Thursday 11-1: first (official) day with Google SketchUp part two

OK, so here we are in our second part of working with SketchUp. Previously, you learned how to create simple two dimensional shapes, then use the "PUSH/PULL" tool to make 'em 3D. Now, you will be working with two basic types of tools:


A) Tools that help you move around in this program


B) Tools that help you make your shapes look different


Lets start with moving around. Here is the toolbar again:





You will notice towards the center of the toolbar that there are four buttons in a row, one of which is a hand, the one to the left of that is a black and blue arrow, and the two to the right each look like magnifying glass. Here is what each button does:


A) "black and blue arrow" aka the ORBIT button. This allows you to whirl around your model in any direction


B) "the hand" aka the PAN button. This allows you to move back and forth from one end of your model to the other


C) "magnifying glass" aka the ZOOM button. You can use this to move further away from your model, or to get up close and personal. Very useful if you need to get more space to make stuff


D) "magnifying glass with four pointy things" aka the ZOOM EXTANTS button. This button is like a trail of bread crumbs: it allows you to find your way home no matter how lost you get. If you zoom, orbit or pan too far, just click this button and you will be back where you started.

NOTE -- if you can't find this button on the main toolbar, that's because its a Mac and they want to "think different". Just click on View, then Toolbars, then goto the "large toolbar set"

OR....  you can right click on the regular toolbar, then click where it says "Customize Toolbar", then drag the "zoom extants" button onto your toolbar


The whole point of all this moving around is because you will HAVE TO MOVE. A LOT. Because this timeyou will be using the "MATERIALS" button. This button looks like a little paint bucket, and it does the same thing as the paint bucket in the old "Paint" program... and more.


You see, this paint bucket can apply colors, AND lots of different materials, such as wood, stone, metal, plastic, etc etc etc.


WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Create a SECOND SketchUp file, and name it after yourself plus the word "Materials"
Create at least 29 three dimensional objects of varying sizes and shapes
Apply at least eight different types of materials -- markers, color, glass, wood, metal, etc
Completely cover ALL the surfaces of everything you make
Make your objects begin to LOOK like something from the real world
Then, upload this file to your blue folder at Box.com

Cheers,
Mr. L