Ever morphing deep ocean guzzlers, Google, swallowed another little fish recently. And while they could probably yawn and absorb much of the IT populations of small countries by accident, the tasty morsel that is ‘Sketch Up‘ seems to fit nicely into their plans : it being a 3D application that allows integration of models into Google Earth.
Vat Ist Sketch Up Pro 5?
Aiming to ‘bridge the divide between design utility and fun’, Sketch-Up Pro 5 is a 3D application that allows quick and spontaneous exploration of 3D ideas, with the capacity to integrate these into other programs. Popular with architects, set designers, game developers and graphic artists for exploring conceptual ideas, it combines powerful features with an intuitive and easy to use feel. Easy enough to jump in without the manual and play, but with plenty of various techniques, shortcuts and features to grow into.
Google SketchUp & Google Earth
After purr-chase by the Googlers, a free ‘Google SketchUp’ version has become available, lacking the Pro features, but still a free and powerful 3D application. Both the Google and Pro versions allow users to export their 3D models into Google Earth – the crazy 3D fly-through of the globe built from a database of satellite photos. You can even find your house on Google Earth, import the aerial photo and terrain into Sketch-Up and send it back to Google Earth. A 3D warehouse is built into the menu system which allows easy sharing – uploading and downloading of models created by the SketchUp community. You can also ‘geo-reference’ these models so they’ll “know” where they belong in Google Earth. With the free version freshly out there, there’s already a surge of 3D models being shared – including midi controllers, hammocks, sculptures, cars and all manner of houses. Remains to be seen if Google Earth will allow you to build and place, say, a Tibetan monastery ( given China’s claim over Tibet & Google’s bowing to Chinese censorship ). See also, sci-fi author Bruce Sterling’s take on the marriage of Sketch-Up & Google.
SketchUp Pro Features
– Print and export raster images at higher-than-screen resolution.
– 3D export formats: DWG, DXF, 3DS, OBJ, XSI, VRML and FBX.
– Export animations and walkthroughs as MOV (Mac) or AVI (Windows) files.
– Sandbox Tools (for organic modeling of terrain, etc) and the Film & Stage Tools (for pre-viz work).
– Free email tech support for two years after they buy SketchUp Pro.
– SketchUp Pro is approved for commercial use; the Free version is licensed for personal use only.
Aside from the Google Earth Plug-ins, SketchUp Pro also has a range of plug-ins also allow the exporting of SketchUp models into ArchiCAD, VectorWorks, Artlantis R, the ArcGIS geodatabase, or the importing of shapefiles ( .shp ) from a GIS system to help build a 3D model.
It also includes a ‘Film & Stage’ plug-in which ‘includes an enhanced camera tool and several pre-visualisation components that enable rapid development of studio sets. Choose from an array of cameras, lights, dollies, cranes, grips, characters and more. Use the enhanced Camera feature to quickly and easily plan shots, calculate camera angles, and obtain a 3D visual of the scene before filming.’
All-up there is certainly a ‘professional’ feel about the way it operates, enough depth that hangs off the quick and easy 3D modelling and modifying you can do. The interface is great and packed with useful tools – it feels easy to use. Materials and texture can be played with on surfaces, shadowcasting can be done to suit various times of day and test solar conditions, and camera angles and field of view can be changed. And it’s also well supported with a good forum and FAQ list, and an excellent range of video tutorials for download.
Requirements? US$495 and…
PC: Windows 2000, XP Home, or XP Pro, 600 MHz Pentium III processor, 128 MB RAM, 80 MB of available hard disk space, OpenGL compliant Graphics card.
Mac : OS X 10.3 or later, 400 MHz PowerPCâ„¢ G4, 128 MB RAM, 80 MB of available hard disk space, OpenGL compliant Graphics card.
Value?
SketchUp Pro will probably appeal to a specific audience already well familiar with the likes of ‘weighty-apps’ like CAD, Maya or Bryce 3D, and prove more useful to some than game engines such as Quake and Unreal Tournament, because of it’s quicker yet quite specific ways it can build in 3D. Google Sketch Up will satisfy the needs of most others, and the tight integration with the Google Earth platform is a definite plus for both apps.