What would you 3D print?

It’s easy to see why 3D printing has captured the imaginations of modelers around the globe -- it’s captured ours as well! Being able to hold what you’ve modeled in your hand brings a new dimension (no pun intended) of understanding and usefulness to the 3D design process.

We’re curious to learn more about what SketchUp users want out of 3D printing: if you were going to (or already have!) print a SketchUp model, what would it be? Take a couple minutes to let us know.

Posted by Mark Harrison, Community Manager

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Make Ideas Real: Projects for You, Projects for Me

Reviewing the hundreds of designs that SketchUp users have submitted to the Make Ideas Real project, we’ve noticed that a large number of submissions could be described as “useful.” (Shocker right? People design things for a reason!)

For some folks, “useful” means a project they’ve designed and built for their personal use. For instance, these two submissions are great examples of (small and big) personal projects modeled on SketchUp:

Bird's Eye Maple Side Table by Chris Donaghue

Tool Shed by Gary Watson

“Useful” also means creating something of value for other people, and then actually selling it! Consider the Kapsule Lightstand, a lighting accessory for the Amazon Kindle, designed by Jonathan Hirschman of the NYC SketchUp User Group. (PS You can actually help fund this project through Kickstarter!).

Kapsule Lightstand by Jonathan Hirschman

We were also impressed by this Apple cord holder from Dean Heckler of Heckler Design:
another Kickstart project with great design, and also a great design story:

Whether you design projects for yourself or for the rest of the world, we want to see what you’ve created. If you have a SketchUp model that has become reality, add it to our Make Ideas Real collection!

Posted by Mark Harrison, Community Manager

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Ideas Made Real: a Wine Bar, a Trebuchet, a Skate Park, a Movie Model...

In November, we launched the Make Ideas Real project with the goal of creating a showcase of the best SketchUp work from around the world. To build out this showcase, we asked you all to share stories of how SketchUp is helping you to turn your ideas into something tangible. The response has been overwhelming.

In just one month, our launch video received nearly quarter million views and several hundred of you took the time to tell us your SketchUp story. Your positive reaction and the quality of the work you’ve shared with us is inspiring, but to truly blow out this showcase, we need to hear from even more of you.

If you haven’t yet told us your SketchUp story, share it now by filling out this form. If SketchUp has helped you turn an idea into reality, we want to hear about it.

And for your inspiration, here are just a few of the hundreds of quality submissions we’ve received so far:

Wine Bar design by Bertier Luyt of France

More images (See! You can use SketchUp to build a wine bar.)

Scout Trebuchet by Peter Leroux and friends of South Africa

More images | 3D model | Ropes and Poles blog

X Games Street and Park Courses by Dug Ketterman of California

Dug's website

The Machine by Evan Seccombe of California

A re-imagined prop from the film Contact, 3D printed

Posted by Gopal Shah, SketchUp team

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How do you make ideas real with SketchUp?

Every week, two million people use SketchUp to breathe life into their ideas. The resulting 3D models get made into houses and schools, movie sets and aquariums, bridges, robots, and furniture. The sum total of all this work represents a larger, yet untold story of how the SketchUp community is profoundly shaping the world around us.

Well, it’s time for all you unsung SketchUp heroes to stand up and take a bow, so today, we’re kicking off the Make Ideas Real project. The result of this initiative will be an innovative, online showcase that does justice to the impact SketchUp users are having on the physical world.

But we need your help to pull this off.

Make Ideas Real with SketchUp

Here’s how you can pitch in: Use this form to tell us your SketchUp story. Send us an image of a SketchUp model with an accompanying photograph that shows your completed project. Anything goes for subject matter; architecture, archeology, industrial design, construction, woodworking, personal fabrication, model railroading, mousetrap design — as long as SketchUp helped you make it, we want to see it. Professionals, semi-professionals and proud amateurs are all welcome.

Here are three examples of what we mean:

City Lights Residence, Steve Oles

SKPR Bot, John Bacus

Stand Up Desk, Dave Richards and George LaRue Downing

Over the next few months, we’ll curate the submissions we receive, and in 2012, we’ll launch a special showcase of SketchUp users who are reimagining the spaces we inhabit. Please share your story with us, so we can share it with the world.

Posted by Gopal Shah, SketchUp team

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Questions and Ideas for SketchUp 8

The Google SketchUp team is listening and wants to hear what you have to say about SketchUp 8!

This week at 3D Basecamp, selected SketchUp enthusiasts will gather in Boulder CO, to meet the SketchUp team and discuss all things in nature. One of the perks of attending 3D Basecamp is that users are presented with the opportunity to speak with SketchUp engineers face to face. They can ask their most pressing questions and share their most brilliant ideas for improving SketchUp.

Well guess what? This year, we are happy to announce that there is a way for every SketchUp fan (whether at 3D Basecamp or not) to be heard by the SketchUp team.

Today, we are launching our Google SketchUp Questions and Ideas moderator series where all SketchUp users can post questions and share ideas directly with the SketchUp team. The team is looking to clarify any questions you may have related to SketchUp 8 and is interested in hearing suggestions and ideas for improving SketchUp. We’re interested in hearing all your wildest ideas, so don’t be shy! While you’re on the series, also make sure to vote on other users’ questions and ideas. The SketchUp team will address top submissions publicly at 3D Basecamp and responses will also be posted directly in the series and in subsequent blog posts.

There are a few things to keep in mind when using the series. The series will have two different sections: one for asking questions about SketchUp 8, and one for posting any suggestions or ideas you have for making SketchUp better. Make sure you are posting in the appropriate section. Secondly, Please search for your question or idea FIRST to make sure it hasn’t already been posted. If it has, you should vote for it instead of writing in a duplicate. Also make sure to only submit one question or idea at a time, so it’s clear to your fellow users’ what exactly they are voting on. Following these rules will allow for more accurate voting results, and the SketchUp team will be able to comment on the questions and ideas you really care about.

The SketchUp team looks forward to hearing from you!

Posted by Carolyn Wendell, SketchUp Support Team

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Take part in the SketchUp to Piranesi Competition

Our friends over at SketchUcation are hosting a nifty challenge: The SketchUp to Piranesi Competition is meant to celebrate the features of the SketchUp to Piranesi Plugin, as well as the “Design to Art” abilities of Piranesi 2010.

Piranesi is a whiz-bang app that lets you turn your model views into beautiful NPR (non-photorealistic) renderings. My favorite part about it is that it’s far from an automated process; using Piranesi is more like painting and drawing with natural media than using clunky software. You need to try it to see what I mean.

You can download a fully-functional demo version of Piranesi in order to participate in this competition. Use either SketchUp Pro or the free version of SketchUp to participate. This workflow page should help you get started.

Check out the official competition announcement on the Daily CatchUp (SketchUcation’s blog) for more information about prizes, rules and more. John Bacus (the SketchUp Product Manager) and I are two of the judges -- we can’t wait to see what you create.

Sir Elder / Larice's Living

Susan Sorger / Entourage Arts

David A. Walker / Modern Infill

Posted by Aidan Chopra, SketchUp Evangelist

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SketchUp training for kitchen & bath designers

If you’re a kitchen & bath designer who’s interested in learning more about using SketchUp in your workflow, this one’s for you. Our SketchUp Authorized Training Center friends at School are planning a Designer Bootcamp for late May. You’ll learn how to use SketchUp Pro, LayOut and the 3D Warehouse to make your process easier, more efficient and more fun.

WHEN: May 26, 27 and 28
, 2010
WHERE: Orlando, Florida, USA
HOW MUCH: $699 for the 3-day event (18 hours of hands-on training)

For more information, check out School’s blog post about the event.

Posted by Shara Greenlee, SketchUp ATC Program Manager

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Last call to cast your vote!

April is coming to a close, and you can still add your vote (if you haven’t already done so) for the best town in the Google Model Your Town Competition. On May 1, 2010 at midnight PST the voting page will be closed. We'll announce the winner on May 14th. The winner will be one of the following five finalists:

• Barranco (Lima, Peru)
• Braunschweig (Niedersachsen, Germany)
• Donostia - San Sebastián (Gipuzkoa, Spain)
• Dursley (Gloucestershire, United Kingdom)
• West Palm Beach (Florida, United States)

Voice your opinion. Vote now!

Posted by Allyson McDuffie, SketchUp Team

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Discussions in the 3D Warehouse

Many of you are aware that there is a Google Group for geo-modeling enthusiasts. In the Group, folks help each other learn how to model for Google Earth, share tips and tricks, and get questions answered from the Google team.

We're enthusiastic about these discussions and happy to announce that we’ve improved the connection to the Google 3D Warehouse. Now, if you visit the 3D Warehouse in English you'll see links that previously took you to Google Groups will now go to a new page: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/forum (you can also find this link labeled “Forum” at the bottom of every page).

If you’ve visited our group previously, don’t worry, everything is still there - you're still signed up, the discussions are still there, and you will continue to receive email notifications if you had those set up. What we’ve added is a new, fast, and inviting way to browse and participate in the modeling community.

Some of you may have seen this in the Map Your World Community site we announced a few months ago. Same discussions, different home.

We’d like to know what you think! We’re working hard to add features to the discussion interface, and invite you to give us feedback. I’ve started a topic where you should feel free to participate.

Posted by Mark Limber, Product Manager

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How are you using LayOut?

Over the years, we've gotten to know a lot about how our customers are using SketchUp Pro. What we've learned has helped us to educate professionals in other, related fields, and has done a lot to influence the development of our product. In short, we love to see what you do with the tools we make.

When it comes to LayOut -- SketchUp Pro's 2D companion app -- I think there's an opportunity for us to learn even more. Since LayOut 2 launched in late 2008, we've seen a huge increase in usage, but we don't have as many user stories as we'd like. We want to know more about how folks are using LayOut, and we want to see (and show off) more examples of the inspiring work that's being done.

If you're using LayOut, we'd love for you to take the time to tell us how: Please submit a case study (it doesn't need to be very long) by following the instructions at the bottom of our Case Studies web page. We'll do our best to feature your work on our blog, in the SketchUpdate newsletter, and on our website. Any architectural LayOut documents that we receive may also be showcased in our booth at the AIA National Conference this year -- fame and glory in Miami!

This is a great way to get your name out into the community; you'll also be helping us to understand more about the uses of LayOut in a variety of industries. To submit, just check out our Case Studies web page. When you're attaching files, it would be great to have your original LayOut file; it makes printing a whole lot easier (don't worry -- we won't share your original files with anyone).

One more thing: You can also find great examples of other people's submissions by filltering this blog for User Stories. Thanks, and we can’t wait to see what you’ve done.

Posted by Nancy Trigg, Manager Sales and Operations, SketchUp Pro

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Geo-modelers: Join us in Zurich!

There's a growing community of people who have taken it upon themselves to model the whole world in 3D. Some are using Google SketchUp, some are using Google Building Maker, and some are using both together. There's a also a growing community of people who are using Google Map Maker to author and edit rich, 2D maps.

We decided to host a mini-conference that will bring 2D and 3D geo-content creators together for the first time: The 2010 Google Mapper/Modeler Summit is scheduled to take place on March 22 and 23 in Zurich, Switzerland. We're keeping the attendance small (fewer than a hundred people) to encourage conversations and dialog. In the same vein, the format for the event will be "unconference" -- specific session topics will be decided at the Summit, by the attendees themselves.

We have places left for geo-modelers: If you're an experienced geo-modeler who would like to attend, please fill out this form to request an invitation. Since spots are limited and there's no charge for participating, we ask that you provide the following two pieces of information on the form:

• Collection of models: A link to a 3D Warehouse collection that contains geo-models you've built and contributed
• Brief statement: A short paragraph (3 or 4 sentences) that outlines what you hope to gain by attending the conference. Please also mention any special knowledge or skills you might be able to contribute.

Questions? Please use the Comments feature of this blog post, and we'll provide whatever answers we can.

Posted by Aidan Chopra, Product Evangelist

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Chattanooga aims to get on the virtual map

Last month, a small group of volunteers launched a community-wide effort, called Chattanooga 3D to put Chattanooga, Tennessee on the 3D Map. Their goal is to "Bring Chattanooga to life in Google Earth for everyone to enjoy. Architecture, attractions, businesses, streets, greenways, parks, art...whatever you want. It can be done."

The effort was organized by Karen Liwanpo, Creative Director, and Stephen Culp, Founder and Chairman at Smart Furniture, headquartered in Chattanooga. Smart Furniture was one of the early adopters of the Google 3D Warehouse. They used Google SketchUp to publish product catalogs for use by architects, interior designers, general consumers, and design enthusiasts.

Karen was aware that many people model 3D buildings for Google Earth, and she realized her familiarity with Sketchup could make it easy to do the same in Chattanooga. In the midst of one of the world's largest community visioning processes ("Chattanooga STAND"), Karen and Stephen saw an opportunity to launch Chattanooga 3D as one of the first community-inspired initiatives to emerge from STAND. And since Google SketchUp and Google Earth are tools that just about anyone can use, they were perfect for such a collaborative community effort.

While Karen was an experienced SketchUp user, she had never used the program for geo-modeling. So, she contacted us. She said, "We're holding an event next weekend, we'd like to create 3D model for Google Earth in real-time. What do we need to do to get people up to speed to model Chattanooga for Google Earth?" Next weekend? Yikes! We directed her to the plethora of online training resources, and also connected her with Chris Wilson, the director of the community modeling effort in downtown McMinnville, Tennessee. As a pioneer of community modeling for Google Earth, we thought Chris would be willing to share his learnings with Karen. And sure enough, he was - a quick call between them and Chris was arranging his schedule to provide a quick training session to the Chattanooga volunteers.

The Chattanooga volunteers are doing a great job modeling their downtown, and their models are beginning to appear in Google Earth's 3D Buildings layer. The project has garnered lots of attention, which in-turn has helped to create awareness and aid their volunteer effort. If you're interested in helping the group model their downtown, or getting some tips for your launching own effort, you can contact Karen through the Chattanooga 3D web site.




Posted by Bruce Polderman, Product Manager

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Put your town on the 3D map: Google Model Your Town Competition

People use Google SketchUp for all sorts of things. One of them is geo-modeling – making photo-textured models of real-life buildings that appear in Google Earth. For some, geo-modeling is a hobby; they get a kick out of building something that provides a real benefit to the people in their community. Local geo-modelers are the unsung heroes of the virtual world – no longer.

Our first-ever Google Model Your Town Competition is by far the biggest 3D modeling challenge we've ever launched. It's open to just about everyone (not just students), just about everywhere in the world. Form a team, model buildings (using SketchUp or Building Maker) and upload them by the end of February 2010.



You can model as many structures as you like – which types of buildings you choose to include is entirely up to you. The important thing is that your choices say something about the character and history of your town. You can even include links to videos and photo albums in your entry; this is really more of a 3D portrait contest for communities.

If your town wins, a bunch of us from the SketchUp team will visit, throw you a party and do our best to make you look like the local hero that you are. There are other prizes, too – check out the competition website for details, and start rounding up teammates!

Here's some inspiration (just to get your creative juices flowing):



Posted by Allyson McDuffie, SketchUp for Education Program Manager, and Aidan Chopra, SketchUp Evangelist

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Geo-Modelers: We want to feature you!

You may have noticed that we frequently add stories about 3D modelers to our Google Earth Featured Modeler section on the Google SketchUp Blog and the Google 3D Warehouse (here's our last Featured Modeler story). These modelers have done extraordinary work and created fantastic 3D buildings for Google Earth.

If you've been geo-modeling for a while, maybe you wondered how we choose who gets featured. The honest truth is that we have a very unscientific method: we browse the 3D Warehouse, just like you. That's why we want to reach out to our blog readers to ask if you would like be considered as a Featured Google Earth Modeler. We want to hear from you, share your 3D models, and tell your story to the world! Also, if you have a friend who's a terrific modeler but may be too humble to share, poke them with a stick and get them to submit their story.

There is a simple form to get the process started. If we select your story, we will contact you, draft the story for your approval, then put it on the SketchUp Blog. Submit your story here!

Posted by James Therrien, Google Geo Team

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Let's talk SketchUp ideas

As some of you've seen, we recently launched a Product Ideas series for Google SketchUp and Google SketchUp Pro. If you aren't familiar with Product Ideas, then you'll definitely want to check it out. You can post thoughts on how to make SketchUp better as well as vote on suggestions from other users. The more you vote, the better we can tell which new features are important to you.

In the past three weeks, we've seen some amazing responses. SketchUp users from around the world submitted over 300 ideas to our series. We've heard everything from "fix the shadow bug" to "edit projects collaboratively" to "keep it simple." However, we still want to hear what you think. This SketchUp series will be closing on October 22nd (that's next Thursday), so add your suggestions and votes soon!

Finally, we also want to let you know what we think. Many of the suggestions that have come up are ideas that we've been talking about too. Some of them are possible, some of them aren't, but we think that you should get honest responses to the top ideas (and yes, we did respond to the "fix the shadow bug" suggestion). Visit the Answered Ideas section to see all of our replies.

Thank you to everyone for sharing, and check back soon for the results.

Posted by Vicky Tait, SketchUp Support Team

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Featured 3D Warehouse Product: KraftMaid by Masco

Many products have an aesthetic value on their own, but only really come to life when you see them placed in context. The folks over at KraftMaid Cabinetry have done an extraordinary job of not only uploading individual cabinets into the Google 3D Warehouse, but also providing complete kitchen designs meant to inspire designers.

KraftMaid’s models are Dynamic Components, meaning they're extra-easy to use: Each component is configurable by means of SketchUp's Component Options dialog box. The benefit? Instead of having to download dozens of models for each size and material combination for each cabinet, designers can download a single model that represents all possible configurations. The doors and drawers have built-in animation, too. With less work for KraftMaid and less hunting around for designers, everybody wins.

One more thing: Mark Johnson from KraftMaid has created a couple of 3D Warehouse collections to showcase modelers' designs: Projects by KraftMaid Fans and Designers + Architects using KraftMaid. If you'd like to submit your work for inclusion, click the "contact the owner" link on either collection's home page to send a message directly to Mark.

Posted by Steve Dapkus, SketchUp Team

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We'd like to know what you think

Posted by Nicole Lundblad, User Experience Researcher

Knowing how folks use our software is a big part of how we make decisions about what's working, and what isn't. If you'd like to weigh in, we invite you to participate in a user experience research study for Google SketchUp. Please sign up and we'll contact you. Thanks!

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