Do i want to invest my time into learning sketchup?

plot-paris · 5 Sept 2008, 07:51

this harrier model is indeed quite nice - especially the organisation is remarcable.

I guess it is an import though. some of the missiles are components (makes sense for they reapear in the model), but are named "Group#63". If you don't bother renaming components, SketchUp would call them "Component#63".

but I totally agree with johnsenior1973. there are quite a lot of people capable of creating a model like this.

if you file through the gallery section of this forum you will find some nice stuff. have a look at Solo's form and function furniture thread for example. or at silvershadow's "eye candy" , that really blew me away.
or it is allways worth having a look at kwistenbiebel's works. one of my favourites of his was his life... on another planet
there are many other threads in the gallery with stunning images. spend some time there and you are bound to learn SketchUp

[Edit] and if you are interested in vehicles, GreenToaster for example is spamming the forum on a regular basis
(don't take me too seriously, Brad - but 40 pages?... )

Gaieus · 5 Sept 2008, 08:19

This was also pure sketchup and though there are some modeling glitches or better say it could have been modeled more "wisely", it's quite nice and kind of "organic":

http://www.tar.hu/wapmacska/su/mayfloweruvegben.skp

Alan Fraser · 5 Sept 2008, 08:33

It's often quite difficult to decide what has and hasn't been modelled from scratch in SketchUp on the Warehouse. I'd guess that the vast majority of the decent cars and airplanes have either been modelled in other apps like Max or have simple "escaped" from commercial collections like Dosch or Di Espona, aided by people who don't ever read a EULA.

Stuff that I can absolutely vouch for as original SU work are the aircraft and vehicles by Gabriel Concha. The majority of these are only around 300-400 KB, compared with between 5-10 MB on the Warehouse. Our Webmeister Coen is no slouch either when it comes to organic modelling .

So the answer is a definite Yes...you can model anything in SU

Stinkie · 5 Sept 2008, 09:00

@alan fraser said:

So the answer is a definite Yes...you can model anything in SU

Let's be serious, shall we? When it comes to organic modeling, SU shouldn't be your first choice. Its toolset is just too limited. Sure, it can be done, up to a certain point, but then there's SU's poly limit, isn't there?

SketchUp is a fantastic tool, no doubt about that, but there's not much point in sweeping its limitations under the carpet.

My advice? Use the free version for a couple of weeks, then make up your mind.

Gaieus · 5 Sept 2008, 09:09

@unknownuser said:

...My advice? Use the free version for a couple of weeks, then make up your mind.

Definitely that's the best advice. You can also download the pro version later and see how you get along with the export functions missing from the free version.

Gaieus · 5 Sept 2008, 09:38

I think solo should be banned from posting stuff like that and making average users believe they will one day be as capable in modeling as him.

Alan Fraser · 5 Sept 2008, 09:48

Stinkie. I never claimed that SU was the best organic modeller...but that wasn't the question. If it had been, then you'd have to put Wings, Silo, Modo, Max, Rhino, Lightwave or a ton of others in front of it.
The question was can you model anything or are you limited to relatively simple architectural stuff. The answer is the one I gave...yes you can model anything.

ScottPara · 5 Sept 2008, 10:29

I have to agree with Alan and many others. Anything can be done in Sketchup....Anything. It is much a matter of how well you know the tools, how much time you are willing to invest into a model, etc. Are there better and quicker modelers out there, YES, but for the cost/ease of use Sketchup is a real front runner. I think that with the right plugins Sketchup could compete with the best of the programs out there in the same price range if not even some larger ones. I would say take stinkies advice on downloading the demo and give it a go. I think within a few hours (reading the tutorials first) you should feel quite comfortable with the toolsets. If you are looking form something with some more control and larger toolsets then I would say Modo 302 would be my personal next choice.

Scott

johnsenior1973 · 5 Sept 2008, 13:18

"Take out the trial."

Erm, why? The free version is more than capable of doing nearly everything the Pro version can do. As someone who is only asking if SU is worth investing time to learn, they only need the free version. If they learn SU and then find that they do need the exporters then they should think about buying the Pro version, but as someone new I don't see the point in them getting the free trial and messing around with the extra tools that they are going to lose in 8 hours anyway. Far better for them to get proficient in SU and then download the trial. That way they will be able to evaluate the Pro version properly because they aren't learning the the basics during the limited trial time.

Stinkie · 5 Sept 2008, 16:40

@alan fraser said:

Stinkie. I never claimed that SU was the best organic modeller

Darn! And I've already sent my goon squad to rough you up!

Tekkybot · 5 Sept 2008, 18:46

@unknownuser said:

@alan fraser said:

So the answer is a definite Yes...you can model anything in SU

Let's be serious, shall we? When it comes to organic modeling, SU shouldn't be your first choice. Its toolset is just too limited. Sure, it can be done, up to a certain point, but then there's SU's poly limit, isn't there?

SketchUp is a fantastic tool, no doubt about that, but there's not much point in sweeping its limitations under the carpet.

My advice? Use the free version for a couple of weeks, then make up your mind.

theirs a poly limit? do i have to buy the full version to enjoy sketchup?

Tekkybot · 5 Sept 2008, 18:51

@johnsenior1973 said:

"Take out the trial."

Erm, why? The free version is more than capable of doing nearly everything the Pro version can do. As someone who is only asking if SU is worth investing time to learn, they only need the free version. If they learn SU and then find that they do need the exporters then they should think about buying the Pro version, but as someone new I don't see the point in them getting the free trial and messing around with the extra tools that they are going to lose in 8 hours anyway. Far better for them to get proficient in SU and then download the trial. That way they will be able to evaluate the Pro version properly because they aren't learning the the basics during the limited trial time.

so stick with the free version right?

Stinkie · 5 Sept 2008, 18:57

The "poly limit" applies to both the free as the pro version. SU cannot handle as many polys as, say, Silo or modo. You can work around the issue, up to a certain point, by carefully layering your model. Turning "repeated stuff" into components helps a great deal as well.

johnsenior1973 · 5 Sept 2008, 19:30

@tekkybot said:

so stick with the free version right?

Definitely when you start. And from what I've read on here the only advantages of the Pro version are Layout (which no one seems to use anyway because it's too buggy) and exporters for 3ds and obj. If you absolutely need these exporters then you need Pro, but if you don't need them then the free version will be fine for you.

As far as I know the Pro version doesn't offer any extra modeling capability. I have the free version and haven't even tried the pro trial, so a Pro user would need to confirm that.

remus · 5 Sept 2008, 19:33

Thats all correct john, with the minor difference that there isnt a native location setting in the free version, although i believe a ruby has been developed that does this.

Gaieus · 6 Sept 2008, 02:50

Interestingly, the location is available in the free Mac version. However yeah, Jim wrote a location ruby for PC users.

Alan Fraser · 6 Sept 2008, 06:46

Another point. If my memory serves me right, the first free version did not work with encrypted Ruby files...such as many of the commercial ones like Subdivide and Smooth. It only worked with the plain text Rubies. Is this still the case? I don't have a free version on my system at the moment.

Gaieus · 6 Sept 2008, 07:05

No Alan, Now it should be all the same for the scripts. A lot of people here use subdivide and smooth with the free version.

Edson · 6 Sept 2008, 15:27

one important thing about SUp: the amount of information available on the internet is enormous (videos, tutorials, forums, etc) which means that any doubts can be solved very quickly. i would definitely go for it.

Tekkybot · 6 Sept 2008, 19:28

@edson said:

one important thing about SUp: the amount of information available on the internet is enormous (videos, tutorials, forums, etc) which means that any doubts can be solved very quickly. i would definitely go for it.

EXACTLY. this is why ive decided that sketchup is the program for me. the program im going to invest my time in, and learn, and get good at all the other 3d modeling apps had horrible documentation sketchup rules