In this tutorial I will show you what you need to create realistic 3D models in Google SketchUp. I will provide step by step instructions on creating your foundation, giving it depth, and applying different features like furniture.

First things first, you need to go to sketchup.google.com to download the installer. It’s recommended that your computer have a 2Ghz or higher processor speed, 2GB of RAM (I advise 4-6), 500 MB of hard disk space, and a dedicated GPU (Video Card) with 512 MB of dedicated memory. Once you’ve installed the program, you can run it.

Comparison of a Bad 3D Model and a Good 3D Model

If you look at the above image file, you will notice two building cross sections. One looks like a house of cards while the other has some true depth to it. What many novice users do is simply draw vertical boxes with the line or shape tools. I strongly advise against this as it’s not going to look all that real. Instead, I will show you how to make a foundation that results in “Good 3D.”

Your Foundation

Here we have a foundation. There is a square piece 4 inches by 4 inches on each corner of the 20 foot by 30 foot main structure. These squares will be joined to make the exterior walls. Inside, rectangles were made that are four inches wide (two inches wide for the closets).

Connecting the Squares and Deleting Unnecessary Lines

When you have everything connected it would look something like this. The interior and exterior walls are all connected (save for the one freestanding wall on the center left. You’re ready to use the Push/Pull tool to lift the walls by eight feet (by selecting, typing 8’ and pressing enter on your keyboard).

It Will Look Something Like This

As you can see, you’ve created a more realistic house cross section with just a few simple steps. Next, you may use the paint bucket tool to add flooring and wallpaper/paint. You can add components like furniture and water fixtures using the “Get Models” icon. You can draw out cabinets and doors and windows as you get more and more skilled. Eventually, you could create something truly awesome, like the photo above.

It slipped my mind - what major are you again, MKOLLER?

This could actually be useful for some friends of mine who are Industrial Systems Engineers. I remember them using a program like this (might've been the same one) for a project of theirs once. I'll recommend this guide to them.

Thanks for taking the time out to post this!

I'm in Civil Engineering, which will have more emphasis on CAD (when I get to 300 level classes), but the 3D comes in handy for presenting concepts like the above apartment unit. I'm in Speech 111, and on Wednesday I had to give a demonstration so I used 3D as my main topic.

You can export the models you make in Sketchup to other programs, but some of the filetypes (like .dwg, which is the primary filetype for AutoCAD/AutoDesk) require that you pay for SketchUp Pro (which is $400 IIRC).

Anyway, I want to make more tutorials for other things like MS Office or Adobe Photoshop, and I encourage others with technological skills to post some tutorials here so people can obtain more information on programs they may find interesting or have to use frequently.

I'm going to bump this if nobody minds. If someone does...well then they're gonna have to build a bridge (preferably in SketchUp) and get over it.

Wow, this program is really nice (and free 8D )... I could use this for creating some 3d blueprints for my many projects. Many thanks to you kind sir.

Yeah, the free version is pretty cool. But eventually I might fork out the [I believe it's $400] for Pro, that way I can export DWGs of my work.

Bump, FOR SCIENCE!

Bump, For Me Starting

Ive used sketch and it isn't bad, I personally don't care much for it but it isn't a bad program if you're wanting to design your own house with all the fixings like stove and fridge and stuff.

There is other stuff you can do with it, though.

Lol glad to have part of my group ^_^

Direct more people to this tutorial! Do it!

You can do stuff like this too.

Or this.