New book out soon

TIG

More spambots?
Booo!
Dont destroy this forum.

You're in danger of becoming just as annoying !

Pixero

When trying to find some more info on the book I found some links to animations made by the author.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP90c1phvC8
It started nicely but then suddenly it was filled with shadow bug flickering. I couldn't stand watching the whole thing.
(Google shame on you for still not having fixed this. Either fix it or remove the word Pro from the product.)

Lets hope the book is better.
Has anyone seen any exerpts from it?

Mike Lucey

Yep, I've read all 362 pages and think that will be a 'bible' for anyone in the area of Site Design.

Edson

there is a companion site to the book. it worth a peek.

kwistenbiebel

Even though the first post of this thread is spam , I did check the website Edson pointed us to and I must say I like the images produced in there.
Quite some nice modeling. especially, the vegetation looks quite convincing.

I might be mistaken, but a lot of that vegetation seems to be Formfonts.
I'll do my own bit of spamming now to say that I do like Formfonts a lot these days. Getting a Formfonts subscription in the office has been proven to be a time saver.

Let's hope they will even add more 3D vegetation to the FF collection.

arklandesign

@kwistenbiebel said:

Even though the first post of this thread is spam , I did check the website Edson pointed us to and I must say I like the images produced in there.
Quite some nice modeling. especially, the vegetation looks quite convincing.

I might be mistaken, but a lot of that vegetation seems to be Formfonts.
I'll do my own bit of spamming now to say that I do like Formfonts a lot these days. Getting a Formfonts subscription in the office has been proven to be a time saver.

Let's hope they will even add more 3D vegetation to the FF collection.

Oi who you calling a spammer LOL.... No, not at all.... I just thought that Tal's book should get some attention here... Anyone who could give me so much joy by enabling me to learn from a few videos on how to use the drape and smoove tools, is sure to get my support.

Gotta agree with you though on the modeling, very nice and as you say convincing vegetation.

kwistenbiebel

I stand corrected.
And yeah, he seems to know what he is doing.

brodie

It'd be interesting to hear more from people who have read the book. From looking at a few of the sample SU models it looks like it might be ok for beginners or maybe someone who's been using SU but just getting into site work. All of the sample site models were completely flat save perhaps a small grass hill. What would be a lot more interesting, I think, would be to see how he'd handle those same sites if they had a 15' change in elevation from end to end.

-Brodie

tald311

Hello all,

Thanks for the plug, who ever started the thread. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Also, thank you Chris and Mike and others for the kind words.

I know many of you are advanced SketchUp users. In many cases, I come to SketchUcation to learn what the community is doing and how SketchUp is being pushed.
If it were not for SketchUcation, SketchUp would not be used in the fashion its being used. I remember all these users on the orginal SketchUp forums and searching to find everyone again. Thank you for all your help over the years!!!

If you’re a beginner or intermediate user, the book is ideal for you.
More important, the book is about process, not just modeling tools. Utilizing a workflow for your models and projects.

I hope this is ok but here is a quick overview:

Part 1 – reviews basics. Most important is the chapter on components. I talk about problem solving your SketchUp model and problem solving SketchUp

Part 2 – starts out with a simple site plan. Then you build a complex site plan , model some easy to complex site elements (benches, ped lights, steps, rails, etc..), next - model buildings and then a chapter on how to combine all 3 separate elements (site plan, custom site components and architecture) into a single model and export specific scenes.

The last chapter in part 2 reviews how to create a real world building model based on the previous tutorials. I used the Jefferson County Courthouse near my home for the tutorial. It’s all curves, windows and a glass dome.

Part 3 – Sandbox tools – I review how to use the sandbox tools to create ‘conceptual grading’. Sorry. I do not review digital elevation modeling and complex terrains (for more on this, see below).

I review how to do organic shapes and how to use From Contour and Drape to create quick, architectural buildings. Both tutorials in this chapter are based on real world projects that I worked on. One building is built; the other is in the process of being built. This is true for many of the tutorial models in the book.

Part 4 – this is a detailed section on converting your CAD drawing into a complete articulated model. I use Todd’s Ruby scripts but show a variety of methods. This is method intensive. The CAD drawings are available for download from Wiley’s web site. The book and my web site (http://www.daniel-tal.com) have a link to these files.

There are models on 3D warehouse to use with the tutorials. Some are complete (so you can check your work) others you have to complete.

The whole book is a giant tutorial .The point is not the specific model you are creating but how to learn the tools to use them for your own needs. There are work arounds that I do not cover and there are short cuts that would be faster in completing some of the tutorials. But that’s not the point – again, its about process.

Advanced SketchUp topics – I was asked not to produce an advanced SketchUp book. There were reasons for this but suffice it to say, another manuscript might (might!) be in the works in which I will go into very advanced topics based on projects and what is being done here at SketchUcation (hint, all those really amazing Ruby Scripts). Another hint - it will be all about organic modeling and digital elevation modeling as well.

Thanks – give me the feedback and I will be around to answer questions.

Also, sorry about the flicker in the animations with Shadows. They drive me nuts as well. I will be posting a new animation hopefully at the end of this weekend of a terrain model.

And yes, I am a huge fan of FormFonts models. They are clean (except for the people who import with extra layers) and they have a variety that’s ideal for site design.

Peace,
Daniel Tal

Alan Fraser

@unknownuser said:

They are clean (except for the people who import with extra layers)

That's because you must be importing the Color by Layer figures, Daniel, instead of the Single Layer. They have a layer for each colour in the model...shirt, pants, skin etc...that's why they are called...err!...Color by Layer.
Something to watch out for in any figure as old a V3.

Actually, I may delete them. Those figures actually pre-date FormFonts. In the early releases of SU there were quite a few people newly arrived from ACAD who seemed to prefer constructing their entire model in Color by Layer mode. I'd guess it's actually quite useful in some situations, like complicated wiring or pipe runs. However, nowadays I haven't come across anyone who does that, so there's not the call for that variety of figures and they probably just lead to confusion.

To be honest, the mind boggles as to how or why you would actually use Color by Layer function with any of the newer features of SU, like PhotoMatch or Dynamic Components.

Please excuse the lesson in ancient history, but I thought it might be of general interest, as most people don't seem to have a clue what Color by Layer actually does....or even that it exists

It looks like a great book. BTW. Definitely one for the 'must have' reference section.

johnpa

I received my copy of Daniel's book SU for Site Design and highly recommend it. I got my copy several weeks ago and had preordered it back in July. I can't say I have read every page since I am working through the book, not just reading it. What I have read I can say that I have learned something new on each page (well maybe not every page, but close). I can say, with no reservations, it is the most complete SU book I have purchased. I like the way it deals with the process of creating a model, not just how to use the tools. I only wish I could have found a book like this about 10,000 hours of trying to figure out how to do terrain modeling in SU ago. I think I have attempted every, or at least close to every, wrong way to model terrain.

I came across Daniel on a YouTube video he did for SU Base Camp. If you want to test drive the content of the book take a look at the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHCEXlEZlo4&feature=channel_page). Prior to getting the book I must have watched this video 25 times and taken copious notes along the way. I only wish I could get a higher resolution copy and didn't have to wait for it to download from YouTube each time I view it.

What the video covers is a great overview of what Daniel has to offer. At 33.00 (US) from Amazon it is, in my opinion, money well spent and will help you avoid many pitfalls along the road to SU mastery.

One other thing, I am not Daniel's brother in law and have received no compensation for this post.

Regards,

JP

arklandesign

@johnpa said:

I came across Daniel on a YouTube video he did for SU Base Camp. If you want to test drive the content of the book take a look at the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHCEXlEZlo4&feature=channel_page). **Prior to getting the book I must have watched this video 25 times and taken copious notes along the way. I only wish I could get a higher resolution copy and didn't have to wait for it to download from YouTube each time I view it.**JP

Hehe I'm glad I was not the only one who had to watch those videos some two dozen times to get what Daniel was doing so effortlessly. Waiting for the U-tube downloads was a pain, but at the end of the day, well worth it.

I actually became a sketchup user because of Daniel's vidoes. Having eschewed anything to do with computer use of landscape designs for a decade, I started kicking myself for overlooking how this could speed up my designs and improve clients understanding of proposals,especially in the conceptual stages. I was hooked, if not obsessed with learning this new tool and seeing clients eyes light up on seeing a 3D model of their home and garden has been a revelation and made all the effort worthwhile.

As to the book... well, I'm trying to take it slow and actually learn all the techniques and lessons that Daniel's book provides, rather than jumping around and trying to run B4 I can walk. I think the best thing about it, so far, is how it has improved my organization skills. It really has made me slow down to try to get things set up right from the start.
Out of the 4 books I have on sketchup, (Dummies,Missing Manuel, Bible) it is going to be my fave as it is geared to my area(s) of interest....but, most importantly, Daniel's book offers an engaging and easy to understand style...which really makes all the difference for any reader when trying to learn new things.

Two thumbs up!!

tald311

Hello again,

Thanks for the positive reviews. Please, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at gidion311@gmail.com

Hello Alan,

First, thank you for all the models on FormFonts. Modeling would not be the same without what is offered on FormFonts. I do have some model requests but maybe that’s for another time.

Also, thank you for the heads up on the people components. I have not updated those components in about 5 years or so
Might be time to do so now.

Thanks all,
Daniel Tal