Online SketchUp Beginner Training

SketchUp Class

interior design | architecture | landscape | film & stage | GIS | game design

SketchUp Basics If you want to create professional 3D graphics for construction, archiecture, interior design, look no further than Google Sketch Up. Your new digital best friend, SketchUp creates 3D sketches that look extremely professional—and it's intuitive and simple to learn.

In this 3-lesson course led by architect and 3D specialist James Dodson, you will draw two-dimensional shapes and how to bring them to life in 3D form. You'll focus more on the drawing aspect as well as learning the mechanics of the program. Google SketchUp's interface allows users to create complex interconnected shapes and detailed 3D designs. Before you know it, you'll be creating 3D shapes, polygons, and surfaces, bringing all your 3D designs together as one.

On this page: enrollment details | instructor | class projects and objectives | prerequisites

Class Title: SketchUp Basics Start Date: Classes start daily. Enroll today and gain immediate access. Class Length: Three months of access to class materials and instructor feedback. Instructor: James Dodson Other details: Self-paced, online, 24 access to online learning environment
	Tuition: $125

Class Instructor Bio: James Dodson has 10 years of experience in architecture at the norwegian firm Snøhetta (the internationally acclaimed designers of the Alexandria Library in Egypt , JMW Turner Gallery in Margate , England , and the WTC Memorial Complex in NYC). James has extensive expertise in the use of 3D modeling as a design tool. For Spring 2006 he has been appointed as visiting lecturer at the University of Texas School of Architecture where he will be teaching an advanced design studio and a seminar course entitled "Explorations in Digital Design Process." Google SketchUp will form an important part of a course that will seek to define a new digital workflow for architects and designers. James has been developing and teaching at Sessions.edu since 2000. LEFT: Image from SketchUp Basics with Jim Dodson. Jim will help you discover the simplicity and power of SketchUp.

Class Projects and Objectives:

This Google SketchUp Training class is packed with projects and tips. Students can expect to: 

• Learn how to create surfaces by drawing lines.
• Learn basic mouse commands for Google Sketchup.
• Learn how to create circles and polygons.
• Learn how to create shapes from rectangles, arcs, and curves.
• Explore the concepts of drawing On Edge and utilizing the stickiness of geometry.
  
• Create a 2D composition, using the Line, Arc, and Rectangle tools to subdivide the shape into at least 20 faces.
  
• Apply several colors to a personal composition with the Paint Bucket tool.
  
• Save and Export work as a JPEG image.
  
• Explore different ways of viewing a model in 3D.
  
• Learn how to create box shapes using the drawing tool and inferences.
  
• Learn how to use the stickiness of geometry in 3D.
  
• Learn how to use the Push/Pull tool and the Move tool.
  
• Learn how to manipulate circles, cylinders.
  
• Convert a 2D composition into a 3D object.
  
• Use Move and Push/Pull Tools to manipulate 3D objects to different heights.
  
• Create at least one circle, cylinder, and cone in a structure.
  
• Create three 3D views of a model.
• Learn three different modeling techniques for 3-dimensional forms.
  
• Learn how to use the Offset Tool to create concentric surfaces.
  
• Learn how to mirror objects.
  
• Learn how to create an array of duplicated objects such as a neighborhood.
• Create a 3D neighborhood.
  
• Give colors and textures to the objects in a file.
  
• Render 3 perspectives of a model using different rendering styles.