Google Sketch

[alam k]

Has anybody tried Google's version of CAD ??? its called Google Sketchup.

[JBullseye74]

There is a sketchup section toward the middle of the forum under digital design. But yes many of us use Sketchup on a weekly basis.

[designerstuart]

SKETCHUP IS GOOD BUT IT ISN'T THE SAME AS AUTOCAD.
(sorry about the caps, didn't mean to shout!)

[alam k]

Dont worry designerstuart i just wanted to know. im new to autocad im takin a course on it once a week. this year im only doin the 2d designs so im gonna need all the help i can get from you guys someone introduced me to sketchup but i just wanted to know which one was better and easier!

[ReMark]

AutoCAD and SketchUp are not the same type of software. Each has its strengths and weaknesses compared to the other. If I were an architect I might use AutoCAD for the actual design work but use SketchUp for all my presentation work. AutoDesk released something that is supposed to be very similar to SketchUp called Impressions. Visit the AutoDesk website for further information.

[irneb]

I'd say if you quickly want to make a model to show design intent or produce a presentation rendering then Sketch-Up's (probably) the one which would use the least amount of your time.

If you want to take that further into construction documentation then SK isn't too good. There are other programs which tie into SK and try to provide this functionality (e.g. Layout) but they're a far cry from the power of AC / Revit. AC isn't as great when you're going to do 3D stuff, but it's still possible. Then the verticals of AC (e.g. Mech / ACA / etc.) make life simpler for a particular type of designer. For me I choose Revit since it's close to the simplicity of SK to get a quick model out, but with a LOT more power, better quality rendering built-in, more industry specific tools, direct live technical drawings from (and to) model (you change the one and the other is updated accordingly), full BIM support, automatic schedules, etc. - not to mention it works seamlessly to and from ACad for those more complex 2D detail drawings, which has no better alternative than ACad (or its clones), using AC with SK is (sarcastically) "less than perfect".

So basically what I'm saying is: "It depends on what you want out of it. The right tool for the job is also a subjective choice."

[marmo]

Hi,
In my opinion it depends on the version of AutoCAD.
At first Sketchup had commands that AutoCAD not had, as the press-and-pull for example, and also had better graphics, similar to the existing visual styles in AutoCAD.
Altogether easy and smart.
AutoCAD now has all these features that made sketchup new and interesting.
The rendering is better than AutoCAD, AutoCAD works with Mental Ray the old engine of 3DMax, that is very good.
The only -but significant- negative characteristic of AutoCAD compared with Sketchup is that Google's software works with rendering engines as VRay and Maxwell Render (installed as plug-ins), that are very powerful, better than basic AutoCAD's engine.