Sketch-Up?

[Two Cold Soakers]

Anyone here familiar with Sketch-Up?

I'm applying for a job that lists it as one of it's prerequisites.
"...Knowledge of CAD, Sketch-Up, Photoshop, and other graphic software..."
With 17 years of hardcore Autocad and enough Microstation and Photoshop to fool everybody but the experts, I can claim a familiarity with Sketch-Up if i talk to some users.
If I DO get an interview, I'll download a trial and horse around for a few evenings.

I'd like to read your experiences with it, especially if you've got AutoCAD experience

 

[adriatic04]

From someone with zero cad experience or any engineering I find it to be very easy. I actually mocked up a few things on a whim and wasn't too difficult.

I wish it had a decent plugin or default for woodworking. I'd plan things out but it looks like I have to make the lumber via sketching.

 

[robertf]

I have spent thousands of hours using alibre, solidworks, inventor, pro-e, and catia. I tried sketch up for a few hours and couldn't figure it out. It sucks, even when compared to catia, which really sucks.

No one uses autocad anymore, but it doesn't compare to any parametric modeling software.

 

[bri]

It cant compare since it is not yet a parametric modeler. It seems based on much lower level primitives. But it does steadily increase in capabilities and now does have some CSG.

Sketchup really seems to be something that was developed so that 3D could be easily developed to integrate into google and google earth. I follow it here and there since it is being used more and more in GIS related applications. Even applications that are not integrations with google/google earth.

i.e.
http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos/gsuge.html

It seems like it does a decent job of what it is designed to do and it is gowing its capabilities.

And... its free. I am not a user becuase I have access to software that is more powerful.

 

[rover4x4]

I share an office with an architecture firm, they use sketch up and photoshop. They really like it, the primary user prefers it over CAD.

 

[LRflip]

If you're an expert with CAD, don't let sketchup phase you...you should be able to get the hang of it pretty damn quick.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Good information.

Thanks!

 

[rcshauger]

We teach Sketch-Up to our 9th grade students at my school. It is easy to pick up. Not as powerful as cad, but you will learn it quickly. It is a free download and is pretty powerful for what it is. Check it out.