SketchUp Pro 8

SketchUp Pro is an affordable and poweful design tool, that requires virtually no training. SketchUp's clean and intuitive interface allows both experienced and novice users to create 3D models quickly and without hassle. Whether you'd like to design, showcase or share your 3D model - SketchUp Pro is the all-in-one affordable solution that you require.

The free SketchUp version is a good design tool to start with, but if you are ready to go Pro, here are the features that will boost your productivity and the quality of your work.

Create 3D Models with SketchUp Pro Using Imported Data

Using SketchUp Pro, you can easily design 3D models from scratch or by importing existing data and projects. SketchUp Pro allows you to import sketches, CAD plans, photos, aerial imagery and other information and then develop your ideas in 3D thanks to the powerful modelling tools, included in the SketchUp Pro suite.

Add Data to Your Model in SketchUp

In SketchUp Pro you can add attributes to your design with Dynamic Components. You can create a report outlining the attribute data in your model at any time and use the report to pull out quantities and take-offs throughout the evolution of your design.

Export and Share Your SketchUp Models

Certain projects require the use of traditional CAD programs or rendering applications to develop construction drawings, photo-realistic images or to share information. SketchUp Pro can export your 3D model in a number of 2D and 3D formats for use with other applications. In addition to all the exporting capabilities of SketchUp, with SketchUp Pro you can:

• Export in additional 2D formats:
  • Portable Document Format (.pdf)
  • Encapsulated PostScript Format (.eps)
  • Epix (.epx)
  • AutoCAD (.dwg, .dxf)
• Export 3D models in additional formats:
• 3DS (.3ds)
• AutoCAD DWG (.dwg)
• AutoCAD DXF (.dxf)
• FBX (.fbx).
• OBJ (.obj)
• XSI (.xsi) V
• RML (.vrml)
• Export animations and walkthroughs as MOV with the Mac version of SketchUp, or export AVI files from the Windows version of SketchUp.

Present and Document Your Project

For most of your projects, SketchUp Pro, with its added LayOut functionality, is all that you would ever need. LayOut is the 2D companion to SketchUp Pro for creating deliverables like permit and construction drawings, presentation documents and full-screen digital presentations.

LayOut 3

One of SketchUp Pro's powerful components, LayOut is a collection of tools that makes it easy to create design presentations featuring SketchUp models.

LayOut let's you prepare document sets to communicate your design better. Through simple layout tools, you can insert, line up, title and annotate SketchUp models, sketches, photographs and other drawing elements to compile presentations and documentation graphics. In LayOut you can create presentation boards, small format booklets and slideshows without the need to return to the main model.

Please note that LayOut isn't a photorealistic rendering application or a 2D CAD application.

Style Builder

Only SketchUp Pro includes Style Builder, a tool for creating unique, sketchy-edge Styles for your SketchUp models.

StyleBuilder turns hard-lined computer drawings into accessible sketches, that help your audience get the big picture.

Take just the right amount of detail from your drawings and give them the feel and personality of a hand-drawn sketches. Convery your idea in a personal and accessible way!

Make your ideas real with Sketchup:

Free Academic SketchUp Pro Licenses

Fully functional copies of SketchUp Pro are available to students, universities and other academic users. With free licenses for faculty and significant discounts for students and labs, SketchUp Pro is easy to afford. Academic, Educator and Multi-User Networked Lab Licenses are distributed only through Trimble's reseller network. Are you a student? Send over a scanned copy of you student's card and get your SketchUp Student license within half an hour.

Need help with SketchUp Pro?

As an accredited SketchUp Pro reseller, Software Paradise can respond to all the questions you might have regarding SketchUp Pro absolutely free, at no additional cost. We are here to give you a hand!

Don't hesitate and call our certified SketchUp Pro sales representative Iva at +44 (0) 1962 280 270 or email her at iva@softwareparadise.co.uk .

SketchUp Pro 8: Review

We’re commissioning a series of independent software reviews from Simon Williams - a well respected freelance reviewer of computer software. He’s done regular reviews for titles such as PC Advisor and the Sunday Times. Check out what he has to say about SketchUp Pro 8 on our blog: http://bit.ly/SUPro8

For the latest on SketchUp - articles, downloads and news, please click here.

New and improved features:

• Model geo-location with Google Maps

We’ve built Maps right into SketchUp. Adding a geo-location to your model is now an elegant, one-app process.

• Colour imagery and more accurate terrain

The snapshot you get when you add a geo-location to your model now includes 3D terrain data that’s more accurate, and - for the first time - aerial imagery in color.

• Match Photo improvements

Our Match Photo feature lets you trace one or more photographs to build a model; it’s an incredibly powerful tool. For SketchUp 8, we’ve tweaked some things to make using Match Photo easier than ever.

• SketchUp, meet Building Maker

When it comes to modeling existing buildings, it’s hard to beat Google Building Maker for speed and efficiency. We’ve made it simpler to open and refine Building Maker models in SketchUp

SketchUp Pro 8 includes a powerful new set of tools for additive and subtractive modeling:

• Union adds together two or more shapes. 
• Intersect makes a new shape out of the bits that overlap [parts that are common] – while deleting everything else. 
• Subtract turns a shape into a 3D cookie cutter. Use it to slice and dice any other solid. 
• Trim tells one shape to take a bite out of the other – without deleting the first shape. 
• Split makes a new shape out of the bits that overlap – while keeping everything else.

Scene Thumbnails
Wouldn’t it be nice if the Scenes Panel included little image previews of the scenes in your model? Your wish is our command.
 
Back Edges
Turn these on to see your model’s obscured edges as dashed lines. A great alternative to Wireframe or X-Ray mode when you need to be able to see through your model.
 
Angular Dimensions in LayOut PRO
By popular demand, we’ve equipped LayOut 3 with a dedicated tool for creating angular dimensions.
 
Push/Pull pre-selected faces
Select a face, then push/pull; it works just like the rest of SketchUp’s modification tools. Super handy when you don’t want to change your point of view.
 
Calculate volumes
Entity Info now displays the volume of any solid in your model. Volumes are also included in reports you generate with SketchUp Pro.
 
Outer Shell
Automatically generate a shape that completely encloses two or more solids in your model. It’s a little like shrink-wrapping your geometry. Did someone say 3D printing?
 
DWG/DXF 2010 PRO
SketchUp Pro 8 supports the DWG/DXF 2010 format for importing and exporting vector data for your models.
 
DWG/DXF export in LayOut PRO
Like to draft in LayOut? With this version, you can share your LayOut 3 drawings as files that any CAD system or 3D modeler (including SketchUp Pro) can open.
 
Dashed lines are configurable in LayOut PRO
Not finding what you need in LayOut’s library of dashed line styles? Now you can adjust things to make your own.
 
Precise Move in LayOut PRO
We’ve arranged for the center grip on every element to do double duty: In addition to rotation, you can place it wherever you like to establish a custom “snap point” for putting things exactly where you want them.

LayOut 3

• Document

LayOut is the 2D companion to SketchUp Pro. Create professional design documents, dimensioned drawings and presentations from your 3D models, to communicate your ideas to clients and partners. Revise your model in SketchUp Pro and the changes are updated automatically in LayOut.

• Present

With LayOut you can add text, dimensions and 2D elements to your 3D models to create interactive presentations. Display as an on-screen slideshow or create high-resolution printouts for sharing with customers or project teams.

Style Builder

• Turn hard-lined computer drawings into approachable sketches

Help your audience see the big picture by removing just the right amount of detail from your drawings. Hand-drawn sketches add nuance and personality to a concept, which can help to convey meaning or set the tone for an idea.

• Make your models and drawings a part of your visual brand

When you create a custom Style and apply it to your SketchUp model, no one else in the world is able to make models that look like yours. Your models and drawings will be totally unique.

• Turn any stroke into a custom Style

Scan in, photograph or draw the strokes you want to use. Sketchy-edge Styles can be based on anything: wavy pencil lines, quick pen strokes, marks from a fat stick of graphite. If you can see it, you can turn it into a Style. 

Windows OS

Software

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher.  
• SketchUp Pro requires .NET Framework version 2.0.

Note: SketchUp will run on 64bit versions of Windows, but it will run as a 32bit application.  

Recommended hardware

• 2+ GHz processor.  
• 2+ GB RAM.  
• 500 MB of available hard-disk space.  
• 3D class Video Card with 512+ MB of memory or higher 

Note: SketchUp's performance relies heavily the graphics card driver and it's ability to support OpenGL 1.5 or higher. Historically, people have seen problems with Intel based cards with SketchUp. We don't recommend using these graphics cards with SketchUp at this time.  

• 3 button, scroll-wheel mouse.  
• Some SketchUp features require an active internet connection.  

Minimum hardware

• 1 GHz processor
• 1 GB RAM.  
• 16 GB of total hard-disk space.  
• 300 MB of free hard-disk space.  
• 3D class Video Card with 256 MB of memory or higher

Mac OS X 10.5+, 10.6+, and 10.7+

Software

• QuickTime 5.0 and web browser for multimedia tutorials
• Safari

Note: Neither Boot Camp nor Parallels are supported environments

Recommended hardware

• 2.1+ GHz Intel™ processor
• 2 GB RAM.  ◦500 MB of available hard-disk space
• 3D class Video Card with 512+ MB of memory or higher
• 3 button, scroll-wheel mouse
• Some SketchUp features require an active internet connection

Minimum hardware

• 2.1+ GHz Intel™ processor. Power PC is no longer supported  
• 1 GB RAM
• 300 MB of available hard-disk space
• 3D class Video Card with 128 MB of memory or higher 
• 3 button, scroll-wheel mouse