Rambling Newbie Introduction

whynoess? (sorry can't answer that)
But I can say that I think the best way is to just start on a project and ask a way.
This is a very responsive Forum, with folks that are adept at just about any software you can transfer files to or from SketchUp in or with.
Usually, you will end up sparking posts that will show you several different and unique ways of accomplishing the same task.
By the way, enjoyed your intro, and had a good chuckle at Rich's answer too.
Welcome.

solo

Okay, firstly stop, relax, take a breath.

You are never going to learn a thing trying to learn everything.

Let me ask a few questions...

Why do you want to learn Sketchup?

What do you know about 3D modeling?

Do you know anything about rendering?

Have you watched the SU getting started videos yet?

Let's start here.

whynoess

Thanks, everyone, for making me feel welcome.

Solo here are the answers;

Why do you want to learn Sketchup?

Technical docs, mainly.

I'm a media systems design engineer who works mainly on my own with equipment that is usually jet black, very heavy, and hence hard to manipulate and photograph (since I'm on my own...hard to photograph myself putting heavy stuff together). I would like to make 3D models of the equipment (stands, rack mount DIN rail equipment, printed circuit board assemblies, etc,) to allow me to create how-to build and assembly documentation and exploded views by exporting 2D shots from any angle (and animations!). I need to communicate these procedures to field engineers all over the world to show them how things go together without having them fly from all over heck to be shown personally.

I'm originally trained in autocad (to do line drawings of how equipment gets hooked up...not machine design). So I am frustrated with how the people who designed Sketchup have absolutely no concept of simple autocad principles (like right-click pen-up, object snap [my GOD anything like object snap would make Sketchup a dream to use. I go whack freakin' nuts just trying to stick two objects together with the thing]!).

I've done some of this with sketchup models that others have done, but I want to learn to build the models myself and take it further. I would kill to be able to know how to illustrate bundled cable and wire harnesses to show how they run through racks and equipment.

Right now, I'm not interested in any modeling software beyond sketchup, unless sketchup can't do what I want. I'm really not interested in writing code...ever...sorry. It just seems like something that will suck remaining limited lifetime. I'm not interested in glorious achievement in 3D modeling for achievement's sake if you know what I mean. This is why I like Sketchup. I want to do whatever I can without writing software myself...or spending a lot of money. I also have no interest in doing character animation or other entertainment content creation or art. My goal is to help engineers understand my designs, not to be a 3D artist.

Personally, however, I'd like to do all kinds of 3D representation of various concepts what with me being interested in science and the like. I'd like to create animations to explain processes. Years ago there were these educational videos on early in the morning on PBS that employed very, very simplistic 3D animations explaining scientific processes like photosynthesis or chemistry like how soap works showing simple representations of molecules and so on. I'd like to be able to do such things.

What do you know about 3D modeling?

I know that wireframe models are built (somehow) although when I see the complexity of some of this stuff, I can't imaging how one person draws it...like the interior of Gothic cathedrals and such (how in the heck?). If you asked me how the heck they do Ironman's suit, I wouldn't even begin to be able to tell you.

Do you know anything about rendering?

I know what it is (software that works applying surfaces and lighting to models to create 2D representations either still or moving) but that's about it really.

Have you watched the SU getting started videos yet?

No. Thanks! Where are they?

Thanks, I think I rambled again.

Stan

Gaieus

@unknownuser said:

I can't imaging how one person draws it...like the interior of Gothic cathedrals and such (how in the heck?).

Here you go with some Gothic stuff - even if not a whole cathedral - it is actually really easy (use your mouse to look around):
http://gaieus.hu/TheaPanorama/Karmelita.swf

@unknownuser said:

If you asked me how the heck they do Ironman's suit, I wouldn't even begin to be able to tell you.

And here are some hints about Ironman:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=333&t=35178

So the knowledge is here and you should just start with your actual project and people will help with your baby steps.

Ah, and welcome to SCF

whynoess

I also would like to illustrate logistics procedures showing how equipment is packaged, warehoused, and shipped from several different mfg sites to differing pre-prep/build facilities and finally to customer sites.

d12dozr

@unknownuser said:

Have you watched the SU getting started videos yet?

No. Thanks! Where are they?

Offical Training Videos:
http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos.html

Aidan Chopra's excellent series:
http://www.aidanchopra.com/web-content

Go To School's fantastic series:
http://www.youtube.com/user/4sketchupgo2school

That should get you started

Alan Fraser

I get asked for similar stuff all the time. You should certainly be able to produce what you want using only SketchUp and maybe Twilight Render...which is very fast easy to learn.
Here's a link to a home cinema speaker. http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=42437&stc=1&d=1255890023
Difficult to show the black forms, as you say.
...and here's the same speaker done in SU and rendered in Twilight.

Mistro11

@gaieus said:

Here you go with some Gothic stuff - even if not a whole cathedral - it is actually really easy (use your mouse to look around):
http://gaieus.hu/TheaPanorama/Karmelita.swf

What do you call this sort of interactive presentation and how is it done? I would love to do that.

BTW welcome Whynoess, I'm new too. (can I even say welcome at this point....ain't been hear a week yet)

whynoess

Thanks, everyone!

Stan

Gaieus

@mistro11 said:

What do you call this sort of interactive presentation and how is it done? I would love to do that.

That's an interactive 360 degree panorama rendered in Thea Render with a spherical camera (2:1 aspect ratio). Then processed on the web with a flash panorama player (the image is still the rendered jpg only the engine that rotates it is flash).

You can achieve similar results (to begin with) with a plugin called CubicPanoOut which creates 6 images of a cube around the camera. Then stitch them together with GoCubic into a QuickTime Virtual Panorama for instance.