Hi All,

I could really use some advice on the workflow to create a shape. Basically I am trying to model a bed for my pet. I have the shape of it but am struggling to get the curves right. The work flow I have tried includes:

Approach #1. draw front profile, draw side profile, intersect - this gives me the curves sort of but they don't go around the shape = FAIL
Approach #2. draw shape, follow me around shape to get curves - only problem is a can't get the curves to taper down at the front = FAIL
Approach #3. draw half the shape with curves and make a skin using the soap bubbles plug-in - only problem is it looks like a boat not a pet bed = FAIL
Approach #4. draw shape and put it on the correct angle( for the bottom), copy and scale (for the top), then manually draw in curves between the two shapes - unbelievably slow to do and I still can't figure out how to get it to curve down in front.

I also followed Elisei's tutorial on how to make a skin (which I had to replay about 50 times!!) which kind of worked except I still couldn't get the right shape - it ended up looking like a chair

I have included a file which shows my discarded attempts and also a picture of what I am trying to achieve. It is very sad to say that I have sat at my computer all week and I only have this embarrassment to show for it!!

approaches tried

Hi Elisei,

This is very helpful. Thank you for showing me the step by step approach. Particularly using the intersect to get the angles after it has been made 3D. I think one of the most challenging parts of being a newbie is trying to visualise the small steps to get to the end goal.

Cheers
Joey

Hi All,

I am two weeks into sketchup and am (trying) to model some pet furniture designs I have sketched. I have completed all of the google tutorials and many of the ones posted here on sketchucation related to the plugsin. I had great success using Fred's round corner tool for a rounded cube cat litter box. I am however struggling to make any traction for something that seems so simple. Basically I would like to make a pet bed base that has three sides that will curve up from the base. The base itself will be slightly angled down from front to back.

I have tried creating a rectangle base and then adding additional rectangles for the arm and backs that I am then trying to "sculpt" into the appropriate curves. This has taken me about three days to figure this out as an approach and I am a bit suspect that it is the right way. I could really use some advice if this is the right way to go about this task and if any of the plug-ins could better help me achieve the result I am after.

I have included my pretty poor effort and a picture of the shape/curves I am actually trying to achieve. Any thoughts on best approach would be sooooo incredibly welcome.

Thanks
Joey

rough approach plus picture of what I am actually trying to do