3d
Quick and simple 3d models with Google SketchUp
17/04/07 04:46 Filed in: Graphics
When I needed to make some simple 3d models of
objects I started looking for some cheap (free)
software to use. I know there is blender, art of
illusion, wings 3d and a few others
but they really seemed a little bit much for my
simple needs. Then I came across the free
SketchUp 6 software from
Google.
Although the interface was not always obvious on what it was doing or could do, I found everything I needed searching through their online help or by watching their training videos. The only downside is that the free version can only export to the proprietary SKP or KMZ file format.
Google does offer a free viewer software for Windows and supposedly the latest version of Blender can import the KMZ file and then export it into another format. Otherwise you need to pay $100's for the Professional version of SketchUp to allow export in a few 3d formats (3ds, DWG, OBJ and more) or buy the Deep Exploration Standard Edition from Right Hemisphere. Deep Exploration additionally allow you to export the native SketchUp format to MANY other 3d formats while allowing some okay 3d manipulation as well. Unfortunately this also costs $100's.
Regardless, I found the quick manipulation of objects in SketchUp to be easy to learn and useful for creating quick visualizations.
Although the interface was not always obvious on what it was doing or could do, I found everything I needed searching through their online help or by watching their training videos. The only downside is that the free version can only export to the proprietary SKP or KMZ file format.
Google does offer a free viewer software for Windows and supposedly the latest version of Blender can import the KMZ file and then export it into another format. Otherwise you need to pay $100's for the Professional version of SketchUp to allow export in a few 3d formats (3ds, DWG, OBJ and more) or buy the Deep Exploration Standard Edition from Right Hemisphere. Deep Exploration additionally allow you to export the native SketchUp format to MANY other 3d formats while allowing some okay 3d manipulation as well. Unfortunately this also costs $100's.
Regardless, I found the quick manipulation of objects in SketchUp to be easy to learn and useful for creating quick visualizations.
Quick 3d model tutorials
13/01/06 15:18 Filed in: Graphics
While looking for a convertor for VRML2 to anything
useful (including textures) I came across Nendo at
http://www.izware.com/nendo/.  While it did not
import my VRML as advertised I chanced upon their
howto section and suddenly was immersed in a very
good tutorial on making a 3d airplane from a cube.
Very clean and easy to follow.  There's about 20 other tutorials and if they are anything like the first then they are well worth it.  The program is commercial for $49 but the tutorials can be seen in the free demo version. Well worth the looking at for a newbie to 3d models.
Very clean and easy to follow.  There's about 20 other tutorials and if they are anything like the first then they are well worth it.  The program is commercial for $49 but the tutorials can be seen in the free demo version. Well worth the looking at for a newbie to 3d models.