Google Sketchup Cookbook: Practical Recipes and Essential Techniques (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: fixed pins, dynamic components, digital photos, Google Earth, Other Uses, Entity Info (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

As the first book for intermediate and advanced users of Google SketchUp, this Cookbook goes beyond the basics to explore the complex features and tools that design professionals use. You'll get numerous step-by-step tutorials for solving common (and not so common) design problems, with detailed color graphics to guide your way, and discussions that explain additional ways to complete a task. Google SketchUp Cookbook will help you:

Use SketchUp more efficiently by taking advantage of components and groups Learn new techniques for using Follow Me, Intersect, and constraints Go beyond simple textures with tools such as texture positioning and Photo Match Create animations and walkthroughs, and explore design scenarios by using layers and scenes Learn how to use styles to customize your presentations Combine SketchUp with the 3D Warehouse and Google Earth

Google SketchUp Cookbook is ideal for architects, engineers, interior designers, product designers, woodworkers, and other professionals and hobbyists who want to work more efficiently and achieve true mastery of this amazing tool.

About the Author

Bonnie Roskes has been writing SketchUp books since 2002, and has a loyal customer base who love her books. She frequently hears that her books are more clear and easy to understand than any other software book out there. She also has a great relationship with the SketchUp folks, who have been very supportive of her work. Bonnie has a degree in Structural Engineering and several years of experience in bridge design, so she approaches design from a practical standpoint, not a theoretical one.

Product Details

• Paperback: 364 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596155115
• ISBN-13: 978-0596155117
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,429 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great help for advanced tools, April 11, 2009

By	Zevi's Dad - See all my reviews

This book is a huge help! I've been using SketchUp for a few years and never knew about some of the topics covered in this book. For instance you can use section planes and styles as part of an animation, which I never saw explained in another book or video. The stuff on presentation and model display is really helpful for developing models that my clients want to see. The tutorials are easy to follow, and the use of color is great bonus - very unusual for a how-to book. Excellent book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take your SketchUp skills to the next level!, June 11, 2009

By	J. Kibbe (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After trying to teach myself SketchUp last year, I decided to try again this year so I can teach my middle school gifted students how to make 3D models. Using the free tutorials at Google, SketchUp for Dummies, SketchUp Level One DVD, and SketchUp 7: Hands-On Basics (also by Roskes) will provide the new SketchUp user with a strong introductory foundation. Once you are a strong beginner, you should check out Google SketchUp Cookbook to take your SketchUp skills to the next level. Written in a problem & solution format, this book does not have to be read from cover-to-cover (though I did!), rather one can simply use the well-organized table of contents to find exactly the answer needed as problems arise. Full-color screen captures and tons of ready-made models in the 3D Warehouse make this book even more valuable. Some of the skills addressed include Follow Me; using groups, components, and layers; modeling with photos and textures; creating animations; and using the 3D Warehouse and Google Earth. Working through the entire book and all of its `recipes' takes weeks, but in the end you'll be able to anything in SketchUp that is worth doing! :)

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great learning tool for SketchUp, April 4, 2009

By	M. Kay - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book teaches advanced techniques in SketchUp. The steps were clear and easy to follow and the exercises were fun. I definitely learned a lot and think this would make a great tool for anyone that wants to use SketchUp. I also believe this would be an excellent supplement for math, architecture, and civil engineering classes.