Google SketchUp For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) [Paperback]

Aidan Chopra (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0470137444 | ISBN-13: 978-0470137444 | Edition: 1

• Considerably easier to use than other 3D software, Google SketchUp has found a niche in architecture, landscaping, real estate development, furniture building, and other design professions
• The fun and friendly approach assumes no previous 3D modeling experience and explains the basic concepts involved in 3D modeling
• Shows readers how to build a 3D model, print it, share it, export it to another professional design package, export it to Google Earth, and create a 3D animated tour
• Helps readers harness the power of Google SketchUp so that they can populate Google Earth with 3D buildings, monuments, and other sculptures

Editorial Reviews

Review

"full of tips and techniques" (British Woodworking, October 2007)

From the Back Cover

Get a whole new perspective on 3D modeling

Build your house in 3D, do some remodeling, and share it in Google Earth

Developed with architects and other design gurus in mind, Google SketchUp is the fast, easy way to build 3D models of anything you want — buildings, furniture, or your own unique creations. Best of all, it's free! You don't have to know anything about 3D to use this handy guide — just download SketchUp, fire it up, and you'll be modeling in no time.

• Create models from photos

• Master the interface and 3D tools

• Animate a walkthrough of your model

• Arrange furniture and decorate your space

• Try out landscape designs

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (July 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470137444
• ISBN-13: 978-0470137444
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #374,650 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #79 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Algorithms > Digital Image Processing

More About the Author

Aidan Chopra is the product evangelist for SketchUp at Google. He writes and edits SketchUpdate, a popular e-newsletter and blog that reaches hundreds of thousands of SketchUp users worldwide.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good for experienced users too., November 8, 2007

By 

L. Quaglio - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Google SketchUp For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

I am a retired professional engineer, architect, and 3D graphics artist/instructor. I have been using SketchUp Pro for about 3 years mainly for creating Earth and space structures that I later import into Daz Bryce for rendering. This well written, light-hearted, and extremely thorough book is an essential asset for begineers and a valuable reference tool for anyone using SketchUp. Computer software manual writers can often times get over zealous with methods and confuse everyone but themselves. Fortunately Aidan Chopra is not one of those people. If you want to draw most anything you can imagine you need to do two things. First download the free version of SketchUp and second buy this book. You will be very pleased with both actions.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great - for beginners, September 1, 2007

By 

Robert M. Johnson (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Google SketchUp For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

I bought the book because I wanted to get started using SketchUp to draw a house construction plan. I wanted to see what the house would look like in 3-dimension. I reviewed the on-line training files and got a good understanding of what SketchUp could do, but, as one might expect, there was not a lot of "how-to-get-started" information.
The book is well written and easy to follow. It is set up based on a training theory I like, trial and error. The base example is a house sketch with vague dimensions. As you begin to follow the instructions, you make mistakes. You quickly learn how to erase your mistakes and re-start. After a bit, I began to have something worth saving. Once saved, it became a means of re-starting after "big" mistakes.
It is truly a learn-by-doing tool.
I haven't used the book for the more complex features of the program.
I got what I wanted and the price of the book was a small price to pay for the lesson.
I used to use MacDraw years ago on a Mac. This is the best casual drawing tool I've seen since then.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what the doctor ordered!, December 12, 2007

By 

David W. Malcom Sr. (Palm Springs, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Google SketchUp For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

This book along with the online videos will get you up and running fast. It's see one, read one, now do one. The online videos are the key to doing the book as sometimes the books doesn't contain all the information for completing the project. So you have to write down the dimensions from the video into the book. This is what I did and I was able to follow along with the book and complete the projects. In a word "excellent."