As I understand it, creating a floor plan in 2d is not something that can be done on the ipad version, if the posts I have found far, are to be believed.
Does anyone here successfully use Sketchup for this purpose?
Perhaps if I explain my workflow, someone smarter than me can help me understand if it can be done with Sketchup:
I survey residential properties for heat pump and boiler system design.
I walk sites and measure the rooms, walls, windows, doors, existing radiators etc. and draw as I go. I then plug that data into a heat load calculator software.
From this we can then offer the customer a choice, of usually two options, where each requires different sized radiators for them to choose from.
What I would really like to be able to do is to create a floor plan (the 2d plan would be used to satisfy regulations for presenting info to clients) and then a 3d model for them to see the different real life size and positioning of the radiator. I think this would really set us apart from a sales point of view and help customers make a more informed choice.
They can then make a choice based off a visual model rather than just numbers on a chart.
Is this something that I can make work with Sketchup for ipad, do you think?
You can do anything natively in iPad that you can do natively on the desktop version. In fact in the iPad there is a way to lock the orbiting gestures when in plan view so that you donāt accidentally tilt out when panning.
I would say that making floor plans is as easily done on iPad as any of the other versions of SketchUp.
Here are some things that help me when Iām working flat.
I also often do floor plans on the ipad and then make them 3d on the desktop. But you also need to remember that it is still a 3d model even when only 2d, it doesnāt have ālayersā in the 2d sense. For example you canāt draw a window on top of a wall and tell it to move the window on top, they will both be at the same z level and will fight for dominance.
So as long as you understand the fundamentals of sketchup, floorplans on the ipad are very doable.
Something else I find indispensable is a good way to hold the ipad. I use quadlocks for my bike bits so it was straightforward for me to get a case an ring clip for the ipad.
This allows me to slip a finger through the ring and the ipad is an extension of my hand rather than something I have to fumble about with.
You can do that on the iPad version but the question is how you want to show those plans, you can export as dwg or as image from the iPad then youāll have to use either a cad software or a lot variety of softwares where you can use the images to make a presentation adding dimensions, tittles, nomenclature etc.
All of that can be done a lot easier if you use the desktop version of sketchup that includes Layout which is the tandem software to make 2D documentation out of a 3D model, you wonāt need to make a 2D drawing and then a 3D model, you just model the house or any place you want to, then create scenes and send it to Layout where you can easily create 2D floor plans with all the information you need or even 3D images of the project and the radiators you sell.
Youāll also have the advantage of using plug-ins that can improve your workflow, plug-ins can easily save you hours or days of work that you otherwise would have to do using just native tools on the iPad.
Itās my opinion, I use the iPad version just for meetings with clients to show them the 3D model without having to take my laptop, the desktop version is the best tool for professional use. You can try by yourself anyways, how long does it take you to do everything you need on the iPad and other softwares or just the desktop version.
I did a post here to show a kit of tools I used to measure an existing house using the iPad, measurement tools, and a camera.
I take that back to desktop to finish the job for multiple reasons; Iām faster on desktop, I use Match Photo for a lot of detail parts (which can only be done on desktop), and there are some plugins that make door and window insertion a little faster. If you get a LIDAR equipped iPad, you can do Scan to Design which is pretty quick, but for inhabited space it picks up all the junk in addition to the building, so I havenāt decided yet how helpful it is. That said, itās still possible to do plans on iPad if you want.
If your objective is to show someone what it looks like just to put something like a radiator into an otherwise existing space, then Match Photo is great for that. You just model the radiator and insert it into the photo and donāt have to model all the existing stuff. Hereās an example of mechanical equipment on a roof from back in 2016.
It looks like using the desktop version, alongside the ipad, is the way to go then. I hadnāt really considered that as an option but will have to look into it in more detail now. An even steeper learning curve coming my way!
@RTCool I had seen that post a few days ago whilst reading and was impressed by it and it left me thinking: āThat is exactly how I would like to be able to do thingsā.
I will go and re read it and no doubt, will come back to you with more questions!
Along the way in my never ending quest for āTHEā app I stumbled across an older app called architouch3d and that is pretty much perfect but looks to be undeveloped for years and unloved by the devs. Has anyone ever heard of it?
Thank you so much for the help folks, I was worried I would be completely left alone to figure this all out. Chuffed.
Apologies for it taking me this many posts, to work out that I could reply to each of you with an @ sign in one post
Itās easily removed, itās a bit of a mashup. The case itself is a cheap flexible one from somewhere that just āhooksā around the ipad. I added a universal fitting from quadlock to that case, so I can use the ring or any of the other fitting I have around, bike, car, treadmill, desk etc and easily pop it out and back onto the magic keyboard whenever I want.
IĀ“ve never heard of that software, how was your workflow with that software, it could probably be quite similar to sketchup and layout and the learning curve would be a lot easier. Anyways sketchup has a great section in their website called sketchup campus, it has free courses and tutorials for people that never has used a pc up to intermediate users, there are some categories but i recommend you to check for the courses that show you how to model the basics on sketchup(SketchUp Fundamentals (Desktop)) Then this one(SketchUp for Commercial Interiors) and lastly (LayOut Design Package) the 2nd course guides you to model a coffee place for interior design and the 3rd course teaches you how to go from the 3D model of the coffee house to 2D documentations and all the ways you can represent your project as easy as you could imagine.
Thank you, I will have a look into quad lock, I have historically just used a rubberised case with a Velcro handle to hold it on site.
@francisquitof I have only been playing with it for a couple of hours, so far it is the best I have used as it applies all my dimensions, including window doors and heights (I have not found one that includes heights before this).
It seems very simple so far, just draw your rooms, add your windows, doors etc and then view it in 3d. I am not sure if I can share the 3d view yet.I have messaged them to see if they still exist or support itā¦we shall see.
I have been holding off on the Sketchup trial as I imagine it to be the better option and still being developed/supported so want to get as much info as possible, to not waste my trial time. Oh and I donāt have the apple pencil yet, just a Metapen.
I will check out those courses, the square one for ipad has been great and it is nearly finished.
The only time I attempted to model something on my iPad pro, i used a mouse, the MX Master 3, the buttons and gestures arenāt customizable on iPad but i found it a lot better than with the apple pencil. probably because Iāve been using just a mouse since my university times, I donĀ“t think that old dogs donāt learn new tricks, I got the idea of how to model with a pencil but for me nothing replaces a good mouse, IĀ“ve been using an space mouse as well for a couple of years now, at the beginning it was a bit challenging but now I canĀ“t work without it. the space mouse is also an only desktop feature.
I prefer a pencil for most things I do on tablets but I will look into getting a mouse for it. I have not heard of the space mouseā¦googlefu incoming!
I have just found a playlist by OmarC on here that shows how he models a house from plans and that seems helpful so far.
3D Spacemouse is great for desktop and web version on a desktop, but doesnāt work with iPad:
Iāve tried a mouse with the iPad to test it, but donāt care for it. Actually, Iāve hardly used a mouse on desktop since 1993 (at least 7 years before SketchUp even existed) when I got my first Wacom tablet. After a string of them, Iām currently using a xencelabs tablet for a change. Using an Apple Pencil was a natural transition. The Apple Pencil is actually better in that, unlike the other tablet stylusā, thereās absolutely no play or wiggle to the tip.
Yes, that is what I thought too. I clicked the āstart nowā button as it said, for my free 7 day trial and now I have a yearly subscription, no trial period loaded, just money taken. Fun times.
