Google+Sketchup

=Google SketchUp=

Looking for another SketchUp lesson? Try Google SketchUp  2. SketchUp is a free application which can be downloaded to Mac and Windows machines. We will be using SketchUp to create a room to illustrate the theme of this room is "An Author's Mind". You will be using the work that you did towards this in English. toc

Introduction
First watch this brief video about how to use Google SketchUp.



Lesson 1:
Go to the spotlight and search out the application.

Templates
With SketchUP you can choose to use a template in either Metres or Feet. For this project we will use Metres.

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Axes
When you first open up sketchUp you will immediately notice the axes. Please look at the diagram below to better understand the directions they represent.

Which way is up in SketchUp?


Now choose the rectangle tool from the tool bar and draw the base rectangle for your room.

** Tape Measure Tool **
You can use the ** Tape Measure Tool ** to see the measurements of your rectangle and adjust them to the sizes you want.

** Orbit Tool **
Use the ** Orbit Tool ** to orbit around and view your shape from the side.

** Push Pull Tool **
Next select the ** Push Pull Tool ** and drag your rectangle upwards to give it height.

Select a wall and draw a rectangle for the door. Then use the ** PushPull Tool ** to push it in a bit.

** Eraser Tool **
Use the ** Eraser Tool ** (from the Tools menu) to delete the door by clicking on the bottom of the rectangle.

To create windows you can draw the shape on one of the faces of your room, switch to the ** Select Tool **, click on the window and press delete on your keyboard.

** Paint Bucket Tool **
Next try adding colour to your room. Select the ** Paint Bucket Tool ** and select your colour from the menu. Try out various options until you are happy with your choices. You can also create glass windows in your room by pushing the window in instead of deleting it and applying a ** translucent ** colour to it.

Roofs
The roof can be removed by selecting it and using the delete button in the same way the door was removed. Another option is to apply a translucent colour to it as in the example above.

** Line Tool **
You can choose toe leave the roof on (but will need plenty of windows in order to see in properly. It can remain flat or be peaked in the middle. Use the ** Push Pull Tool ** to raise the walls up.



Use the ** Line Tool ** to draw two lines from the ** midpoint ** to the sides of the wall.

Then use the ** Push Pull Tool ** to push the roof in and off of the model.

Another option is to raise the roof in a peak at the middle and then choose a translucent colour to enable others to see through