Free 3D drawing program

[giddonah]

A while back Cole linked me to sketchup. It was a little awkward and the trial time ended so I didn't persue it. Google aparently picked it up and has a free version that I find to still be a bit awkward, but quite good for getting a visual to clients (plus, it's not >$1,000 and doesn't require lots of training to use).

You can export 2D images in jpg, tiff, png and some others. Plus, you can just give them the file and have them download the app. so they can look around in 3D.


http://sketchup.google.com/

[Cole]

Did you watch all of the tutorials?

If not, watch them and you will know how to do a lot of stuff.

[giddonah]

I did. I only saw three, but I watched them. There are gaps though, and it's taking a lot of fiddling around to get exactly what I want. I think that in time though, I'll be a lot faster with it.

[CThomp]

Can you design floor plans with this program?

[Don_P]

Yes,
You can draw a 2d floorplan and then pull the walls up to 3d, install windows and doors and then put a lid on the box. Rotate around it, walk in the door and install the fridge if you want.
Sketchup rocks, it has a short learning curve and is quite accurate. I recently figured some stair details, drew and accounted for subfloor, finish floors, etc and pulled framing dimensions from that. Rotating around in 3d lets you see alot of potential pitfalls before sawing a stick.

[CThomp]

Awesome. Now I have soemthing to do while my wife watches her crappy t.v. shows in the evenings.

[David]

Or you could go make something with that new tablesaw you got!

[CThomp]

I wish. We're still living with the in-laws. We hope to be back in the house within a month. So the table saw is at the house.

In the evening's the fam watches alot of crappy t.v. that drives me insane.

Sketchup will keep me occupied for a long long time. At least until we get out of the in-laws.

[David]

You can get a trial copy of Chief Architect, too. That is fun!!

[CThomp]

I'll check into that this evening as well.