Note - mid-2012, Google sold the SketchUp product to Trimble Navigation Ltd. Google SketchUp is in the process of being re-branded into Trimble SketchUp. You will probably see references to both "Google SketchUp" and "Trimble SketchUp", they both refer to the same product.
SketchUp is a 3D modelling package. It is free to download and use. There is also a vast array of models available to download from the Internet.
There are two methods of getting a SketchUp model - you can download a model created by someone else from the internet, or you can create your own.
You can search for models using your search engine of choice. For example, searching for "SketchUp model oven" will return a list of generic models, where as "SketchUp model neff oven" will return a more specific list of just Neff ovens.
A large number of models can be found here - Google 3D Warehouse. Once you have found the model you wish to use, save it onto your system. You can save the model anywhere, but by default ArtiCAD will look in C:\ArtiCAD\SketchUp.
Note - while many models are free to download, some may require payment. This is nothing to do with ArtiCAD and you do so at your own risk.
Alternatively, you can download the SketchUp package and create your own models - Google SketchUp.
Note - SketchUp is a completely separate product and ArtiCAD does not provide support or training for it. Documentation is supplied with the SketchUp application and training is available from other organisations.
Once you have downloaded or created the SketchUp model, click on the SketchUp button:
Find the SketchUp file you wish to import. In the above example this is "Coffee maker2.skp". Click "Open" to start importing the model.
Note - it may take a few seconds to import the model the first time you use it. The more complex the model, the longer it will take. However when you use that model again the import will be much faster.
Note - Any SketchUp models that you have opened that are not already in the default ArtiCAD SketchUp folder C:\ArtiCAD\SketchUp will be automatically copied there so that next time you want to use them you can find them in there.
"Height off Ground", "Photo Realism Colours..." and "Preview" all work in the same way as a conventional ArtiCAD unit. The colour names under "Photo Realism Colours" are those supplied by the model creator and will be prefixed with "skpm".
A SketchUp model has it's own set of dimensions and orientation, as specified by the creator of the model. If you wish to override this, press the "Reset Model" button:
NOTE - the first time you load in a model of your own, you will also see the following window:
Drag the model so it is facing the correct direction (front towards the camera). Enter the dimensions or "0" to use the default.
NOTE - Once this is done, next time you load in this model you shouldnt need to set it up again (unless you want to, by clicking the 'Reset Model' button as described above)
Position the unit on the design in the same way as you would a conventional unit.
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