New user learning
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Hi all,
As you can probably see from my post count, I am new here.
As a bit of background, I am an architect that has been practicing for 30 years, and so far I have been using "traditional" methods. Well, it seems that I can resist the 3d computerization no more, and I am trying to decide which software to learn. Which brings me to SketchUp and your very nice forum here.
I have been working with the free version and following the tutorials, and I think I am starting to get the hang of it. However, it seems that the basic functionality is somewhat limited, and you have to add all these plugins to be able to work more effectively. (Many thanks to all you genius coders out there.)
So anyway, my question is this: With all the plugins that are available, how do you know which plugin to use when, and what plugin is preferred over another? And is there a "basic plugin kit" that you can get that has all the best plugins "pre-collected?"
I also wonder whether SketchUp is the best software for me to get going, or (since learning any software takes quite a bit of time) if I should look into other software as well or instead?
Any responses appreciated, and thanks in advance,
Bill
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Hi Bill and welcome - bothon the forums as well as a (relatively) new SU user.
I would say that if you already "discovered" SU, have no experience with other modelling packages, stick with it for a while at least. Eventually, if you really need something else, you can dive into that, too, but getting a good experience in one application (and why not SU - after all it is relatively easy to learn) will enable you to learn something else later. It's just like learning foreign languages - the first one is always the hardest.
As for plugins - well, I could not provide a list - either a good collection for beginners or a collection of "must have plugins". It all depends on the purpose you want to achieve and there are no clear instructions on what the best choice would be for a certain task.
In fact, the abundance of plugins show that since the needs are so diverse, the offer is diverse accordingly. If you can spare a bit of time to spend on the forums however, I am sure that the folks around here will always suggest the best available tools for you for each different task. Then you can test every single suggestion and decide if you need it or not. I have cleared my plugins folder several times during history because I also like to try everything out.
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WEll, Hi and welcome.
I think that what you will find about SketcUp is it's ease of use, and in no time you will be doing some pretty decent drawings with it.
If you are doing a lot of design which is fairly organic in form, then you will need to learn about ruby scripts fairly quickly, but if your design is rectilinear in nature, then you can progress adding rubys as you go.
I think it is a real good idea to learn a lot about the basics before adding a whole pile of rubys, because you will always have a need for these basics.
This is not to undermine the importance of rubys. I certainly couldn't function without them, not efficiently anyway.
If you are not shy about posting and asking question here, you will find expert help. The folks here are great, and some of the best ruby masters are here as well
You will love this program. -
Thanks Gai,
I will see how it goes...
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Oops - and thanks Dale too.
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SketchUp is the easiest tool to use 'by a mile', but remember that it is an Architect's 'sketch' tool - it's great for making models to explore or communicate ideas to yourself or others - think of it as the 3D equivalent of a soft pencil you might use for sketching some ideas out on a pad - its original intention...
It's like making a card model of your ideas that can become even more...
SUp can work great without any plugins, BUT somethings would just be too time consuming to make 'by hand' - hence stuff like my 'Extrusion Tools' set...
That all said, SUp has the capacity to do much more when you get the hang of it - which you should pretty quickly... and it can make pretty complex models and assemblies.
Some will use Layout for 2D output - there's a separate section in the forum on that...
Other more more expensive and 'clunky' tools can produce more polished output but the learning curve is very steep - it depends what you want to achieve...
You can mix different tools for different purposes...
AutoCAD and similar 2D CAD packages have all the bells and whistle tools but constraining you to flat representation - but its like using a fine Rotring pen to draw when you need a pencil...
Revit combines 3D and 2D into a single model so your stuff in coordinated across C'Docs - but it's like working with a computer spreadsheet rather than a pencil...
3dsMax is a complete 3D modeling and rendering tool, but again it is often overly complex and detailed for simple modeling like that SUP excels at...
There are inexpensive renders to add-on to SUp if you need them...
Everyone here is very helpful so please ask those 'stupid questions' - don't forget that all of us didn't know anything when we started
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SketchUp's worst flaws are discovered by people who want to do non-architectural things. It was designed for architects. (Want to model an elephant? Maybe not a good SketchUp task. Probably will become the next contest here.)
Plugins come later. Ask "How do I ..." questions here. ("How do I model an elephant?" will get plenty of pachyderm-specific suggestions.)
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Thanks guys.
Ok, so how do you model an elephant?
Or a little more seriously, what is the preferred (rather inexpensive) renderer for SU?
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@billnovak said:
...what is the preferred (rather inexpensive) renderer for SU?
Now that could start a flame war here. Everyone has his/her "own" preferred renderer - not to speak about the developers of them who are all around - so just carefully!
A bit more seriously - almost each of these renderers has some kind of trial version (often only limited in export file size/resolution and maybe watermarks are also applied) so it is not very hard to plunge in and try all that offer this. I would start with one that integrates well with SU so you do not immediately have to get used to a completely new UI however a very good renderer (which is standalone so new UI) would be the free Kerkythea. Nothing can beat that price tag so others cannot say I am biased!
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@billnovak said:
... what is the preferred (rather inexpensive) renderer for SU?
That depends on what you are rendering - architecture, vegetation?
I've found Twilight Render at $99 to have the most bang for my buck for arch-vis, as well as an easy learning curve.
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Thanks again Gai,
I would probably just render architecture -- with maps for plants (not 3d -- as from what I understand -- this adds too much complexity).
The only other thing I want is "quick - easy - quality." Oh yeah, and fast too. (Quick = setup, fast = rendertime.)
I don't really have time to check out all the Demos -- although I guess that is probably what it takes to be truly informed! (Thanks Markus.) So don't pull any punches -- let the Flame Wars begin!
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Well, as an admin here, I will then sit at the baseline and only watch that flame war.
@billnovak said:
The only other thing I want is "quick - easy - quality." Oh yeah, and fast too. (Quick = setup, fast = rendertime.)
That's what everyone wants (ah yeah, and also not too pricy)
At least have a look at these renderers then (in alphabetical order
- IDX Renditioner
- Indigo
- iRender nxt
- Podium
- Twilight
They all integrate pretty well with the SU UI so not too hard to grasp. Compare prices, speed, ease of use
(Did I miss any of them?)
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Thanks yet again Gai, you certainly are helpful!
I didn't mean to put you on the hotseat -- being an admin and all!
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