Greetings and some questions
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Hi, call me Bren. 3D modeling is not my thing (as that is music and philosophy), but I am very eager and motivated to make this one of my things through time. Unexpectedly, I entered the trial-and-error of 3D modeling, as I have lots of imagination but lack of mathematical geometrical knowledge.
I downloaded SketchUp, started learning some tools, and began constructing a still scene of a battle more or less simultaneously and enthusiastically. Within some hours, it was a scene of a tank and infantry platoon following a road approaching a tight defense of pillboxes and garrisons surrounded by tank traps and fences, while behind it there is a small village with a big church and little roads. It was primitive, but I thought it was alright for my first try and it really conveyed the meaning or intention.
Later I attempted to build a wooden watchtower which looks pretty primitive but which fairly pleased me. As you can see my enthusiasm, motivation, and imagination have no limit, but I'm somewhat held back by the lack of mathematical/geometrical knowledge.
Question: do you reckon this kind of knowledge is VERY necessary to make good models with SketchUp, or is it NOT SO MUCH necessary?
Question: how seriously did the (FORMAL) learning of geometry affect your imagination and creativity?
Question: do you work professionally with SketchUp (i.e. for money or personal professional use, etc.)?
Question: how does one attach files to forum posts?
Thank you, and thanks to Google for this fine program.
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Hi Bren, and welcome!
I'm sure you have all necessary skills eagerness, motivation and imagination.
As for myself, I last learnt mathematics in secondary school at the age of 18. Now I'm almost 43 and get along with SU pretty well.
True that my "strongest" side in maths was geometry itself but I have never studied it afterwards (though I remember quite a lot actually). All my univ studies covered some kind of humanities.
Though my everyday job is not involved with the professional use of SU, I have already worked commercially (let's use this word instead of "professional" in this context).
While you are writing (or editing) your post, under the text area there are two blue labels: "Options" and "Upload attachment". Just scroll down a bit. (In the first post of a topic you have a 3rd label "Poll" or what - ie you can create polls but use this carefully because as I found, members hate seeing too many polls
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Thank you, Gaieus, for your reply. That sounds familiar, about lastly learning math at the age of 18, as I had the same thing. Now that I think of it, I kind of wish I had continued studying mathematics instead of other things (or, rather, if possible study both directions). The things one could do with math... it's everywhere, it's such a beautiful universal language. Well, I figure I can get reacquainted with it now.
I have a simple question which might sound stupid: why is there no surface on the handles in my attempt to mimic the little closet?
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Hi Bren, hi folks.
It depends on the way you modeled that handle.
See attached SU file for ideas.
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Hi Jean. Thank you very much, it's beautiful. To tell you the truth I did what you described until scene 2 or 3, but I decided to just make an arc, copy it, move it down the Z axis, and connect some lines (if I remember correctly). I guess I made a stupid mistake.
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I figure I post this here, if you don't mind, so I can prevent spamming threads.
In this little project I can't seem to get a surface on the lowest drawer (on the inside). I thought some lines weren't connected, but I just can't seem to solve it. Any ideas?
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Another problem might be that the lines are not coplanar (i.e. not on the same plane). To check this out, try to draw a diagonal line between two opposite corners (this way you'd divide the rectangle into two triangles and triangles are always on the same plane - or in other words; three points always define a plane). If it fills the hallow then this is the problem.
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Gaieus, I took your advice and drew a diagonal line to make two triangles: only one triangle was recognized as a surface. The answer was just on my mind but it quickly slipped away already.
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I guess you should attach the model for us to have a better look.
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Hi Bren and welcome to the forum.
One thig that may help you in getting the hang of using SU is to think in terms of extrusion. I'm sure you are familiar with the Playdough machines where the child simply chooses the nozzle shape and forces the Playdough through it.
Well, modeling with SU is quite similar. Always think in terms of the base shape or the profile of what you want to model. Once you have the shape and you know in which you want it to go then you've done 50% of the work.
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@gaieus said:
I guess you should attach the model for us to have a better look.
Yes, here it is in SKP form.
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@gidon yuval said:
Hi Bren and welcome to the forum.
One thig that may help you in getting the hang of using SU is to think in terms of extrusion. I'm sure you are familiar with the Playdough machines where the child simply chooses the nozzle shape and forces the Playdough through it.
[attachment=0:3sjfduc3]<!-- ia0 -->180px-Playdoh.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:3sjfduc3]Well, modeling with SU is quite similar. Always think in terms of the base shape or the profile of what you want to model. Once you have the shape and you know in which you want it to go then you've done 50% of the work.
Yes, indeed. Thanks, Gidon. Hadn't read your reply yet, as I've been quite busy, but now that I read this it is immediately reminding me of the Follow Me tool. I managed to create a donut with it which I afterwards gave some smooth bumps and dents of different sizes. Furthermore, made some terrain, a little cabin of stone, a bucket, etc. I think it's going quite well and fast too
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