San Francisco, CA - Today, Google announced the release of Google SketchUp 6, the newest version of the popular 3D modeling program. The newest version adds some great new features, while also making some enhancements to existing tools and functions.

New Features
First, let's cover the newest features available in 6.

Photo Match
The biggest attention getter is certain to be Photo Match. Simply put, this feature allows users to import a 2D image and quickly set camera perspective - allowing one to easily generate a realistic 3D model. The feature seems best suited for buildings and other flat faced objects, however with a little ingenuity, more complex objects are possible. This features will likely be most useful to Google Earth enthusiasts and professionals dealing with quick, semi-realistic creation of buildings and neighborhoods.

Layout
While Photo Match might get a lot of attention, Layout is the real gem in version 6. It's pretty much an entirely new application inside of SketchUp - a collection of tools that help users build design presentations directly from SketchUp models. The tools allow one to place, arrange, title, annotate and present SketchUp models in a paper-space environment, a la In Design, AutoCAD or PowerPoint.

Styles
From one window, SketchUp designers can now select from a multitude of pre-set Styles, or combinations of line, background and rendering effects. One can also add Watermarks, and save unique Style combinations for use in future files. This feature is for professionals and hobbyists concerned with achieving a certain aesthetic, but once you tinker with some of the new Styles, you'll be as addicted to personalizing your model as we were.

Miscellaneous
Two other new features worth mentioning are the 3D Text Tool, and Fog. Both were possibilities in previous versions of SketchUp, but now each is built right into the program. The 3D Text tool allows you to type text that can later be Push/Pulled (or extruded) in 3D. And the Fog command allows you to add Fog to your model - great for dramatic rending effects and fading your model into the distance.

Enhancements
Some existing features and functions got an upgrade in 6.

SketchUp Speeds Up
Google optimized the way SketchUp interprets and renders your view changes. That means that users will benefit from a big increase in speed - up to 5 times faster depending on file complexity and hardware.

Inferences can be forced
One of the most important features of SketchUp in general is the program's ability to infer (or lock onto) certain directions while users model in 3D. This allows users to quickly and accurately model in 3D.

You used to have to hold down the shift key once you found a Blue, Red or Green inference in order to lock that inference (or be sure that you were going in that direction). In version 6, finding these inferences just got a bit easier. Now users can tap the up, down, left or right arrows to toggle between the directions (no need to hold down those keys, or find the inference first).

Text and Dimension tools
Font sizes can now remain fixed relative to a model, and those fonts have improved quality on screen and when printed.

Miscellaneous
Also, look out for these other improvements. Better Modifier Keys: The copy function available in several tools may now be switched on or off at any time during that tool's operation. Intersect with Model: This feature is more robust, supporting "Intersect Selected" (affecting selection only) and "Intersect Context" (useful with groups and components). Paste in Place: When you cut or copy, then paste, your model remembers the exact location to be placed, even if it's in a new file. Two Point Perspective view: Simply a new aesthetic view of your model where vertical lines in your model appear vertical on the screen.

We give it a Thumbs Up
After test driving all of these features, we have to say that version 6 is well worth the upgrade. There are several enhancements that take a while to get used to. However, with practice, we've noticed an increase in modeling speed and accuracy. The new features are pretty incredible, with Layout being the shining star.

There are certainly features that didn't make it into 6 that may disappoint some users. But Google has kept SketchUp easy-to-use, yet deceptively powerful... just like the marketing lingo said it would be.

About School
School (http://www.go-2-school.com) is the first place to go for all your SketchUp video training needs. The School website is a place where SketchUp users can come to buy DVD training, watch free Podcast/Internet Video tutorials, and participate in the community Forums.

School currently offers the School Series: SketchUp Level 1 training DVD for $79. The DVD was created for SketchUp version 5, but remains compatible with SketchUp version 6. An updated DVD, created for version 6, will be available soon.

All School customers who buy or have already bought the Level 1 DVD will automatically get a free copy of the version 6 update for free.