2011-05-13

Modeling In SketchUp

I know this is a 3dsmax blog, but I can't help but share the awesomeness of SketchUp.  I do most of my architectural modeling in SU, and it's because I find it is very fast for creating buildings to scale, and accurately.  This is a building in Galveston, TX that we are doing some renovation work on.  The video is a time-lapse of my modeling process.  The entire process took me roughly 5 1/2 hours to model.

Enjoy.

19 comments:

  1. Great modeling, Ramy - I use Sketch Up for all of my work as well. Check it out at www.lonewolfdrafting.com. Usually, I don't leave my website, but for the most part, all commercial modeling is now done solely in 3DS or Maya, so it is nice to see someone using SU for a job like this. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. i agree with you, sketchup is very good application for modeling

    i think autodesk wants to have similar product (Autodesk® 123D™) in near future

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  3. Yeah, I saw previews of 123D...it looks very promising, and I think it will be better at organic modeling than SU :)

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  4. Hi, Ramy. This is my first time here in your blog and I admit, I am more the blogger than the techie in this scenario. So, I am more into appreciating great modelling and rendering as I see them. But, I'm sure our rendering team would love to have a chat with you when they have the time. Your modeling using Sketch Up looks amazing. I will be sure to tell our team about what you have done using SU. :)

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  5. Hi ramy Great sketchup work I also use sketchup to do my initial modelling as its much easier then doing it in max. I have just published a new tutorial using sketchup and 3ds max for a renovation visualisation project with a link back to your examples here. check it out at http://www.taran3d.com/living-room-project-tutorial.

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  6. Ramy, I've been considering using SU and haven't had the time to fool around with it recently, but how is it in terms of handling curvature/round objects upon importing to Max? I do all my modeling in ACAD, and separate out any curvature to be brought into MAX in sat format to retain smoothness. I figured if SU was reasonable at working with more complex design (angled walls/rotation references and curvature) then I would use that instead of CAD from now on. This is the main reason I avoid working from scratch with Editable Polys in MAX; ACAD just seems a lot simpler to use. So would SU be beneficial for me?

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  7. when you create a cirle or arc, you can specify the number of "sides" or steps to a curve. Much like in 3dsmax how you can specify the number of steps to a spline.

    Just know that once the circle or arc is extruded to a shape, you can't go back and change the number of facets/steps....in other words, it's not parametric like Autodesk usually is.

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  8. nice work...
    Zamre Bin Ab. Wahab

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  9. Nice work Ramy, I used to model in CAD but needed a more sketch-uppy type software, for ease of work...I found Bonzai 3d quite good, Its from the form z family. I guess the only downside is that it doesnt have a free version like sketch-up but it handles curves very well. Have you tried it before?...Whats your take?

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  10. never tried it...i'll have to check it out.

    Thanks

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  11. Ramy,

    I started using Sketchup, have personalized it so I get my shortcuts as close to ACAD as possible and feel comfortable enough using it now. I'm sure I'm not as fast as you of course, but it seems I'll get acquainted with this beast soon enough. Anyway I was wondering what additional plugins you use or would specifically recommend for SU. I've added a bunch after reading through the Sketchucation forums, but thought your input would be nice as well. Thanks.

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  12. some of my favorite SU scripts:

    -fillet.rb
    -multiFaceOffset.rb
    -offsetOnCurvedSurface.rb
    -removeMaterials.rb
    -strayLines.rb
    -zoomSelection.rb

    Most of these can be found on Smustard.com

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  13. Hi Ramy,
    When modelling in sketchup, Do you thicken your walls so that the back faces are visible in max?

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  14. If it's purely an exterior model, then I don't; I leave them as thin walls.

    If the building has alot of glass and you can see much of the interior from outside, then I i will model thick walls for the spaces you can see.

    Typically I do 2 different models for interior and exterior.

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  15. Hope you wouldn't mind, I'll have to bother you with more questions as time goes on, I am trying to integrate sketchup in my workflow to substitute autocad [no other reason but boredom] but i need to know what system works for people in the industry..i.e..no missing faces and able to do complex curves et al...Ramy, maybe you should write a archvis modelling in sketchup tutorial...lol

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  16. Great work Ramy. I would recommend the Edge Tools plugin from ThomThom- http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=24593 as one that has really made a big difference in my Sketchup workflow, specifically the divide face tool assigned to a keyboard shortcut. The inspect and close gaps tools also improves upon straylines.rb and helps with errant edges and small gaps. The simplify curves tool set to zero will weld multiple sets of imported edges all at once. Happy modeling!

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  17. Quite inspirational Ramy. Loved the way you created some of the geometry and found lots of tips in the video - even with time-lapsed speed!! Think I've got to improve my work rate though ;o)
    will be back for more!

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  18. Please can you upload the whole process of modeling???

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