A Welcome Message to New SketchUcation Members

[tacianomm]

Hello everyone!
My name is Taciano and I'm a Brazilian computing student.
I use SketchUp for about two years, but I consider myself way far from an advanced user, as I don't use it that often.

I've just registered here and would like to know how you guys create animations on SketchUp.
Well, with animation I mean real animation (complex models interacting with other models), not just moving cameras and physics effects.
I know one Plugin that is specifically for this, SU Animate, but it isn't free.
SketchyPhysics can do some things either, but there's so little documentation (in the Wiki) and the tutorials of it are so basic that is really hard to do a good animation without getting on code.

So, I would really appreciate if you have any suggestions on how pass from beginner to advanced.
Thanks!

[Gaieus]

Hi Taciano and welcome!

I do not use SketchyPhysics myself so I cannot advise but we have a dedicated subforum for it under the Extensions... forum.

[Leoniva]

Hi I just joined today. I am going on a Sketchup course next week just to get started, this really looks very interesting. I downloaded sketchup but unsure how to download bender into my plugin tab?

[Gaieus]

Hi Leoni and welcome!

What course (and where) are you going?

As for Shape Bender (I guess); it is just a bunch of files and subfolders packed into a zip archive. I am not sure where Program files are on Win 2007 (???) but there should be something like this on an XP:
C:\Program Files\Google\Google SketchUp 7\Plugins
and you need to extract all the files in the zip archive straight there. Not into another subfolder Windows tends to create for unzipped files but straight under the Plugins folder keeping the whole file and subfolder hierarchy already in the zip archive intact.

[Psycoderek]

Hi
My name is Rod and i started using sketchup yesterday, 25.06.2010 after finding it by accident. So far I am just browsing the tutorials and looking at plugins and rubies to add extra dynamics to the software. I have started modelling and found it a little easier than Blender and Truespace to create basic models. I hope to do something a little more daring later when i have mastered the basics fully.

Thanks gang.

[Rich O Brien]

Hi Rod,

Welcome to SCF, is Psycoderek your alter-ego?

Enjoy browsing around and post back with your problems. Members here are very helpful and don't charge too much!

Rich

[zombiewombie]

Hello guys,
My name is Andre, and i'm a tattoo artist from Jakarta, Indonesia.
I just taught myself SketchUp about a month ago and I was really impressed at how simple, easy to learn, and practical this program is.
I have never been too interested in using digital imaging programs such as photoshop, 3d max, and autoCAD, but after trying out SketchUp, I have found a whole new different world to dive in to.
I have just started working in a furniture company, designing furniture, and I have found that SketchUp is so useful in sketching out ideas in 3d.
Do you have a forum especially for furniture/product designing?

I'm looking forward from learning from you guys.

Cheers!

Andre

[Rich O Brien]

Hi Andre,

Welcome to SCF!

If your click your 'User Control Panel'(look under the site logo) and select the 'User Groups' tabs, you'll see other hidden forums to join! I recommend the Woodworking forum as it packed with info.

Also don't be afraid to post and issue in the newbie forum as members are quick to offer numerous solutions!

Rich

[dam]

Hi,
I'm damien from france.
I just begin to play with SU since several days.
I come here because it's seems to be a very good place to have advice and help.
I begin to find lot of very interesting stuff.

Just one think i don't understand with the forum.
When I'm not logged, I can reach the "other language forum" and not when I'm logged ??
If some body can help me...

see you soon
Damien

[Gaieus]

Hi Dam and welcome to SCF.

The "Foreign Language" forums are sub subscription based, please, read the info kindly translated by "malaise":

@unknownuser said:

A tous

Après la mise à jour des 16,17 voire 18 Août,(cf le courriel de Coen), les forums en langues étrangères ne seront plus directement accessibles à partir de l'Index Board lors de la connexion (Log). Pour cette raison, nous allons créer des "User Group" spécifiques.

J'ai déjà rajouté tous ceux qui avaient une extension fr dans leur adresse e-mail ainsi que ceux qui ont déjà posté des courriers dans ce sous-forum.

Pour tous les autres qui ont une adresse e-mail différente (de type gmail.com par exemple, ou bien les futurs inscrits ), ou bien ceux qui n'ont jamais posté de courrier dans la section française, il sera nécessaire de se réinscrire dans chacun des sous-forums en utilisant le UCP ou User Control Panel.

I have added you to the French usergroup now however so you should be able to see (and post in) that forum.

[dam]

Hi Gaieus,

Thank you for the add in the French forum.
Because my English is not very good, It will be more practical for me

All the best

Damien

[medot]

Hey everyone..my name is Medi and i just joint this forum today, nice forum by the way! much to learn and share
nice to meet you all

[KXI System]

Helloo Medi!

Glad to see another User has joined the form, feel free and help yourself. Remember if you need help just ask!

~KXI

[GoldenFrog]

Hey Medina!

Feel free to ask around

[twistedtwin]

Hi everyone!!!
I joined today and I already had some great help from Gaieus!

I design and make furniture for a living and after using a bit of Rhino I'm getting closer and closer to SU.
I found it quicker and easier in general terms but also, I'm discovering, there are very interesting plug ins which come very handy for my projects.
I started using Slicer and (after Gaieus help... ) Shape Bender and, I have to admit, they made me realized that I underestimated SU by a long shot!
I'm looking forward to discover more 3d design plug ins and you never know, one day I mighty be the one give some advice to a beginner!!!

[Gaieus]

@twistedtwin said:

I design and make furniture for a living...

So then I guess you do not mind that I added you to the Woodworkers Usergroup (even if maybe you do not work with wood, there are a lot of nice things there).

[TerryTheIrate]

Hello everyone,
I am Terry and just joined the forum a few days ago.
Here's my 1st project.

Everything was going along fine, adding a few things to the ship everyday.......then I found this site and read about "Rendering".....

Now I spend way too much time with Kerkythea

Thanks for all the useful on your site.

My photo gallery.....so far.
http://gallery.me.com/tlr2#100009&view=carouseljs&sel=0

[Gaieus]

Hi Terry and welcome!

Well, looking at these images I was thinking "where the hell have you been so far"???

Beautiful work indeed! I once visited HMS Victory and could immediately see how much work must have been put into your model!

[jo-ke]

Hi everybody,

I registered a few months ago but I didn't introduce myself. I'm interior designer and have my shop in germany. I've been using Corel Draw and Photoshop for my designs for almost 20 years but I was always dreaming about the third dimension. So I was always looking for those expensive programs but that was impossible for me. So 3 years ago I started with second life to make simple 3D scenes but SL wasn't the right thing so I was looking further. This year I installed sketchup 7 and I'm learning everyday. First I bought IDX render but that wasn't the right choice. I've fond Kerkythea and was happy but it was to complicated for me at that time. Then I've found Sketchucation. Sketchucation ist the most usefull teacher for me and I'm very thankful for that. This board inspires me to buy the license of twilight and I'm very happy with it. So my notbook never sleeps and always has something to render. I like this comunity and would like to thank the administrator, moderators and developpers for their help and all the kind members at this board. Keep on going.

Jochen

[Gaieus]

Hi Jochen and welcome!

(I won1t add anything else here as we have already "met")