Wiley Pathways Introduction to Google SketchUp [Paperback]

Aidan Chopra (Author), Laura Town (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470175656 | ISBN-13: 978-0470175651 | Publication Date: September 17, 2007 | Edition: 1

Considerably easier to use than other 3D software, Google SketchUp has found a niche in architecture, landscape design, real estate development, furniture building, and other design professions. This book provides an accessible approach that assumes no previous 3D modeling experience and explains the basic concepts involved in 3D modeling. Wiley Pathways SketchUp shows you 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. The book will also help you harness the power of Google SketchUp so you can populate Google Earth with 3D buildings, monuments, and other sculptures.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

You can get there

Whether you’re already working and looking to expand your skills in the computer-aided modeling field or setting out on a new career path that involves 3D design, Wiley Pathways Introduction to Google SketchUp will help you get there. Easy-to-read, practical, and up-to-date, this text not only helps you learn how to use Google SketchUp at your own pace; it helps you master the core competencies and skills you need to succeed.

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.

With this book, you will be able to:

• Understand the basic concepts behind Google SketchUp and the general workflow for creating and sharing a model
• Use Google SketchUp to make buildings, draw and extrude simple plans, model stairs, and construct roofs
• Use advanced techniques for modeling objects like vehicles, furniture, and more
• Build models using photographs with Google SketchUp’s new photo matching feature
• Present your finished design using such features as Styles, Shadows, and Sections
• Get your models out into the world through Google Earth and the 3D Warehouse
• Print and export images and animations from your model file 

About the Author

Aidan Chopra is the Product Evangelist at Google for SketchUp and Google Earth.  He writes and lectures about how SketchUp is used in design, and writes the SketchUpdate, a monthly email newsletter that reaches SketchUp users worldwide. He holds a Master of Architecture degree from Rice University, and has taught architecture at the university level and, at Google, works on ways to mediate between power and usability.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470175656
• ISBN-13: 978-0470175651
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #82 in Books > Computers & Technology > Graphic Design > 3D Graphics

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

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Buy Sketchup for Dummies Instead, December 13, 2007

By 

Plant Man (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wiley Pathways Introduction to Google SketchUp (Paperback)

Do not waste your money on this book!!! Google Sketchup for Dummies is EXACTLY the same book down to the examples and the color pictures in the middle. For 1/3 the price you will literally get the same content written by the same author. The information is good and the program is truly outstanding for quickly producing computer models of just about anything (I'm a landscape designer.)
Mr. Chopra the author is very knowledgeable but his Dummies book is the best value. I cannot state this clearly enough... Do not buy this book unless you just have too much money and nothing to spend it on.
By the way; nearly everything you will ever need to know is available on the Sketchup website for FREE and most of is writted by Mr. Chopra as well.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fills a Gap, December 2, 2007

By 

Richard Darling (Bradford, Vermont) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wiley Pathways Introduction to Google SketchUp (Paperback)

This manual fills a gap in documentation for Sketchup. Many people like myself want to just sit down and read through a coherent hardcopy overview of what the software can do and how to do it - starting from the basic assumption that one knows nothing about the software but is not an idiot with respect to computers in general. Sketchup is primarily obtained via download, so such printed documentation is not generally obtained along with the software - this book rectifies the problem. Structurally the author usually tries to take the step by step approach to achieving a given objective; do this, then do this, then do this, etc., but occasionally, for completeness, breaks down into a simple enumeration and restating of menu and dialog box choices - somewhat less helpful when this happens. For the most part very clearly written, however, and serves the function of a classic "manual" very well.

The online videos by the same author (find him on utube) are VERY helpful. Although prepared specifically to coordinate with his other book, Sketchup for Dummies, they can be tied to this book very easily.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth buying, January 18, 2008

By 

Richard Illyes - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wiley Pathways Introduction to Google SketchUp (Paperback)

I have the Dummies book but bought this book as well, after delaying because of one of the reviews that said to get this book or the other but not both.

I am finding that this book is finally getting me into Sketchup so I can do the things I want to do (designing a machine) in ways the Dummies book did not.

If you are serious about wanting to master Sketchup and not getting there, working through this book may do the job.