I am new to the sketchup community. I used the software years ago when I worked for a previous design employer. I have recently gone on my own and am getting back into using the software.
I like the idea of using this software to model spaces for clients and show them how specific vendor items will translate to their spaces. I find many people are not as visual and becomes a great sales tool.
There are several vendors i frequently use and will continue to use. QUESTION: What is the fastest/easiest way to get specific vendor furniture into my model? Should I simply import an image? Draw/ modify an existing piece from the 3D warehouse? I want to get a good system into place now as I get back into using the program. Any tips would be great!
I’d start by searching the 3D Warehouse for specific vendors. Many already have a presence in the Warehouse. If you can’t find the right pieces, you might be able to find similar ones and modify them. The ease of doing so depends greatly on the quality of the original model. Be open to the idea of just getting down to it and drawing your own, too.
Thank you Dave! I have done some extensive searching for some vendors I prefer and haven’t found them as of yet…which brought me to this question. I appreciate your input.
You might also look at their websites and see if they have offerings for interior designers. Sometimes they will have SketchUp or other 3D files available. I’ve drawn furniture from 2D drawings in cut sheets. I drew much of the Thos. Moser furniture offered in the Warehouse that way. And there’s always working from photos and basic dimensions. For example, this and this were drawn from a few basic dimensions and photos.
Just one word of warning: there are many models in the 3d Warehouse or vendor sites that are drawn in great detail with large numbers of edges and faces. If all one is interested in is that individual item, the detail may be appropriate. But when the piece is placed in a SketchUp model, the extreme detail can bloat the model and overwhelm SketchUp. So one should always consider whether the details will actually be visible in the intended use of the model, and should consider using proxy components while editing so that SketchUp doesn’t become unresponsive.
I remember seeing one model of a small neighborhood (maybe 10 houses) in which an automobile parked in one driveway contributed almost half of the total edges and faces in the model!
Steve makes a very good point. If you use models from the 3D Warehouse, it is wise to open them in their own file first and give it a look to see if the model can be streamlined before importing it into your project file.