Written by Chris Ford | 21 August 2009
Posted in Articles

With Google SketchUp 7 you can create, modify and share 3D models. Google SketchUp 7 is easy to use, allowing you to start building a 3D object straight-away. You can build your 3D object from scratch or you can import what you need from Google 3D Warehouse from within the Component Browser. Google 3D Warehouse contains 3D models of houses, building, bridges amongst others. At Google 3D Warehouse you can also contact a professional modeller if your project is difficult or just too big.

Google SketchUp 7 is more intuitive and powerful

• Intersecting Lines - Now when you draw a line over another on the same plane the lines will now intersect.
• New Dynamic Components - Scaling things such as a dynamic staircases will add steps to the staircase.
• Component Options - Dynamic Components that are hooked up to the Component Options Dialog Box allowing you to make changes to a model without using modelling tools.
• Interact Tool - Some Dynamic Components can have an on-click function attached to it, and when presses does something like rotate, resize or change the objects colour.
• Importers - Google SketchUp allows you to import 3D models in a variety of formats - DWG, DXF, 3DS, DEM and DDF. Google SketchUp can also import a variety of image formats.
• Exporters - With Google SketchUp 7 you can export 3D in KMZ format and 2D image formats. With the Google SketchUp 7 Pro you can export in 3DS, DWG, DXF, FBX, OBJ, VRML and XSI.

Google SketchUp 7 is available for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Macintosh OSX.