I started using Version 2 just after it was released. In those early days SketchUp wasn't very well known. It was just starting to get noticed in architectural journals. It was a brief mention in an article in Canadian Architect that had me curious. Although really not all that long ago, in those days relatively few people had any kind of high-speed Internet so on slow dialup's it took some motivation to do the big download. I remember telling many people about it but they couldn't be bothered to sit through an long download. Also I think many then still didn't really believe 3D modelling would be all that useful or that it could ever be easy enough for them to learn casually. At that time all other three-d programs had huge learning curves and you had to be very dedicated to struggle through lots of trial & error just to get anywhere. In the work environment 3d modelling was far too time-consuming for most firms to even consider. It also was associated with presentation work and not design.

SketchUp changed that. Even in version two it was quite stable and very practical to use. All the basic functions were there (I think). Those who would try it would find that they could learn it easily, it was fun, it allowed creativity to blossom, and it could fit into one's work-flow. It was word of mouth and tradeshow demos that saw the numbers of users grow. There was almost no advertising. By the time Google bought it I'd say it was well known in the Architectural community. For us I don't really think it is any better known after Google bought it. The release of the free version has allowed it to reach new users in the hobby arena. Those new users would never have bought a $500 version.

Regards, Ross

@collin alexander said:

So Ross, in your opinion, this is something that Google software developers are well aware of, yet deliberately conceal? Is that what I'm understanding?

I have no doubt the developers are well aware of the limitations of the shadow feature. I don't think they deliberately conceal anything. They include a feature, limitations and all, if they think it will be useful to most users. Some users of course may find a particular limitation too limiting for their particular needs. That I'm sure is expected but hopefully most users still find features worthwhile, limitations and all.
As a long time beta tester I know the developers are tirelessly dedicated to fixing any and all bugs whenever possible. Unfortunately fixing one thing can screw up something else (like performance) so fixing known limitations typically can involve trade-offs. With regards to shadows the developers know exactly how to fix the problem without any performance hit - but as noted above they are unable to use the solution because Creative (the maker of mp3 players) won't licence the patented code that is the known fix.

Regards, Ross

The $1,564.37 USD price for pre-orders is rather expensive. Still, it is very cool. I like their 12-button panel they say will be available in 2008.

Regards, Ross

Lawn is buried under snow. Lawn tractor is stuffed into the garage. River has frozen over. Nothing is growing in our greenhouse. Our grapefruit trees (three at 5 feet high) are now inside the house. Christmas lights are up. Family is cocooned inside waiting for Santa. It sure isn't summer but it is a nice time of year.

This year we bought some plastic adirondack style chairs. They are molded to look very much like wood ones. We often get the wind gusting so we have to be able to easily move lawn furniture around so the plastic is very practical. They are bright pink, yellow, and lime green and look pretty good in the context of our weathered cedar shingle 'beach' house.

With regards to adirondack chair components... The Formfonts one I have typically used is one of my most frequently used components. I find that they help bring scale to quick massing models of houses & cottages. They also help the client feel the mood I want them to feel. These chairs are like 'comfort food' -- reaching deep back into our memories of childhood fun at the cottage. I find they really do trigger such memories in most of my clients.

Regards, Ross

Season's greetings to all!

They will be really useful!
Thanks for sharing them Boo. Much appreciated.

Regards, Ross

Cheers Marne!
Now get off the table!

Regards, Ross

Welcome home Stee!

Coen, Gaieus, and the dedicated crew provide all of us with fine, smooth running, accommodations - pretty posh. Plus as each week passes we are seeing more of the SketchUp developers and quality assurance folks posting here.

Regards, Ross

Truck is looking good Bob. Are going going to add lots of details like trims, lights, wipers, grab bars and steps?

Regards, Ross

In general I tend to think of the animation export feature as a visualization tool rather than a presentation one. By that I mean even with a bit of choppiness it still can provide me a useful virtual visualization even if the result isn't as 'presentable' as I'd sometimes like. That said, it is still possible to do lots to improve the quality of one's animation exports. Different codecs have a big effect on quality as do frame rates. Careful planning of where & how many scenes are set is important too.

Regards, Ross

Looks really good Al. I'll be sure to give the demo a try when I have my christmas break.

I'm wondering about workflow. When you've tweaked a material is there any way to save it to be reapplied to something else later? If I use the wizard to set one material can I use SketchUp's eyedropper to assign that same tweaked material to another surface?

Regards, Ross

No Collin you'd likely get the same result.

It sounds like what's happening is that at various times in your animation your viewpoint is from within a shadow. SketchUp's shadow generating gets screwed up when the viewpoint (think of it as a camera location) is inside a shadow. The result is usually that the shadow looks fragmented almost like an angular camouflage pattern instead of a solid tone.

Unfortunately the only way around this is to turn shadows off or be careful in setting up scenes so the 'camera' stays outside of shadows.

[In version 4 of SketchUp this problem was fixed. The fix relied on an algorithm written by a Professor somewhere. Unfortunately a Japanese company patented a substantially similar algorithm and a lawsuit erupted between the professor and the company. The company won a judgement that prevented the professor's algorithm from being usable by others like the SketchUp developers. In version 5 the coding was removed and the old limitation regarding shadows came back and remains with us today. As far as I know the Japanese company has never licenced their version and don't even use it themselves in their products. Sad.]

Regards, Ross

Welcome Aboard Rich!

Bill - Are you Santa? That icy avatar (North Pole?) & the white beard seem to be clues.

Regards, Ross

Thanks Dave. It looks good and will be useful.

Regards, Ross

"Dash, with deep shame I feel I must admit my secret to you because you are such a perfect person and I am so very flawed. I'm not a real Doctor. I bought my degree from..."

Granted... But now your back hurts everytime you stand up. Sorry!

This Christmas I wish, I wish, I wish I get a soapdish.

Sorry Gsaba -- Stool has another meaning.

Sorry Gidon - for taking this off-topic. Now to get back on: What is the library furniture being made of?

Csaba - I pretty sure those brown diamonds are the upolstery on a small pull-out bench. Bernard calls it a "stool" but I don't like that name as it is associated with other brown stuff.

Gidon --- well done!

Regards, Ross

Jenujacob - Great big thanks for the model!

I've long wanted such a mannequin for SU and think it will be really useful.

If you are ever in my part of the world let's get together and I'll make you some of my famous curried tuna soup. Not as spicy as a Indian curry but really tasty.

Regards, Ross

These kits look interesting for those of use in a winter climate...

http://www.ktrakcycle.com/home.html

On the pictures page there is a video of it being used on a ski hill -- looks like lots of fun!

Regards, Ross

Okay. Granted. Now you have no work to do - but you are bored silly. Because of your wish you can't even make up something to do. (Your wish turned into a curse).

I wish I had my Christmas shopping done.