Do i want to invest my time into learning sketchup?

Tekkybot · 5 Sept 2008, 00:26

hi. ive been trying traditional 3d applications like wings 3d and anim8tor and i have commercial license to ac3d which i think i hate. recently i found sketchup. what can sketchup do in the right hands? can sketchup model both organic and in organic forums, say super space solders, ufos, spaceships, creatures from other dimensions, vehicles, cartoon characters, etc etc? or is it limited to architectural modeling and cad?

tekky.

solo · 5 Sept 2008, 00:43

trust me, SU in the right hands can do ANYTHING!!

johnsenior1973 · 5 Sept 2008, 00:56

Only you can answer whether you want to invest your time learning Sketchup. Have a look at the Gallery on here. Have a look at the best models on the 3DWarehouse. If you like the images on the gallery and the models on 3DW then yes, learn Sketchup. If you don't like what you see then don't.

IMO Sketchup is a wonderful program. It's a great deal easier to learn than most 3d programs. I'd also say there are far better programs to use for many of the things you list though. A lot depends on your willingness to learn and your budget.

Tekkybot · 5 Sept 2008, 00:58

really? that pretty awesome to hear. are we talking about hands that most people will never be able to draw er mouse from or can anyone learn and became good at sketchup. when i say, can anyone become good, i mean with enough practice, be able to create the stuff you would be proud to showcase

Tekkybot · 5 Sept 2008, 01:07

@johnsenior1973 said:

Only you can answer whether you want to invest your time learning Sketchup. Have a look at the Gallery on here. Have a look at the best models on the 3DWarehouse. If you like the images on the gallery and the models on 3DW then yes, learn Sketchup. If you don't like what you see then don't.

the reason i was asking was BECAUSE of what i saw in the 3d warehouse. i just didn't believe some of those things were modeled entirely in sketchup. i guess they were

johnsenior1973 · 5 Sept 2008, 01:19

@tekkybot said:

@johnsenior1973 said:

Only you can answer whether you want to invest your time learning Sketchup. Have a look at the Gallery on here. Have a look at the best models on the 3DWarehouse. If you like the images on the gallery and the models on 3DW then yes, learn Sketchup. If you don't like what you see then don't.

the reason i was asking was BECAUSE of what i saw in the 3d warehouse. i just didn't believe some of those things were modeled entirely in sketchup. i guess they were

A lot of the cars and other vehicles aren't modeled in Sketchup. A lot of them are modeled in other programs and just converted into skp's.

Tekkybot · 5 Sept 2008, 01:24

oh really? i didn't know this...

Tekkybot · 5 Sept 2008, 02:58

is this modeled in sketchup? http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=30b514b24624da4fc1ccec171a275967&prevstart=0

johnsenior1973 · 5 Sept 2008, 05:46

@tekkybot said:

is this modeled in sketchup? http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=30b514b24624da4fc1ccec171a275967&prevstart=0

I'm not an expert, but I'd say that was definitely made in Sketchup.

It could be that he imported a model and built the Sketchup model on top of it. Kind of tracing it I guess. But I'd say that's a pretty pointless way to go if you are proficient in SU, and he certainly seems to be.

I'll put it this way. I think there are many people on here who could build the same plane totally in SU and it come out even better than that model.

If planes like that are what you want to create, I'd definitely say SU is worth learning.

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?