Catching up with Google SketchUp

In Google's relentless (and successful) quest for world domination, the company continues to provide us with free services that we can quickly train ourselves to depend on. In 2000, SketchUp (a 3D modeling program initially developed by @Last Software) won a Community Choice Award at its first trade show. The software was designed to be more intuitive and accessible when compared to other modeling software. In 2006, Google acquired @Last and we've now got ourselves SketchUp 6 - used for everything from teaching 5th grade geometry to remodel, deck, and landscape design planning. The newest version promises to have you sketching in less than a day.

What makes SketchUp more than just "whatcha put on your hamburger and fries," as one community member put it, are easy-to-use features like the Push-Pull tool which allows users to form 3D models from 2D shapes in a matter of seconds. Sun angle simulator, color and texture library (cover a structure in brick or a certain type of wood), and interoperability with Google Earth (virtually place your structure on any empty lot on Earth) makes for realistic models of architectural projects. Extensive plant libraries in SketchUp's 3D Warehouse makes this a great tool for landscape planning, too.

See the video tutorials and start playing. Planning with Google SketchUp 6 (a free download; SketchUp Pro is available for $495) will probably be the most fun part of your project. Share your designs, reviews, and experiences with the software at TOH Discussions.