sketchup posts

Google and Multiverse to announce virtual worlds built on Google Earth

by Brad Linder Oct 9th 2007

Part of the appeal of virtual worlds like Second Life and World of Warcraft are that they let you escape from the real world. But who's to say there's isn't a market for virtual spaces based on real places?

CNet reports that Google and Multiverse Network are set to announce a partnership that will let anyone create a virtual world/MMORPG using data from Google Earth and 3D models created with Google's SketchUp.

You could set your virtual world in real cities, allowing visitors to interact with realistic representations of buildings, streets, terrain, and other landmarks.

According to CNet, the Multiverse partnership has nothing to do with the rumor that Google is developing its own virtual world technology.

Tags: google-earth, mmorpg, multiplayer, multiverse, sketchup

Filed under: Design, Fun, Internet, Utilities, News, Windows, Macintosh, Google, Freeware

Google Sketch-Up 6

by Ryan Carter Jan 11th 2007

I don't have to tell most of you how cool Google Sketch-Up is, since you already use it. If you don't know, it's a great, free, and easy to learn 3D modeling tool. Detailed tutorials and extremely simple tools make sketch-up one of the best 3D tools, especially for amateurs. Version 6 is now available for download, so get it while it's hot. There is a quick reference card to see all the tools and what they do in one place, if you would find it helpful. Sketch-Up is a fun tool that is a great thing to play with if you haven't ever tried doing 3D modeling before, or after a long hard day of work. It is easy enough to learn in a matter of a few hours. Once you sketch something, you can add it to its real world location on Google Earth and store it in the Google 3D Warehouse, a place to catalog the world's 3D models.

Here are some of the improvements made in SketchUp 6:

Text and Dimension tool improvements
Speed
Force Inference directions
Better modifier keys
Intersect
Paste in Place
Two point perspective

Also, in this release are several neat features that make 3D sketching even better. Watermarks let you put your logo on a model, or a stamp, such as "confidential" or "for-review." Styles allow you to create, use, and share custom display settings, so your models become uniquely yours. Watermarks and the new Sketchy Effects are part of Styles. Google SketchUp offers a free version of its serious 3D software that you don't need a serious degree in engineering to use.

[Via Lifehacker]

Tags: 3d, Google, modeling, pro, sketchup, version 6, Version6

Filed under: Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Google, Freeware

Google Earth now available for Mac and Linux

by Jordan Running Jun 12th 2006

Despite being mostly a Windows boy myself, I'm really glad to see Google moving some of its apps to other platforms. Today Google announced the availability of Google Earth 4 Beta, which is a free download not just for Windows, but also for Mac OS X (yes, it's a universal binary) and Linux. Aside from going multi-platform, Google Earth 4 sports a new, sleeker interface, support for textured building models with SketchUp integration, and some KML improvements. Head over to the beta site to grab the new release.

[Via TUAW]

Tags: earth, google, googleearth, kml, mapping, sketchup

Filed under: Design, Fun, Windows, Macintosh, Productivity, Web services, Google, Freeware

Google SketchUp - Today's Free File

by Victor Agreda, Jr. Apr 27th 2006

I have been a fan of SketchUp for a couple of years. And I wasn't entirely shocked to see Google buy them out (since they looked awfully cozy together at Macworld). But now that there is a free version of SketchUp, called Google SketchUp, I can expect my productivity in everything but 3d to plummet dramatically. SketchUp is just so darn easy and fun to use, it makes me wince a little to drop into other apps like 3ds max (not for long, since the toolset in max is decidedly larger and more potent). Better still, you can upload your models to Google Earth. So that's how Google is going to add 3d buildings for all the towns not currently included (only 38 major cities are in there now). If you have ever considered using a 3d app before, give Google Sketchup a try, it is a lot of fun. Then consider the fact that most other 3d apps are NOT as much fun. There is still a pro version of SketchUp, which allows many more output options (like movies). This free version is for personal use, not business use, much like Google Earth, which comes in a pro flavor as well.

Tags: 3d, google earth, GoogleEarth, sketchup

Filed under: Design, Google, Commercial

Google acquires SketchUp 3D drawing app

by Jordan Running Mar 14th 2006

Another day, another Google acquisition. Just in time for Pi Day, Google has scooped up @Last Software, makers of SketchUp, a 3D drawing app for Windows and Mac OS X. The @Last web site describes SketchUp as a "deceptively simple, amazingly powerful tool for creating, viewing, and modifying 3D ideas quickly and easily." In the announcement on the Official Google Blog, @Last's Jeff Martin describes how SketchUp can be used to create 3D models that can be imported into Google Earth, which I suspect has more than a little do to with this acquisition. For more insight, read the official announcement and FAQ at the SketchUp web site. SketchUp has a price tag of $495, but will Google start giving it away for free as it has so many of its other acquisitions?

[Via the Unofficial Google Weblog]

Tags: 3d, acquisition, business, earth, google, kml, modeling, rendering, sketchup

Filed under: Business, Design, Developer, Fun, Internet, Photo, Text, Utilities, Video, News, Windows, Macintosh, Productivity, Google

SketchUp video tutorials

by Ryan Carter

So you've played with SketchUp a bit and know you like it, but don't know what to do with it? This has been me as of late. I have wanted to know more about SketchUp and how to do some more complex modeling. On my inquisition, I quickly found a storehouse of knowledge to fuel my SketchUp frenzy. SketchUp offers a bunch of great video tutorials that can be downloaded as well as streamed. Perhaps I am late to this party, but no one else I have talked to who knew what SketchUp was knew they existed either. For those not in the know, I am getting your party started right now. The tutorials cover almost every drawing or modeling technique the beginner to intermediate Sketcher-upper would want and need to know. If you can't figure out how to do something in SketchUp, the method is probably covered in the videos. They load quickly and are very clear on how to do things. I felt like a guru when I left the video section of the site, having learned all my mind could hold for the day (I like my overload, thank you). Want to overload your noggin with SketchUp info, check out the videos. Enjoy with your favorite beverage.

Tags: 3D, design, google, help, model, sketchup, tutorials, video

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