A Welcome Message to New SketchUcation Members

Geschwindigkeit · 25 Jul 2011, 19:19

More questions

Is there a way to move Grouped objects on the X, Y & Z axis?

TIG · 25 Jul 2011, 21:23

Geschwindigkeit

Sounds like you need to find some basic tutorials - there are lots out there - just Google...

To Move a Group you Select it and then choose the Move tool, pick the start-point and start to move the Group along one of the axes [approximately], when the 'guide' turns to the axis color - e.g. red for X - you can hold sown the shift-key to lock movement along that axis. Pick another point or type in the distance you want to complete the Move of the Group.

As well as locking movement with the shift-key you can also lock Move to an axis using the arrow-keys - one tap to lock, one tap to unlock - the different arrows represent different axes...

As well as locking to an axis you can use the shift-key lock to lock to another direction - e.g. if you hover the mouse over a non-orthogonal edge the 'guide' turns magenta when parallel to that edge - you can then lock to that. If you move off at right-angles the alternative magenta 'guide' can be re-locked perpendicular to that edge too, instead of parallel...

IMJ · 26 Jul 2011, 10:01

Hi Gaieus.
Today I am very happy to Join this forum.
As you know that I knew about the Google SketchUp in the
Fancy A ride Around the Forums. in Google Help Forums.
Now as I am here. I know I'd learn so much here.

Gaieus · 26 Jul 2011, 12:33

Hi Indra and welcome! You will find endless amount of resources here!

sevilsivle · 2 Aug 2011, 18:36

Hi from another Noob.
I am a mechanical engineer so am used to working with 3D CAD software. I have just gone freelance in a field not requiring a full blown CAD, but where it would be nice to produce the occasional 3D drawing to illustrate the product I am selling.
I am finding it somewhat frustrating knowing what I want to do but not yet knowing how. I do however find that it is far easier to learn something new when a specific task needs to be done rather than trying to plough through tutorials and the manual.
It looks like I may soon have to go for the "pro" version or have to learn Ruby in order to realise the full potential.
I guess there are a few long nights ahead!

regards

Tim

liseb · 5 Aug 2011, 08:45

@zach said:

Hi, I started Martin's "Edges to Rubies" tutorial prior to last summer. It seems like an excellent tutorial, but I stopped using it (and SketchUp) for the past 6 months due to other time commitments. I've waited so long to restart, that I think that I'll need to start over again to get my bearings. One initial directive that I was unable to resolve the first time that I started Martin's tutorial (and I'd like to get it right this time) is "How to Create a Working Directory". Martin suggests naming it C:\carrige_house -and that seems fine, but I'm not sure how I create this (file?). I have windows vista. I've tried Google, but that doesn't seem to bring up what I'm looking for. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Zach

You must have found out a long time ago by now.
For those still not sure, here are the steps
Go in Window (Ms icon) type “cmd” in search box (or open it from 'all programs' then select 'accessories', when the command prompt appears (the black board), type from where the cursor blinks “mkdir carriage_house” (without the quotation marks) then press enter. Close the Cmd blackboard. Go back to search (in Window Icon) and type the name of the directory, in this case type carriage_house, it will show its exixtence: simply a new folder. Right click and select “open folder location”, where your new folder will appear.

Rich O Brien · 6 Aug 2011, 14:20

Hi Opal,

Welcome to SCF! Nice cake

TIG · 6 Aug 2011, 14:21

Opal

Welcome!
Nice cake!
You can attach image files [and many other common file-type too] directly to your post [look below the typing pane for the options...].
There's a ~4Mb limit per item, and you can attach zipped files if they are 'disallowed' or otherwise too large... When posting an image please keep the size sensible [i.e. it should easily fit on a PC screen!] because some members have quite slow connections... and slow-loading things will annoy them!

opal · 6 Aug 2011, 14:33

Thanks for the welcome TIG and Rich. I'm so used to anything over 500px square being a no no on forum boards, that I just do the link as habit.

TIG · 6 Aug 2011, 14:49

The 'good manners' image-size is usually around 1000x800.
Using 'outside links' can also be annoying to some members, if they have slow-connections, odd-locales or restricted access-rights etc. So I recommend attaching reasonably sized versions of you images directly to your posts.
Of course, please be sensible - one, two or three pictures of your creations will usually suffice [we don't want the "holiday-snaps" syndrome... where our members' eyes glaze-over whilst scrolling through your 'book' of posted images ]

opal · 6 Aug 2011, 14:54

also glazes over on those kind of posts

I only do that for noob tuts

will go edit the link to a pic

opal · 6 Aug 2011, 14:56

hi
I'm opal.. in lotsa places on the web. I started using sketchup about a year ago. I love it. Unlike some other 3D modeling programs I can SEE the interface. I was directed here - also last year but have not posted before (I don't think so anyway)
I just wanted to say thanks to everybody in here for all the advise to others and plugins that make this program so blasted functional.
One tutorial said to get the feel of the program, make something simple - like a box or square chair - so built a 4 tier with pillars wedding cake- round and decorated with ribbons of flowers on the layers. The poly count was upwards of 7 digits when I got through.. but it was awesome to make.
Cake pic..... before applying textures

Can't learn a program from scratch without first playing with all the tools

Bio981 · 12 Aug 2011, 18:28

Hello, my name is Flavio and I am a new user of sketchup! I hope to learn a lot with you!

delliddell · 23 Aug 2011, 19:48

Thanks for the welcoming message! I'm relatively new to sketchup, and I'm taking a class to learn more about it.
I hope that this networking system will be helpful as well as what I learn in class.

Mario

bobbyem3 · 23 Aug 2011, 21:40

Hello SketchUcation,

I am starting a class that uses sketchup. It looks like a helpful tool and am looking forward to learning more about the program.

Gaieus · 24 Aug 2011, 01:43

Hi guys, it seems that two new user who go to classes are here. What sort of classes are they?

troyhome · 29 Aug 2011, 00:11

@gaieus said:

Hi guys, it seems that two new user who go to classes are here. What sort of classes are they?

It's a course i teach at Andrews University in Michigan. We learn SketchUp, Photoshop, and inDesign and then whatever else the students may have an interest in. It's a semester long course and one of the requirements is to become a member of this forum; it's a wonderful place for help and a great environment in which to learn. Thanks for welcoming each beginner who joins!

Gaieus · 29 Aug 2011, 00:14

Hi Troy,

Well, a very good requirement - I will suggest it to other teachers as well!

Anyway, glad you are still around and teaching SU!

dmorrill22 · 30 Aug 2011, 22:55

Hi, my name is Doug Morrill.

I would like to know if there is a plugin available that will change the texture or color of an object (such as a group or component) with timing. I want to create a strobe light setup for a pickup truck model, and be able to vary the flash patterns. Is this possible, or would it be fairly simple to program? I have never done any programming before, so learning Ruby or something would take quite a while.

Thanks for the help,
Doug

obkcaptain · 31 Aug 2011, 09:18

Hi everyone
New (very new) on Sketchup, and old (62, very old), I've discovered a simply way to modelling 3D. Mac user with OS Lion, I had some problems rendering SKU's files properly. Kerkythea doesn't install on my Mac under Lion, but...I keep my laptop, wich (running the old XP) had received it ok.