Why Should you use Sketchup?
So, you've made it here because you are wondering why you should ditch your current design software and switch to Sketchup.  Well, you shouldn't.  Sketchup won't do everything solutions like 2020 and other software packages will do.  Sketchup makes an absolutely brilliant addition to these tools for a very minimal cost.  Sketchup, even in its basic free form (you read that right, you can get the basic version for free) will help you sell kitchens.  The Pro version can take your presentations and construction documents to the next level for a very minimal cost.

 

Sketchup is very easy to use.  Like most Google products, its created to have a clean, simple interface.  But don't let its lack of buttons fool you into thinking its not a powerful piece of software.  With a simple set of tools, you can create wonderful 3D drawings of just about anything in a fraction of the time it takes in other programs.  The learning cure is very short.  Best of all, Sketchup is actually fun to use!  When was the last time you used a piece of design software that actually put a smile on your face?
Sketchup works on both Mac's and PC's.  If you have a mixture of computers in your office, or your clients have different machines, you can easily share files with each other.  No importing and exporting.
a Sketchup allows you to color and texture your models as you create them.  You don't have to create your model in 2D, and then wait for it to render in 3d.  Just color and texture your model as you draw, and you can interact with it in 3D.  Sketchup is 100% 3D based.  This allows you to make changes on the fly, just as if you were standing in the room.  You can also walk your clients through their design just as if they were standing there.  This simple and powerful method of presenting models will help your clients really be able to visualize what they are going to get.  More often then not, this reduces meeting times, and drive sales by presenting your ideas in a way that can be immediately understood by your client.
You can also collaborate your models with Sketchup.  Since Sketchup is owned by Google, they've added their own web content to it.  By using the "3D Warehouse"  you can go online right in Sketchup and download thousands and thousands of models that are in the 3D warehouse for use in your designs.  Likewise, you can upload your own models and share them.  You can share them with the whole world as a way to advertise and market yourself, or just share them with a few people.  Since Sketchup models will work on any computer, regardless of the platform, you can also email your models to whoever you want for review and editing.
After you have mastered Sketchup as a design tool, you can leverage LayOut to create excellent construction documents. LayOut is Sketchup's 3D companion software that is included when you purchase the Pro version.  With LayOut, you take your 3D model and lay it out on paper.  There you can dimension and notate your drawings, add your logo and client information, and print the drawings for use in the field.  You can also create PDF's that you can email to anyone you want.  One of the great features is the ability for LayOut to update when you change your 3D model.  Lets say you've created your plans already and something changes, you just go to your 3D model, and make the changes.  Once you save, your changes are already in LayOut.  All of your floorplans, elevations, and details are automatically updated.

So don't be afraid, head over to Sketchup's website and download it.  There are a lot of places out there that offer training for Sketchup.  Only at SketchThis will you find training provided by people that speak your language.  By utilizing our components, our training videos, and our one on one training, you can leverage Sketchup to be a powerful tool for you and your design team.

 

 

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