Modelling.

How to Install Sketchup Plugins

Once you’ve downloaded a .RBZ file from the innerwebs save it to where SketchUp can find it. By default, that location is your Sketchup/Tools folder. In older versions of SketchUp you’ll need to use your Sketchup/Plugins folder.

After your file is in that folder, close and restart Sketchup.

When you reopen SketchUp your plugin will initialize. Depending on the plugin, using its functions may vary.

Edge Tools

ThomThom’s handy palette of edge-related tools saves you time in multiple ways, enabling quick simplification of imported DWG site plans, the ability to split a face into multiple planes, and – most significantly – highlighting of imperfections so you can clean up your model in a flash of seconds.

Simplify Contours Tool

This Plugin allows you to select the topographic lines (Contours) and simplify them as much as you want/need. If you’re original topographic lines were splines in AutoCAD this is definitely a must, for your model.

Purge All

Purges’ your model of unused Components, Layers, Tags, Materials and Styles: its dialog makes each type optional: there is also an optional closing Report showing numbers, or a Log file also listing the names of the purged items.

Clean Up

A superb plugin to remove unnecessary coplanar edges and clean up imported geometry. This SketchUp extension can also be used to:

Fix duplicate component definition names (when in model scope)

• Purge unused items
• Erase hidden geometry

Angular Dimension

Angular dimension helps you measure the right angle. his tool comes under the features of marking dimensions in SketchUp. Whenever you need to mark a distance and angle in your model, linear dimension and angular dimension prove to be very useful.

Section Cut Face

If you are looking for a plugin to create your section slices in SketchUp you are in the right place. This plugin will create a group of the section cut you select and fill it up automatically.

Sketchy FFD

It is an exclusive SketchUp extension that includes a control cage to an object facilitating the mesh to be operated through control points.

QuadFace Tools

It’s an organic Modelling extension that allows you to create organic shapes. What it does is smooth out geometry to make it look more organic. The reason this is important is that it works best with shapes that are made out of quads, or 4 sided pieces of geometry.

LSS Matrix

It is an extension of Sketchup, which allows advanced copying of groups and component instances.

Mirror

This extension helps to select objects by picking 1/2/3 points to define a point/line/plane: then choose to Keep/Delete the original objects.

Fredo6: Bezier Spline

This extension draws a variety of Polylines, Bezier, and Spline curves, all in 3D. Version 2.1a fixes issues related to icon size.

Weld

Weld allows you to join multiple connected edges, curves, and arcs.

Selection Toys

Selection Toys is a set of commands to manipulate selections. Filter out particular geometry based on edge, faces, groups, and components. An extensive suite of tools that allows you to customize your toolbar as you wish using the UI Settings using Tools > Selection Toys > UI Settings.

Curviloft

Curviloft is a script dedicated to Loft and Skinning, that is, the generation of surfaces from contours. Loft by Spline joins separate contours, open or closed, by smooth splines. Loft along Path joins contours, along a given rail curve. Skinning creates surfaces bounded by 4 or 3 contiguous contours.

Soap and Bubble

The free plugin gives modelers the ability to easily create a multi-faceted face inside of a closed group of three or more lines. It’s as simple as selecting the lines, starting up the plugin, telling it how many faces you want the new face to have, and then sit back to watch it work its magic. The plugin also lets to inflate or deflate the new face after it has been created.

FredoScale

FredoScale is a plugin for Sketchup, Programmed by Fredo6, for Interactively applying a number of geometric transformations, such as Scaling, Tapering, Stretching, Plane Shear, Twisting, Bending, and Rotation.

With FredoScale one can orientate the selection box around a set of objects and interactively apply a number of geometric transformations, such as Scaling, Tapering, Stretching, Plane Shear, Twisting, Bending, and Rotation. By extension, some transformations can be done without a selection box.

Random Push Pull

Randomly Push Pull faces to a min and max value

CLF Shape Bender

Create a shape to bend. It must be a group or a component. Then select a single horizontal (red axis) line to use as the base for bending. Then select the curve that the shape will bend to match. Wait for it to think, then it will show a grid and preview of where your object is going to transform to. Press the Up-Arrow key to toggle the orientation of the bend.

Access the plugin via Plugins > Chris Fullmer Tools > Shape Bender, or there is a Shape Bender toolbar.

Multiple Offsets

As you start working with more advanced shapes in SketchUp, sometimes you need the ability to offset multiple faces at once, or the ability to offset edges multiple times with the same tool. This plugin allows you the ability to do both of these things.

Joint Push or Pull

Joint Push Pull is an extension from Fredo6 that contains a number of tools to expand the face extrusion functions in SketchUp. Practically, this means that you can now push pull multiple and curved surfaces within SketchUp. In addition, tools like Vector Push Pull allow you to extrude the footprint of a curved surface into a flat shape, and more!

Conclusion

The tools and plugins listed above are only the ones we believe are the most important or interesting to know for any user who wants to get started. One thing is for sure: For whatever project is there in hand there’s a SketchUp tool that can solve it in a highly efficient way.

The post Top Amazing SketchUp Plugins for dynamic 3D Modelling appeared first on SketchUpFamily.

SketchUp is available as freeware with SketchUp Make and it also has a paid version named SketchUp Pro. It available with an online library named 3D warehouse. Free model assemblies like windows and vehicles are also available in this 3D based warehouse. Users can use and share this with many people.

This is not very tough to learn so users can easily learn to use this software. Though pro version has many options but users can work by using the free version also.

Scan2CAD helps the users to learn tracing through SketchUp. In SketchUp different ways for tracing an image for SketchUp CAD/CNC. Users are also able to download scan2CAD at free of cost.

Tracing

Tracing is also known as vectorization. This process can convert a raster image to a vector image. Vectorization is a process like graphic design and engineering.

Vector images allow the crucial data to be attached to each element of an image. Vector images are scalable. So, users are able to display them at any size and quality of the image also remains. Users can easily edit every object within a vector image. While creating new designs users can reuse them also.

There is two type of tracing available here. One is manual tracing and another is automatic tracing.

Manual tracing: In this type of tracing users have to draw over a raster image. Users also can use tablet or graphics pen for a better version. Advantage of manual tracing is Users don’t need to use high quality raster images.

Automatic tracing: In this tracing conversion software is needed for using. This software is able to detect shapes and lines in the raster image and draw over the image with vector entities.

Tracing Process

To import images: Users have to click File > Import. Here size of the images does not matter. Users are able to alter the scale of image at the end. Users also can zoom the image to view.

To use bright color: Users have to click window > styles > profile. Before starting users have to pick the color of trace. Users must ensure that the colors bright for seeing it over the image.

To trace over image: Users have to use the drawing tools like line and arc. Users also can zoom the image to view it properly.

To alter the scale: After that users can alter the scale of the image without reducing the quality as per their choices.

Narrowness

1. If the image is complex then it can be time consuming using SketchUp.
2. Automatic tracing is not possible in this method.

Alternative Method

1. Users can easily vectorize the images using illustrator.
2. Users are able to export the vector paths in a DWG or DXF format.
3. If deadline of a project is about to meet then this method is very time saving process.
4. Automatic tracing is one of the best advantages of it.
5. Users are also able to do this by using CorelDRAW and Inkscape.

Scan2CAD

This software specializes in conversion of technical drawing for editing the vector images. Users are able to convert various types of drawing by using pre-programmed variable with the vectorization setting. Users also get a conversion that is very suited to particular image type. In a second users can convert contour maps, mechanical drawing or images for CNC. After all of that users can use the output vector in SketchUp or a CAD program.

Users are able to avoid common image issues and optimize the images by using scan2CAD’s raster and vector editing suite for getting the best result. This software has different raster effects and a raster quality checklist. By using this, users are able to fix any kind of problems. By using the Smart OCR users can train the software to recognize new fonts or handwriting. If the deadline of project is about to meet then users can use the batch processing to automate the conversion of more than hundred files at a time.

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The SketchPlus extension for SketchUp adds over 30 easy-to-use tools, such as selection filtering, selection memory, mirroring, and aligning, which are common to other modeling applications. It designs for seamless integration into any existing workflow. These tools build to work together intuitively, making them as easy to use as SketchUp. Before you know it, you’ll wonder how you ever used SketchUp without them.

Why do you use SketchPlus?

SketchUp’s enormous following should come as no surprise since it’s one of the most popular digital design tools. It is a constant task for developers to develop plug-ins that improve the software’s basic functionality. There are many smaller developers as well as big companies who contribute to the plug-in community.

As you can see, SketchPlus has much more to offer than you might expect. You can, for instance, create curved lines and edit them with some plug-ins. You can also build 3D models quickly and easily with some programs.

You can turn SketchUp into a professional design tool when you use the right plug-ins, such as SketchPlus for SketchUp.

You can find the extension library by heading over there. Almost everything that you might need is available in these plug-ins. You can choose from more than 500. Also, you must check each SketchPlus offers review from the community to help you decide if it is right for you and what you’re looking for.

Features of SketchPlus

1. Filtering by selection
2. Select Lasso
3. Choosing Polygon Lassos
4. Choosing a Face Deeply
5. Painter Selection
6. All instances should be selected
7. The Previous & Next selection buttons (Selection Memory)
8. This is the component finder
9. Recursive Explode+ (Explode+)
10. Changing Axes +
11. Reflection+
12. A smart array of sensors
13. An array of Path Components & Copy components along the Path
14. Replacing Component+
15. Spin the wheel randomly
16. Scale of randomness
17. Choosing a random position
18. Objects are dropped on the below-surface when you drop+ (Drop+)
19. Return to origin
20. Wedges
21. Make it align
22. Moving to Z
23. The ground is flattened
24. Tool for Spheres
25. Tool for conical shaped objects
26. Tool Torus
27. You can make faces with Faces+
28. Entities with recursive properties, groups, or components should be removed
29. Tags such as recursive entities, components, faces, and edges should be untagged
30. Faces painted in deep colors.

Advantages of SketchUp

1. You’ll save time and money with these tools and features.
2. You do not need to manage as many plug-ins.
3. Consistent and intuitive user interface. The interface is very similar to SketchUp.
4. This Plug-in provides first-class support and maintenance.
5. SketchUp Pro v10 and later is compatible.
6. When updating to a new SketchUp version or SketchPlus version, there is less effort to do so.
7. Comparatively, fewer training sessions are required. In SketchUp’s Instructor panel, you will find tutorials.
8. The latest documentation.
9. Bugs and plug-in conflicts are less likely to occur. SketchPlus tools don’t conflict with each other.
10. Search and download plug-ins take less time.

Final Thoughts

When there are so many different digital design software programs available, it can be challenging to start. It is crucial to becoming familiar with each tool and method. SketchPlus plug-in for SketchUp is only one software still stands out as a great choice for beginners, however. Many architects begin their careers by learning 3D modeling with SketchUp.

The post What Sketch-Plus for SketchUp Does & What Its Advantages Are appeared first on SketchUpFamily.

SketchUp (SKP) to Blender

SKP is the only format that is available for export in the free version of SketchUp. It is possible to work around the issue, but it takes some effort.

No additional software needs for the easiest method. Since we cannot export our model directly from the platform, you must upload your model to 3D Warehouse and then download it in Collada extension format. Following this, you can import the file to Blender, as you did previously. You will proceed as follows:

1. Your model should appear in the SketchUp online window.
2. You can access the menu by clicking the icon in the upper left corner.
3. 3D WAREHOUSE is the place to go.
4. Please specify if you would like public or private access to the model.
5. Fill in the title and the description of the project. Fields that are mandatory are important later.
6. Upload your file by clicking “Upload”.
7. Go to the 3D Warehouse website once the upload is complete.
8. Enter your model’s title in the search bar at the top. You need to be logged in if you uploaded it as a private model.
9. You can download your model by clicking the “Download” button located on the model page.
10. Select “Collada File” from the drop-down list.
11. Download the file and unzip it.
12. Choose File > Import > Collada (.DAE) in Blender.
13. Located in the unzipped folder is the .DAE file.
14. Import by clicking twice.

Alternative Method

It is also possible to transfer your SketchUp models to Blender using another workaround. It is possible to import native SketchUp files directly into a blender using an add-on. Fortunately, you can still download all versions of Blender. Several versions of the software can install on your computer at once. Importing SketchUp files directly through File, Import is easy with the add-on.

Compatibility Issue

Even though Blender is a free program, it not intends for casual hobbyists. After the release of version 2.8, all the features and tools might overwhelm a beginner. Be aware that the tantalizingly powerful features of Blender are impossible to escape once you learn them.

In SketchUp, it is possible to export files that are compatible with Blender, and it is possible to download models from 3D Warehouse in a format that is friendly to Blender. SketchUp, which is free and online, produces only its native format (SKP), which Blender cannot directly import.

Final Thoughts

A broad range of professionals and hobbyists use Blender, while it is open-source software. It can use not only for 3D modeling but also for rendering, animation, simulation, sculpting, visual effects, and game development. Due to SketchUp’s architecture-centric focus, most users render their models with Blender.

Blender may not be as powerful as SketchUp plug-ins, but there are a few that are. Besides building and structuring buildings and structures for games, SketchUp is also very useful for converting them into a final game. From everyday objects to vehicles and houses, you can find all kinds of models on the community platform 3D Warehouse. SketchUp users create the designs, so the source for free models is great.

The post A short guide to Import SketchUp files into Blender appeared first on SketchUpFamily.

Plugin Name: Quad Face Tools
Plugin Developer: Thom Thom
Plugin Cost: Free! Please remember to donate to your developers.

Why Quads?

Some of you may have seen an extension out there called SubD. It’s an organic modeling extension that allows you to create organic shapes. What it does is the reason this is important is that it works best with shapes that are made out of quads, or 4 sided pieces of geometry. This toolset is designed to help you work with quads. However, it also has a number of useful selection tools as a week. One other thing to note is that many extensions, like curviloft and vertex tools, are designed to work with quads as a base functionality.

Where can you get it?

You can download it from the SketchUcation warehouse.

Tools Quad analysis -:

This will analyze your model and colorizes shapes based on if their geometry is quad based. As you can see, objects that are blue are triangles, objects that are green are quads, and objects that are red are Ngons or shapes with more than 5 sides.

Select Ring

The select ring allows you to expand the number of objects you have selected based on objects you already have selected. For example, in the sphere, you can select all the vertical lines using expand selection.

Select Loops

Select loops will basically select an entire line from end to end. This can be a giant timesaver as it allows you to quickly and easily hide and unhide hidden geometry.

Convert Sandbox

Convert sandbox allows you to convert a sandbox grid, which comes in as tri shapes, into a series of quads, allowing quad based modeling of sandbox shapes.

Convert Wireframe

Convert wireframe to quads will generate quad based geometry out of a wireframe grid.

Convert Triangulated

Convert triangulated mesh to quad will allow you to take a piece of geometry that’s a 4 sided shape with a triangulated edge and convert it to quad geometry. The triangulation tools allow you to adjust the way quads are triangulated, as well as removing and adding triangulation to objects.

Build Corners and Build Ends

It will attempt to generate quad corners and ends in your geometry. You will have a bit of trouble getting these to work properly. It has UV mapping tools for mapping textures as well as transition quads from smooth to unsmooth.

Insert loops

Insert loops allows you to insert geometry between the object you have selected.

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Adding a Flex Fence Compound

We have talked a lot about flex tools in our previous articles, but basically, it’s a dynamic component extension that you can quickly create everything from like doors to windows to ramps. Now we have a new feature, a new component for fencing. This feature allows you to quickly add dynamic fencing components in your model and you can adjust them. When you adjust them they are going to dynamically adjust in order to fill into the space that you have set them for.

Four Different Styles of Fencing

There are four different styles of Fencing that you can create-:

A) Pickets between Post & Inline with Rails – Centered
B) Pickets between Post & inline with Rails – Equal Spacing
C) Pickets between Post & Beside Rails – Equal Spacing
D) Pickets between Post ( Hidden post) – Equal Spacing

In the Flex Fence Advanced Options you can add more details like:

• Postbase and post top
• Picket arches (scalloped fence)
• Custom rail widths
• A handrail

Other Possible Style of Fence

There are tons of different options in here that you can do in order to adjust the way your fences are created. So for example, if we right-click on the fence, go to our component option. Here you can adjust the width of the pickets, after adding the value you can notice the pickets have different sizes. This will effect your spacing.

Flex Fence Collection

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In today’s article, we are going to discuss an extension that gives us a better follow-me tool inside Sketchup. So let’s get started!

Creating an extrusion with MAJ follow me

This extension is called Maj Follow Me. It’s a free extension and you can download it from the sketch education Wearhouse website. Basically, it creates profiles inside SketchUp. MAJ Follow Me can select a shape from a list. The shape will follow the mouse pointer in Sketchup. In any place, you click you will have a fixpoint, and a double click will make your 3D. You can add a shape to the list (and save it on the hard disk) from Sketchup group, component, or single face simply. Rotate added to Follow Me types. This extension is useful for all Sketchup users. The rotate type will be available for paid MAJ Follow Me.

Picking up different profiles with MAJ follow me

This has few built-in profiles also create Custom profiles. When you install it, you get different options. So the first option is the Draw option. The draw option is going to give you types of following me which you can use and the length and height scale of your shape which you can change and also there are some built-in profiles that include a custom profile.

Adding an object with MAJ follow me

When we activate the custom option, we can start to extrude any point. For example, by clicking the mouse we can add points then double click on the points. You can see how the points have taken profile and it is extruding it along the path. Instead of messing it around with the follow-me tool, you can just create a profile.

Changing the orientation of an object with Arrow keys

One thing you might notice, Maj Follow me has some hotkeys in order to flip the profile. By using these keys, you can set any object to flip inside your model. This can be also a good function for following around in segment curves.

Normal and Directional Extrusions – Keep Objects Upright

You will also notice, when you run this extension, there is an option called Directional. It maintains the vertical orientation. You can use this to follow along in twisting any shape. It is going to be a better option for complex shapes.

The post A Better follow me tool in SketchUp appeared first on SketchUpFamily.

Using Move tool to create single copies

A lot of people do to make copies across the space is they use copy paste function. This takes a lot of time to do it. You can definitely do it , but there is a much faster way to do multiple copies of objects. The way to do this – move the Move Tool and use the array function. So the array function works is you can activate the move tool to go in the copy mode and then tap the control key (Clt) and notice that you get a Plus as an icon. Plus means icon is in copy mode. Then click , you will notice the object has been copied , but if you tap control key , it will not be in copy mode. You can use this to do multiple copies and save time.

Copying multiple objects at once with the move tool

You can also copy multiple objects with the move tool. For example, if you want to copy an object twice then click on the object , press shift key and tap the M key and tap the control key and now when you click and move your mouse, you will notice there are two object copies by using single time move tool.

Creating multiple objects with Arrays by using move tool

Not only you can create individual copies but you can make a arrays of copies with this move tool. Let’s say we have make a copy four times in an object. We can activate the move tool, tap control key to be in a copy mode and then we will single click and move my mouse , making sure that this along in this space. Press start key on your keyboard and type the number of copies needed. Here we need four copies, so we have tapped on four. We will notice that there are four number of copies created. So it is real easy to make copies in copy mode.

Creating equally spaces copies with Arrays by using Move tool

Its not only can you do that multiplication, you can also do that with division. So let’s say , I have to create copy by clicking moving my mouse, I can also type in divided by forward slash key and then the number of copies I can create so I type in divided by 3 or divided by 4 . Notice I can adjust number of copies , as long as I don’t click somewhere else.

The post The Best Way to Create Multiple Copies Fast in Sketchup appeared first on SketchUpFamily.

1) Push Pull Connected Faces

So the first function is one of the functions that are basically everyone or just everyone uses the Push Pull Tool for. One if the great things about it is this tool is really great for push pulling connected faces. Like for example, draw a wall with the help of push pull tool. Here we can create a wall with connected faces and extrude it. In a single click , we can push pull a sing connection of faces.

2) Cutting Holes

Function two is cutting a hole in an object using push pull tool. One of the built in features of push pull tool is giving us the ability to cut a hole in an object as long as the faces are parallel to each other. Example given above , the wall, we will create an opening into the wall. If I Push Pull this to the back phase, you will notice automatically push pull will cut a hole in the wall or any object. Because of that we can use quickly and easily create openings within a wall.

3) Inferencing

Another one is a great function of push pull tool is the ability to use inferencing. Let’s take the wall example to make it easy to understand. We will create a door on the wall. The nice thing about push pull tool is it automatically goes into an inferencing mode. Meaning , it basically , where ever we move our mouse , this will inference , where ever we put our mouse over. So in this case , in order to cut a hole for the door, we have to push pull it parallel with the back wall or we can just put our mouse over the thickness of the wall anywhere above the line , in order to do this , it will automatically inference to whatever the thickness the wall has. Thus can also be useful in setting heights of an objects.

4) Remove Geometry

We can also use this tool to add and remove geometry. For example, we create a house and we have to make it’s roof. We can draw a pair of triangle lines. We can use the Push Pull to remove the extra geometry lines above triangle lines. We don’t only need this tool to add geometry but we can also remove geometry.

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