Google SketchUp and SketchUp Pro 8
for Macintosh and Windows, Pro version: $495.00
www.SketchUp.com
SketchUp and SketchUp Pro has evolved from being primarily an architect’s fast volume rendering tool, into a jack of all trades tool which helps filmmakers needing previsualization, or “previz.” It’s simple to draw with it, once you absorb its patented inference engine – this gives you a kind of spooky ability to trace vectors from your model snap to common points in space, to keep lines straight and surfaces planar with ease.
SketchUp gives you control over global time-of-day lighting and cast shadows, and supports animation walkthroughs which automatically “tween” between scenes. And the “regular” version is now a free download from the website. For those of us who as kids used to entertain friends with puppet shows, this kit is absolute heaven.
The Pro version adds Dynamic Component authoring, such as drawers, doors and windows opening and closing at a click; Solid Tools; which allow you to stamp or intersect shapes for custom forms; professional 2D and 3D import and export formats, such as 3DS, DWG, DXF, FBX, OBJ, VRML, XSI. The Pro version adds two complementary programs. Layout, for accurately dimensioned presentation of 2D mechanicals linked to your 3D models. Style Builder customize line looks to conform to your graphic method.
Originally from @Last Software out of Boulder, Colorado, Google acquired the product to enhance Google Earth and offers an invitation to submit your own local landmark models using SketchUp.
SketchUp is easy entry. Using its patented drawing and inference system, you can build a very nice looking house in minutes, by drawing shapes, pulling and pushing surfaces into blocks, and creasing surfaces. You can even simulate an architect’s rendering of your sketch– and then walk through it! SketchUp’s Sandbox Tools offers limited mesh editing of contours for more organic shapes. Animation and rendering is “on the fly” using its own engine and your OS graphic services.
I’ve been a frustrated architect for as long as I can remember, and SketchUp satisfies the urge to build. I recently finished an entire synthetic retail store layout for client Mary Canning, intrepid former PBS producer who’s stepped into the retail adventure by opening… a Honey store! “Follow The Honey” is open as of August 2011, and she with daughter, designer Caneen Canning, needed previz to assist in planning layout and presentation.
A picture’s worth a thousand words. After visiting the “set” for measurements and a design briefing with the Cannings, building the model took five days. The actual walkthrough is on YouTube at http://tinyurl.com/followhoneystore .
Previz movie sets and locales are built exactly the same way, by creating custom forms and adding typical furniture or props. SketchUp Pro offers some intriguing tools to assist.
First, SketchUp offers a vast library of prebuilt components in landscaping, architecture and a Film and Stage library, which allows you to plan production blocking of scenes using realistic articulated equipment, everything from dollies and cranes to cameras, picture cars and people. You haven’t lived until you’ve staged a fatal accident scene in SketchUp!
And you’ll know exactly how much location space will be required for crew, equipment, and props. Many components come with moving joints grouped. For instance, just “explode” a lighting unit to tilt the light head, then regroup to fix it there, if you insist on this kind of detail.
You can also generate a “real” light source with beam control from such objects, from one of several plugin vendors that have sprouted up around SketchUp’s extensible architecture- most of them charge money for these. Not all production equipment is available. For instance, I couldn’t find a classic Worral Geared Head — so I built one for their 3D Warehouse—a free emporium of components. A reasonably fast internet connection (5 – 20 mob/s) makes downloading needed components a breeze. Some of these are huge models—have plenty of RAM available.
You can take photos of actual location surfaces and import them to map them to your model for additional realism. The Shadow tool allows you to assess a scene at any time of day, at anytime of year, based on a location you set up in preferences.
The newest tool is the Advanced Camera Tools package, a free download from the website for Pro users, which gives you control over focal length and range for specific lenses. You can accurately frame up your scenes and see a walkthrough!
Google has not yet updated SketchUp to handle 64-bit processing—this will help in rendering very large and detailed models in the newest OS releases, such as MacOSX Lion and Windows 8. It may also be wise to author new models in the new release as opposed to importing models built in SketchUp 7 or earlier, although in my experience they load correctly.
Video tutorials are available free online and the online manual is excellent. There is also a very good online course for SketchUp Essentials available at Lynda.com— a how-to video library which is the bargain of the century at $25/month for the run of the catalog. Anything in software you want to learn will likely be there, and the SketchUp courses are great.
One of the ultimate previz Cool Tools for all seasons.
Loren S. Miller edits longform feature and documentary for clients coast to coast; produces interesting profiles of designers and builders; and reports for Imagine News and other venues. Reach him anytime at techpress@rcn.com