Best way to approach project?

[pimzipenzi]

I'm a relative newbie and would appreciate advice from experienced users about the most practical way to approach the project below.

I hope to use Sketchup Pro to create a jazzed up virtual tour of an existing property. I'd like to model the existing property, add new furniture (inside and outside), and then render the model to make it photorealistic.

I have floor-plans and can take as many photographs of the property as needed. The photographs of the property and the surrounding land on Google Earth are very outdated.

Is it sensible to use Photo Match to create a model of the outside, and then create the interior rooms within the model? From my limited experience, the advantage seems to be that the textures on the outside of the property can be transferred to the model easily. Are there any major disadvantages that I'm overlooking?

Alternatively, some Youtube videos appear to model interior rooms separately and then place them within the final model at a later stage – is this a good idea?

The property is actually built on 4 floors into the side of a hillside (it's pretty dramatic!). Should I model the grounds around the property/inclines first? Is this possible within Sketchup?

I'm 2/3rds of the way through Sketchup for Dummies, though if anyone can recommend any other tutorials I would be grateful.

I'm aware that this is an ambitious project and thank all who can offer advice.

[JQL]

Hi PP,

How much accuracy do you need?

Haven't you got any floor plans, sections or elevations to work from?

Only with heavily decorated interiors would it be simpler to use photomatch to model.

Without photos it's hard to tell but don't start with the ground, start with 90degrees geometry.

Best regards,

JQL

[solo]

Got images to show of the proposed exterior?

[bob-designer]

Part of starting the project is obtaining a good understanding of the use of Layers and Outliner. Both are key to the project and will help you manage and control the components and groups of components for the project as they are created.

If you are good at 3d sketching, start making drawings of how you think the project might procede. Some what like story boards that are used for putting a movie together to tell the story.

If you have the wall space, put the sketches, photos and other material on the wall using masking tape. Put the plans on the wall also. Look then over, move things around as a plan for the project starts coming together in your mind.

Them start creating a list of components and how you see the components fitting together to form the component assemblies or groups. Then place the components and groups on Layers and the Outliner. You should them have a good start on a plan for the project.

Create the plan of action, them start working the plan. Modify the plan as needed and move forward. Bob