Google Sketchup Pro 7 is out

emorgan

Ok. Sketchup 7 has some substantial improvements.
What I was really waiting for was real curves. (not faceted) and the ability to export solid models.
I think those features would basically blast a big hole in the MCAD market.
Still Sketchup 7 is worth the upgrade for so many reasons. The dynamic stretching alone is BIG.

dacad

REMUS:
How? explain me or show me how because from what i see there's nothing really new but i could be missing something.

Parametric modeling it's something sketchup didn't need specially if would be the core feature of a new version...What does the DC help me if i'm modeling something unique without components?or a car?or a industrial production object?or a organic shape? and can i animate objects and export that animation with shadows? or that just work for cubes again (or other basic form?)

In my opinion the DC will have the same impact that sandbox tools had, it's fun at the beggining but when you realized it's limits you will use it as much as sand box tools (not much and when used have to correct them to work good...).

And again for the ones defending the new super released: did i said any lie in my previous post? And better yet: if you could choose between this "new" version 7 and a version 6 that suported multicore and heavier models what would you choose?i have to be honest, i don't know what you guys model with sketchup but i could survive with this software without this "new" features, but can't say the same thing about not using the full power of today's technology...

dale

Just a question. I'm in the middle of a fairly complex project, and I'm a little hesitant to download 7 Pro in case I have problems in translation etc from Pro 6. Any noticeable problems in this regard? What about plugins such as Renditioner, Podium, or Kerkythea (I know, not really a plug in, but the exporter is) which I use quite often, any problems with them?

From my point of view, I am an old guy who started in this field hand rendering, and I don't think most of you understand just how you have been empowered by the SketchUp software. In fact people are always talking about a SketchUp challenge, for your next serious project, don't do it in SketchUp, hand render it first,( no not napkin sketches, reasonable presentation renders) then submit it, and we will come up with a list of revisions, then revise your rendering. When this is complete do it in SketchUp and look at the differences not only in the professionalism and quality of the presentation in the SketchUp version but give us a time comparison.
I am certainly not pushing the boundaries of this software like silvershadow and others, but I know that it is by far the most enjoyable software on my computer. It never feels like work, and I get the feeling that outside of a few irritations that are founded, mostly people just want it to do everything for them, and I don't think this will ever happen.
Oh I'm attaching a few hand renderings by some of the greats, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Antonio Sant'Ellia, and Lebbeus Woods. There are other that are worthy of having a look at, like Steve Oles (who is actually now using SketchUp) and Hugh Ferris, the list goes on.

And I thank the folks on the SketchUp Team, and all the Ruby Scripters, I haven't had this much fun at work in years. (now back to work on SU 7.5 )

Antonio Saint Elia D.jpg

Lebbeus Woods 2.jpg

dacad

And now a litle story: Some years ago there was a rumor that autodesk was going to buy @last sketchup. Everyone, back then revolted against it and after a while everyone was pleased to know google bought sketchup and save it from autodesk. Now i don't know if this was for the best of this software.

Google owning sketchup means if they can just implement one new feature and have to choose between new modeling tools or better google earth integration guess what's gonna be choose...

If Autodesk had been able to bought sketchup at least nowdays we would have better integration with all the major 3d Softwares and decent import/export of 3d models (i'm sorry but just beeing able to import absolete 3d formats and lose data in the process like textures and polygons it's something unaceptable for me but maybe i'm just to demanding for finished 3d products...)

Other things that let me thinking something it's wrong in this realeased it's things like user suport (does no one from the skechup team have time to talk to us and explain and discuss this new version with us?and i talked bad from autodesk suport), how was the software realeased (this is the best way to realeased the software?) other softwares that done incredible evolutions and updates and in lesser time that sketchup (photoshop CS4, Modo 302, Silo 2, Zbrush 3...) and using the same engine since version 5 and knowing a hardware|software revolution as passed (64 bits OS and multi core processor)

P.S.:And i hate Autodesk...

solo

DacaD wrote:

@unknownuser said:

In my opinion the DC will have the same impact that sandbox tools had, it's fun at the beggining but when you realized it's limits you will use it as much as sand box tools

Well I use it Sandbox almost daily, it's got a couple glitches but an awesome plugin it is none the less.

Once you get using DC in your daily workflow you will wonder what you did without it, just like we do with all major plugins. DC makes things just a little easier and gives us more control, however it takes the initial learning phase like everything else.

jstanton8869

@burkhard said:

@jstanton8869 said:

.....
After all this time this looks like a point release rather than a full new version. Sorry Google - Try Harder

this is from the blog and you want more?

Two years in the making and the result of many, many people's hard work, Google SketchUp 7 has arrived. You are cordially invited to visit our website to download a copy for yourself. We can't wait to see what you think.

I think that's the point - what have they been doing for 2 years? There are a large number of improvements many of which are covered (sometimes supported) ad hoc by ruby scripts that could have been properly integrated into native Sketchup and just arent there. The UI could be massively improved

Basic stuff like customisable toolbars, better arc drawing etc etc etc. A lot of this stuff (especially the Arc tool which is stone age) has needed improving since before version 5. The Dynamic components look great but my point is that it seems crazy you can draw lines and curves more easily and flexibly now in Layout than you can in Sketchup. What am I supposed to do, draw my model in 2D in Layout. Use the new Export as JPEG to transfer my drawing to Sketchup. Trace over the lines and then work it up in 3D??? It'd be like working in Vectorworks all over again!

Oh,and while I'm up on my horse - the full list of changes link on the google website gets you a blank page so I'm still waiting to see what I've missed.

http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=115424

JuanV.Soler

Beware to run as an administrator if you are in Vista¡
otherwise it wont let you license.

ELYSIUM

Coen, it's hard not to be a critic when not even the toolbars where fixed.....

lapx

My Top 5 prority list PLEASE! For get about anything else until these are met.

speed, speed, speed.
consistent clean up with lines and faces with less trial n error.
handle high poly count.
moi like functions for making irregular curvy shapes.
fix shadow problem.

dacad

Coen Naninck:

Coen please don't seem me as someone who is atacking you or others that are defending this version 7. I'm just trying to make a point and see the two sides of this discussion. I'm really interested in the article about V7 you're gonna do because has i always say the strongest thing about sketchup it's not the software but their comunity of users an i believe that i will learn more about this version with you and others than with sketchup team or website/suport (waht's happening with info about V7 in their site?). The last thing i wanted was making you think i was beeing disrespectfull with you or others.

But i also have to say to please don't see me as a newbie to sketchup or someone that don't understand the full power of their tools. 2 years ago i did this project http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5800&highlight=car+design and then share some tips and tricks how i did it in here http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5844&highlight=tips+tricks
This was 2 years ago...you can see that using sandbox tools "out of the box" and pushing the limitis of this software it's something i've been doing for some time now. So i now above all how it work and how it doesn't (when was the last time we used the "from contours" tool that didn't need to use after the "flip edge" tool?)

This version 7 for me it's aimed for new users, people that start using sketchup like 1 year ago or so. They will love the new features and the new layout. For the pro users and hardcore modelers this a completly fail (for now) because none of the bugs and limitations of the software have been adressed. we just got a tool worth mentioning (the DC) that in some time from now we will find their limitations (and probably bugs) and will be another thing we will want to be fixed or updated...
So yes, i feel forgotten by the sketchup team...

And now when we think that we'll probably have to wait another 2 years for the new version that it's not even sure that this problems will be coreected this time it starts to get scary...

ScottPara

Coen, to say you would (n)EVER switch might want to be left as an open statement. If the development of Sketchup keeps going at this pace (2 years for a sorry attempt at a full release) there may no longer be support enough for Sketchup to continue! That was a joke so go easy!:)

In all reality, I think the only people who should complain are pro (paying) users. Not to say free version users should not have a voice but to demand things that are already your way free is wrong.

The fact that it can not handle high poly models is just wrong. Google gives us Sandbox which can get high poly on its own only to have sandbox choke ones pc to a halt. As an architectural modeler, my models get high poly quick and to have to separate out my model in chunks only because SU can not handle high poly is a joke. Every other modeler worth its weight is handling millions and millions of poly's and maybe choking, not SU........it chokes on hundreds of thousands! Come on!

Here is my idea for google.......hire Whaat and Fredo6 and lock them in a room for 12 months and see what sketchup would become! I have a good feeling it would be far better than what we are staring at now!!!

Will I buy the upgrade? Yes, only because I have to, not because I am excited to.

DONE!!!

CadFather

unfortunately, i find one cannot but agree with all the negative feedback, from the rational and balanced, to the emotional and upset. still one should also not fail to see the positives for what they are - and will be.

but for some users, sketchup is not just a modeller, or even a program - dare i say it is a LOVE relationship.

i am sure i'm not just speaking for long time users, remember? for many, it was love at first sight!
sketchup is special because it has somehow become an integral part of many lives and has made them better.

i am not saying "the old days were better" - but there is this slight sense of betrayal - that the lover has not been considered, and that though the ruby masters have been a fantastic blessing for all of us (around the world) and google has also been making some amazing additions - one more bit of love is gone.....

let's hope some of this feedback will do just that - this program is a heck of a program! love

remus

Dacad,

Well imagine you have to model a few houses in SU. You model the shell of the house then whack in a few dynamic windows and doors, then whack a dynamic fence around the house. Compare that to having to individually model/adapt a window component for each window, and have to draw in a fencepost for each fences, id say thats a substantial amount of time saved in modelling.

In terms of usefulness when doing organic stuff, no it isnt useful, but then is subsmooth useful when your modelling a warehouse? It is just a tool, and you wont need to use it all the time.

When considering this feature i think its also important to consider Su's primary market of architects. The majority of whom will make extensive use of reusable components.

herodes

I come forward to support the opinion that this is in no acceptable way a major release, since this new version totaly lacks any form of documentation (no don't tell me about the instructor), and/or solid Ruby API Documentation!

Give us something we can actually buy, to work and to play, to customize and enjoy!
Having me complaining all this much about the next release proves how much I want this... but I can't justify the cost to myself,... let alone my employer.

Oooh!,... About Bonzai3D being a vaporware, I contacted the autodesys people this is the email!

@unknownuser said:

At 9:57 AM -0500 11/17/08, Georgios Petsagourakis wrote:

It has been suggested here that the Bonzai3D is vaporware,... please clarify.

Best Regards,...
George Petsagourakis

Dear George,

BonZai is progressing nicely (although it is taking a little longer to finalize the Beta version than we would like).

We hope to have the public Beta version released in the next month. If you have not done so already, we recommend signing up to be notified when this is released on the BonZai page:

http://www.bonzai3d.com/

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Best Regards,

Paul Helm

--

formZ Technical Support
autodessys, Inc.
(614) 488-8838

Monday - Friday
9am - 6 pm EST

thomthom

I think the key item that's been missing from this SU7 release is information. We've not known anything about what SU7 would bring. We've not known what direction Google is taking SU. We haven't heard anything about what issues the team focus on. We don't know what they are working on next. We don't know what issues didn't make it into SU7, but is slated for later release.

There's been a whole lot of nothing in regards to information, except that SU7 would be superduper, leaving a void that's built anticipation

I don't know how much under the hood is done. I don't know how much work had to the stability, I don't know how much had to be done to get parametric done.

That's why when I first heard of SU7 this weekend and I rushed to download and install it I was puzzled when I opened SU7. It was not as expected. I look back on the website to find changelog, but no detailed log exists. What I do see on the What's new page, http://sketchup.google.com/product/newin7.html is that Layouts list of new features are much longer. And when I try to look up detailed information on dynamic components I'm faced with "Under construction" messages. Fair enough, SU7 wasn't announced yet, but even now after the SU blog has announced SU7 the information is missing.

I know that the information will be up there shortly, but I'm just pointing it out to show that the flow of information has not been great across the whole line. Now, I do know that the SU team asked in the Ruby section for feedback, so I'm not oblivious to that fact. But on the whole, information is serverly missed. It feels like the information lock down Microsoft has been following in the past. But they have in fact improved greatly the last couple of years. Many Microsoft teams now have very interesting blogs that allows users insight to where the product is going and what are some of the challenges the teams are addressing. There's a very good visible dialogue there which I'm sorely missing here.

I'm changing my top wishlist from the SU team to be information. I'd just like to know what they are thinking, because I'm feeling that I'm not in tune at the moment.

That's been my 2 cents, with inflations interests. I finish of by thanking for SU7 and especially dynamic components (one of my top wishes). This thread can't be what you hoped to see as a reaction to years of hard work. It's easy to be critical and it's easy to forget the good parts. But this is an indication that we're not all on the same wavelength. None the less, the critics are also an indication that people care about the product. I for one find SU to be the best mesh modeller. Other modellers feels awkward now, and I've only used SU for a year.

JuanV.Soler

@cadfather said:

let's hope some of this feedback will do just that - this program is a heck of a program! love

Yes ¡

There is something I have noticed and it is that the name SketchUp comes first than Google in all the links to downloads and licenses.

maybe the change is coming

In any case now SketchUp is tidy and ready to grow if they want to.

drewpoeppel

I use the free version of Sketchup and see this release as WAY disappointing. Crossing lines break automatically and being able to use, but not make dynamic components seems like the only real upgrades. Oh forgot the new blue icons, oooo! I use Sketchup for architectural modeling/rendering only, so I wasn't as high poly hopeful as most of you. I was hoping for better animations, rendering integration, some of the way cool rubies incorporated. I cant complain too much cause, hey, free!
Google just looks to be confused by what to do with Sketchup. Simple modeling for Google Earth looks to be their main priority. Their second area of focus seems to be people like me. Architects, Interior designers, furniture makers, landscape designers. A fast, easy to use modeling tool that lives up to the Sketch in Sketchup. They create products like Layout and Style builder. Which are nice for sketches but not nearly the post processing power needed for professional work. Their third user is the one that seems the most disappointed. Super modelers like silver_shadow, their models have shown us the true potential of this program. I'm afraid they will be the ones left out. Making a program that can live up to them might price the rest of us out.

jstanton8869

@thomthom said:

I think the key item that's been missing from this SU7 release is information. We've not known anything about what SU7 would bring. We've not known what direction Google is taking SU. We haven't heard anything about what issues the team focus on. We don't know what they are working on next. We don't know what issues didn't make it into SU7, but is slated for later release.

There's been a whole lot of nothing in regards to information, except that SU7 would be superduper, leaving a void that's built anticipation

I don't know how much under the hood is done. I don't know how much work had to the stability, I don't know how much had to be done to get parametric done.

That's why when I first heard of SU7 this weekend and I rushed to download and install it I was puzzled when I opened SU7. It was not as expected. I look back on the website to find changelog, but no detailed log exists. What I do see on the What's new page, http://sketchup.google.com/product/newin7.html is that Layouts list of new features are much longer. And when I try to look up detailed information on dynamic components I'm faced with "Under construction" messages. Fair enough, SU7 wasn't announced yet, but even now after the SU blog has announced SU7 the information is missing.

I know that the information will be up there shortly, but I'm just pointing it out to show that the flow of information has not been great across the whole line. Now, I do know that the SU team asked in the Ruby section for feedback, so I'm not oblivious to that fact. But on the whole, information is serverly missed. It feels like the information lock down Microsoft has been following in the past. But they have in fact improved greatly the last couple of years. Many Microsoft teams now have very interesting blogs that allows users insight to where the product is going and what are some of the challenges the teams are addressing. There's a very good visible dialogue there which I'm sorely missing here.

I'm changing my top wishlist from the SU team to be information. I'd just like to know what they are thinking, because I'm feeling that I'm not in tune at the moment.

That's been my 2 cents, with inflations interests. I finish of by thanking for SU7 and especially dynamic components (one of my top wishes). This thread can't be what you hoped to see as a reaction to years of hard work. It's easy to be critical and it's easy to forget the good parts. But this is an indication that we're not all on the same wavelength. None the less, the critics are also an indication that people care about the product. I for one find SU to be the best mesh modeller. Other modellers feels awkward now, and I've only used SU for a year.

Totally agree - great post

thomthom

Well, after that post on more information, I find this: http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=115424&cbid=-bksd1fzknpy&src=cb&lev=answer and three YouTube clips on how to makes DC's...

Pixero

I agree that dynamic components is a good addition but what else is new in SketchUp?
(I'm not talking Layout since I have absolutly no use of it.)
I havent seen any new features list yet so what else is new exept from minor UI changes?

I'm not that shocked by the lack of bugfixes and core changes to SketchUp since I kind of expected it to be like this, but I am really sad that they havent listened to what we wanted.

Hi poly support.
Multi core.
Shadow bug fixed.