Google Sketchup

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

SketchUp Intermediate If you're a builder, an architect, an interior designer or game artist using SketchUp, you'll want to get the most out of this powerful application.

Impress your clients and co-workers with the knowledge you'll gain from this 3-lesson tutorials course. You'll build on your basic skills for creating 3D objects and learn how to use components and groups. Tap into the potential of interfaces, create lathed and extruded objects, and interconnect forms. You'll learn how to add entourage elements, incorporate photos, create model views, and animate a TourGuide presentation.

DesignMentor's 3D artist and architect Jim Dodson will walk you through the powerful features of this 3D design application. He teamed up with Google to create this special SketchUp tutorial series. Drawing in 3D has always been fun, but never this exciting.

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

Class Title: SketchUp Intermediate 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." 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: Images from Sketchup Intermediate, student project. (aldo a., sedona, ca.)

Class Projects and Objectives:

This online SketchUp training class is packed with projects, tips, and tutorials.  Students can expect to: 

• Learn to use the stickiness features of SketchUp.
  
• Learn to isolate geometry with groups and components.
  
• Learn when to use groups and components and how to create them.
  
• Learn to store and edit components, and to nest them for efficiency.
  
• Find out how components affect project workflow.
  
• Learn how scaling applies to similar components.
• Convert a model to the appropriate scale.
  
• Design a simple shape as a content placeholder and make it a component.
  
• Swap placeholders for complex components.
  
• Locate pre-made entourage components and add them to the model design.
  
• Use SketchUp's 2D export function.
• Learn how the SketchUp inference features contribute to model accuracy.
  
• Learn to identify the current inference by its cursors.
  
• Learn to connect forms using inferences and the Pencil tool.
  
• Learn how parallel forms are created with inferences.
  
• Explore advanced connection and cutting techniques.
• Scale the house model appropriately.
  
• Use inferences and the Pencil to add new elements to the house architecture.
  
• Apply a 2D photo as a base for the model.
  
• Insert entourage components.
  
• Use Pages to select and store views of the model.
  
• Create a TourGuide™ walkthrough.
• Learn how to create freehand shapes with the Follow-Me tool.
  
• Learn how to create rounded and lathed objects with the Follow-Me tool.
  
• Explore how complex objects are created with added and subtracted intersections.
  
• Learn to intersect with components and groups
  
• Learn to use intersections with the Follow-Me tool to create complex shapes.
• Develop a creative 3D model design from scratch.
• Use Follow-Me, Intersect with Model, and other tools from the course to create a complex object.
• Color your model and give it textures as appropriate.
• Give your model context with entourage components, or model your own background environment.