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DESCRIPTION
Google SketchUp is an easy-to-learn 3D modeling program that enables you to explore the world in 3D. With just a few simple tools, you can create 3D models of houses, sheds, decks, home additions, woodworking projects - even space ships. And once you've built your models, you can place them in Google Earth, post them to the 3D Warehouse, or print hard copies.
WHAT'S NEW
Release notes not available at developer site nor in download at the time of this posting
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.4.1 or later, Google Earth 3.0.640 or higher is required to work with SketchUp.

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SCREENSHOT
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| Google SketchUp User Reviews (21 posts) | Write A Review |
 | Nov 18 2008 |
RAZZ I created a drawing of a house plan in Sweet Home 3d (a free app) some time ago and wanted to see how well SketchUp handled it. The drawing has walls, windows, doors, some furniture, and other ditties. I wanted to see if SketchUp could put a roof on the house but I never got that far. I exported the file from Sweet Home 3D as a .obj file (the only option you have) and imported this file into Cheetah3D (an awesome app). I then exported it from Cheetah3D as a .3ds file. SketchUp did not import a .3ds file properly at all. So, I exported the file from Cheetah3D to a .dxf file which SketchUp did import albeit very slowly. The resulting drawing was tiny in scale. This is not right. I need accurate dimensions. The resulting file had over 250,000 entities - what did this thing do, take every itty bitty line and make it an entity? As a result, moving around is EXTREMELY slow - zooming and panning tested my patience. I did draw a few things but lost interest in using it because it's performance on this file was so bad. SketchUp can be used for *simple* drawings containing small numbers of objects and that's about it. It is like 3D electronic graph paper and it might serve your needs so give it a try but don't be surprised if it starts to balk at higher levels of complexity. (Version 7.0.8656) | |
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 | Nov 17 2008 |
BUCHO I just started using it a few days ago, and it's already become one of the most common pieces of software I use. I've played with AutoCAD in the past, but am by no means an expert, so I wasn't sure if I'd be able to master SketchUp - while I'm not yet a master, I've already mocked up my living room (we're shopping for furniture), and I can't wait to try my hand at some exterior landscaping designs. Thanks Google! (Version 7.0.8656) | |
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 | Mar 17 2008 |
BIKER4MAC I first saw SketchUp at MacWorld NY in 2002 and was immediately taken by it. This was what I wanted 3D to be since first starting to work with integrating architecture and computers! There are more robust programs for CAD and for 3D modeling, but I find nothing easier to use in the design phase - it is like a combination of napkin sketching and clay models. I can very quickly put an idea together and then play with it until I have my thoughts together. I rarely pick up paper and marker anymore to design. Clients also respond very favorably to SketchUp - the ability to quickly see their ideas take shape and look at various possibilities - should this be taller, what if this is smaller...? No, you're not likely to do a full set of construction documents with it, but I have done some small projects that way. And with the TurboSketch plugin you can do some pretty realistic rendering as well. (Version 6.4.120) | |
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 | Sep 18 2007 |
APPSCOUT Why would this need root access? Can't install till I know. FWIW, using 'unpkg' to see what gets installed leaves an EMPTY folder. What are you hiding? (Version 6.0.1145) | |
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 | May 6 2007 |
MICWARE This product is a very good OS X implementation of a 3D software. Clean and stable release I think it's much better than Live Interior 3d or any over Mac 3D Designer. Easy to use and functional tool to design environements and interiors. I love this product. (Version 6.0.514) | |
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 | Mar 4 2007 |
ERWINF Sketch up 6 works fine on my macbook 1,83 1mb internal memory. Just turn of hardware acceleration in prefferences and you will not have any cursor trouble. It works fine for me since then. | |
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 | Oct 25 2006 |
JESPANCH This is a good basic CAD type sytem, with a few problems. My main problem with it is the difficulty in dimentioning and constraining items. It can be done in a couple different ways, but none of them are easy, especially when compared to high end CAD systems. It can also have drawing errors if you don't have a new enough graphics card. You really need at least 32mb of VRAM in order to get it to draw correctly. THIS IS NOT A UNIVERSAL APP! If you are using an intel mac it will not run well. I can run it okay on my 5 year old iBook 500, and it runs well on my iMac G4 700, as long as I keep the geometry simple. Any PPC mac of 1Ghz or more should have no problem at all with this app. (Version 5.0.305) | |
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 | Jul 27 2006 |
PFENIX Ye gods is this thing slow! I'm using a MacBook, and it is having some serious issues when drawing stuff - the cursor leaves a trail of dots all over the screen. I know that it is a great program (I use it a lot on my ~4 year old PC with windows XP, and it works perfectly), but it could really use some improvement in terms of how it works on a MacBook. Still, it's probably more an issue with the hardware then with the program, so ... It's a great program, and I encourage people to try it, but it needs a lot more then this computer has. (Version 5.0.297) | |
| [ 3 Replies - Reply ] | |
Replies:
 | Aug 4 2006 |
SIXTYK Its an issue of using a PPC program on an Intel Mac...there's bound to be a performance hit. I'd be willing to speculate that a universal version is in the works...just a guess though. (Version 5.0.297) | |
 | Aug 27 2006 |
SWORDFISH To the original poster: actually it's an issue with the software, not the hardware. SketchUp is not written for Intel processors, therefore it's completely unoptimized and running in emulation mode. I'm eagerly waiting for a Universal Binary. (Version 5.0.297) | |
 | Oct 24 2006 |
GAOSHAN I'm running it on a G4 iBook 1.2Ghz with 768mb RAM and it runs fine. I'm not pushing it but just futzing around and there is no delay for redraw at all. (Version 5.0.305) | |
 | Jul 14 2006 |
IXIS9 Sketch-up is a great piece of software and it has come a long way and is more sophisticated than earlier versions. For sure I wouldn't try using it on a MacBook unless it was a MacBook Pro. It needs a video card and the MacBooks don't have one. (Version 5.0.296) | |
| [ 4 Replies - Reply ] | |
Replies:
 | Jul 15 2006 |
PAUL DUNLOP Works very well on the MacBooks to be honest. No issues here, speed is still good. Gotta love SketchUp (Version 5.0.297) | |
 | Jul 16 2006 |
BRANDONB Ok..i rarely explode on another person's forum... But PLEASE get your information right before you go off saying stupid things. The macbook has a video card...else it could not have a screen. This software runs fine on the macbook, and the macbook's video system is in no way crippled. While it is not the highest end out there, it is fully capable of running all modern software. So i'm sorry...but please get your facts right before you go making ignorant statements. (Version 5.0.297) | |
 | Jul 17 2006 |
PHOTEK yeh... also SketchUp is about as light as a CAD app could be.... a MB is will run it with no problems. (Version 5.0.297) | |
 | May 5 2007 |
DAVID.ACORD He clearly meant it didn't have a suitable graphics card - wrong as he may be, no need to launch off on a diatribe about it, BrandonB. some people. (Version 6.0.514) | |
 | Jul 24 2005 |
ANONYMOUS How to desinstall it and get rid off the sketchup daemon? (Version 5.0.149) | |
| [ 3 Replies - Reply ] | |
Replies:
 | Jun 12 2006 |
UMAROMC It installs a daemon program?! (Version 5.0.296) | |
 | Jun 12 2006 |
MACUPDATE ADMIN Maybe the version that the parent post refers to had a deamon, this version does not. Note that the parent post is nearly a year old. (Version 5.0.296) | |
 | Jun 13 2006 |
UMAROMC Thanks. (Version 5.0.296) | |
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