New to sketchup

[dbales]

Hey guys, I'm new to sketchup. I'm using the free version of SketchUp 8. I originally was turned on to SU from a woodworking forum. I started using it to mock up my plans and turn them into 3d models. I'm impressed with the level of in depth details you can put into a model. So I have a few questions:

How do you guys get your models to look so real?

How can you really tell a rendering from SU?

What are some good resources to get better at modeling in SU?

And what kind of jobs are available if you can model really good?

Thanks guys. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[numbthumb]

Hi, Deric and welcome

@dbales said:

What are some good resources to get better at modeling in SU?

Sketchucation Community Forums

Now, SU lacks a (good) native rendering tool, so when you require a little more professionalism, you´ll have to use a rendering program. Sketchup basic output is quite "sketchy", not so "realistic", so it´s not that hard to tell rendering from native SU
Take a look here for some more info: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=37621&p=332088&hilit=render+list#p332088
Kerkythea is free and very capable rendering app, and it may be a good start. But it all deppends on what you really want to achieve.

And we have a woodworking user group here also

[mwm5053]

Welcome to the forums.

This place SCF is by far the best place to get help when you need it.
I learned SU from a woodworker named Joe Zey at http://www.srww.com/blog/?p=1335 . Great videos

Also go to Fine Woodworking Blog Design Click Build one of the contributors DaveR is a regular here.

[pilou]

About rendering free more easy and fun!
Lumion free !

1920 x 1080 maximum image, 1280 * 720 animation!

[flash=560,315:2mjz2ldj]http://www.youtube.com/v/Sq25GV0x3L0[/flash:2mjz2ldj]

[flash=400,225:2mjz2ldj]http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=18531558&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0 "[/flash:2mjz2ldj]

See review by Ron Bekerman (videos etc)

[gilles]

Hello,

Note that there is Woodworking sub-forum here:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewforum.php?f=183

[dbales]

@mwm5053 said:

Welcome to the forums.

This place SCF is by far the best place to get help when you need it.
I learned SU from a woodworker named Joe Zey at http://www.srww.com/blog/?p=1335 . Great videos

Also go to Fine Woodworking Blog Design Click Build one of the contributors DaveR is a regular here.

That's who I learned from. I learned thru his tutorial videos.

I'll have to check out some of the rendering programs listed once I get better at SU.