Date: 2/9/2008 11:02 am
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While searching the internet for a landscaping modeling program (To get my wifes approval for a project) I found scetchup, which in turn lead me here.
I wish to tackle a large project in my back yard of a pond and waterfall.
I have spent alot of time watching the many "how to videos" and attempting to get started but feel I am getting no where fast. As a ups driver my pc skills are limited as well as my time to invest in learning how to use scketchup for this sole project.
Is sketchup for me?
Date: 2/9/2008 11:43 am
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I'm glad you asked that, but unfortunately the answer is one which you'll have to supply.
If i hear you correctly, I think you've got 2 things going on. One is that you want to try to create a 3D model of a pond and waterfall. The other is that you don't have a lot of time to invest in learning a new program in order to accomplish that.
I am pretty comfortable saying that the task of creating a pond and waterfall in SketchUp is probably much easier that in other 3D Computer modeling programs, but it is certainly not the easiest thing to do in SketchUp.
Hopefully, by focusing your energy on the specific skills you need to create a pond, you'll save some time on the learning curve. You'll probably want/need to research the following topics in order to create a model of your pond idea:
- Google Earth importer. You can start your model by importing a satellite image of your own back yard. that way you won't have to measure anything. (Episode #4)
- Sandbox Tools. You'll probably want to learn how to use the from scratch tool, the smoove tool and the add detail command. (Episodes #13 & #17)
- How to create and edit Groups and Components. (Episode #3)
- Downloading from the 3D Warehouse. There's some cool landscape stuff you can download from there. Rocks, Boulders, Water features, etc. Which may save some time. (some info towards the end of Episode #21)
- The Arc Tool. (look up in help menu)
- Intersect with Model command. (look up in help menu)
You may not need to know everything there is about the topics listed above, but some basic knowledge of those tools and functions will probably save a bunch of time during your project. If you need any further information about any of that stuff or anything else for that matter, be sure and let us know.
Good luck with everything. And remember to have fun. If SketchUp is getting you down, there's probably and easy solution - and that's what we're here for.
-mike