No one wants to argue with you. Im sure you have it all figured out.
Reallyā¦
Do you not know what a professional set of construction documents look like?
Apologies if I have got you wrong and you are able to produce professional construction documents from SketchUp only.
@JamesClark please show us a PDF set of construction drawings you submit for permit. Iām very curious what your finished work looks like that you would submit to local authorities as well as what a ābuilders packageā looks like.
When I work in VT, NH and ME these typically include:
Title block
Drawing index
Place for engineer or architect stamp
Window and door schedule
Engineering data
Scaled drawings for foundation plan, floor plan(s), roof plan, framing plans, wall and roof details, foundation details, etc.
Often I have fastening schedules, wall type schedules, shear wall details, etc. etc.
No apology necessary ā¦ youāve got me somewhat right. I actually have to work with professional construction documents. I work with interior designers who need to have a 2D construction drawings turned into a 3D model. But to your point about producing a professional construction document in PRO, while it certainly can be done, Layout makes it much easier. Since I have no need for that, I am perfectly fine with PRO.
All possible in PRO, but much, much more difficult. But if those tools were brought into PRO, then you wouldnāt have to deal with Layout.
Ok, so you donāt produce professional construction documents.
Iāll put you back on ignore and mute this thread.
1 Like
Hang on, wait..lookā¦I see the problemā¦youāre just not getting it are you.
1 Like
500 megs?? Iāve been using SU for 10 years, - about 150 different projects, and the biggest model Iāve ever made was 140 megs. I do have one file on my hard drive sent to me by a motor racing designer - that is 390 megs, but it has crazy amounts of unnecessary detail.
Yes, LO can be improved. Yes, it is annoying sometimes, but usually gets there for me; I had problem with importing pdfs for a long time, but that works nowā¦. I never draw in Layout, I draw everything - even a 2d detail - SU, and import it.
It works for me!
Okā¦ so here is an attempt to clarify the pieces and parts being referencedā¦
SketchUp for Desktop is the application that you use to create 3D model geometry.
LayOut is the program used to arrange 2-dimensional views of 3D models and other 2D assets in paper space for printing.
SketchUp Pro is a subscription level that grants you access to both SketchUp for Desktop and LayOut.
You should not be attempting to generate construction drawings in SketchUp for Desktop.
You CAN create construction drawings using Pro as (SketchUp Pro) includes LayOut, which is the proper tool to generate such things.
3 Likes
Aaron,
Maybe youāre the one who can help me out here. I have to say how much I appreciate your Skill Builder series, that is so clear and easy, for even dummies like me, to understand. So maybe you can explain is simple terms why SketchUp canāt bring whatās necessary from Layout into PRO, like Paper Space in AutoCAD. In AutoCAD you just have to click on Paper Space, and like magic youāre there. Thatās a whole lot easier the going over to a completely separate program, that users spend endless amounts of energy complaining about on the Forum.
Yes itās incredibly hard, almost impossible to have to open another software that is synchronized with sketchup, I donāt know how can people do that without having a a brain burnout.
1 Like
In SketchUp you just have to click āSend to LayOutā¦ā and like magic you are there.
@JamesClark I am convinced you are no longer here to discuss in good faith. I also fear for anyone you might have offered training to via your website.
1 Like
Simply put, there are two programs that both focus on doing one thing. Why load all of the tools and features you need for generating a 2D drawing while you are modeling in 3D? Why keep 3D modeling tools on screen while you generate 2D output? The choice was made at some point in the past to let these exist as two separate programs and that still exists. Rather than spend a bunch of resources combining the two into one (something that would bring zero technical advantage to either SketchUp for Desktop or LayOut) they have been developed in parallel.
4 Likes
I havenāt read through the many replies, but I too have learnt to hate LayOut!
For me Layout ā21 was gold, I was producing a book on my specific use of LayOut as a design tool, as to which there was no competition for flexibility or speed, and was also developing a bunch of handy scrapbooks to accompany the book.
Iāve since dropped all that! Layout ā24 broke many of the functions it relied on as a fast design tool; then version ā25 finished off what ā24 had started. All functions that speed design are gone!
I fortunately retain a permanent ā21 licence and use it for all work, unless receiving files from collaborators. What bugs me most; I did a bunch of tutorial videos for a client, and have had to redo them all, itās become embarrassing to talk them through long workarounds for things that once just worked. Iām seriously heartbroken ā what I believed was the best tool for the job is now likely one of the worst!
2 Likes
Not everyone using SketchUp is an architect by trade. In fact, each year there will be fewer users who will need Layout for presentations. Just as the drafting table is now in the history books, so too will be formal architects. As technology marches on, the need for experts dwindles, whereas the demand for CAD, such as PRO grows quickly.
Hereās a recent example: A good friend of mine is the administrator for a large recreational site. A few years ago she contacted a local contractor about a new building. He had her go to an architect to produce drawings for the building, before he could give her an estimate. Just recently she went back to the builder for another building project. This time the builder has CAD technicians in house, and no longer uses architects.
This is hardly a one-off. It is a major trend. More and more small builders are turning to CAD, rather than sending potential customers to architects for drawings. This āin houseā approach is one of the markets I serve. Most small contractors are not particularly computer savvy, and need help to get started with CAD.
So ignoring PRO in favor of Layout could be a risky business strategy in the future. I say āignoringā because thatās the way it looks. Release after release of PRO, nothing major is added, except a price increase. What those of use who use PRO exclusively want is a robust collection of native tools, as opposed to plug-ins. Simple basic tools, such as an actual text tool, being able to dimension angles, being able to insert tables, slicing solids, and so forth. I, and many, have made suggestions in the past, but whoās listening? We long for the day SketchUp takes PRO more seriously.
aside: the purpose of the architectās job is not to produce drawings
Generally speaking, the architectās ājobā usually means designing, and documenting a structure. But in this case, the architect was handed a detailed sketch of what the customer wanted. His job was only to create the professional printed drawings.
While nothing in life is perfect, SketchUp and Layout are both very good. They already perform their intended functions, so what exactly are you longing for? You possess the tools to create anything you want to if you simply take the time to learn how.
And this is the root of the destruction of civilization as we know it, or at the very least the reason why so much mid to late 20th century housing is generally awful. Architecture by numbers.
This happens in many industries, people learn the ābasicsā and start a business which reduces prices and reduces the quality of the work. But in the land of the blind the one eyed man is king.
3 Likes
What are some of these things that require long work arounds that once just worked? Please share.
LO speed and capability has increased since 21 for meā¦ I do custom residences / CDs / engineering documents / shop drawings and the occasional furniture or other design work.