Posted on 03/14/2005 10:31:17 AM PST by conservativebabe
Sketch artistry
Boulder firm's software lets users design in three dimensions
By Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News March 14, 2005
BOULDER - Architects, video-game and movie-set designers, people who make machines, graphic artists - even young students and their teachers - are gushing over SketchUp, @Last Software's sole product.
Here's why: The software allows even technophobes to design in three dimensions with the push of a button or the swipe of a mouse.
A user can impress a spouse with a home addition designed within minutes or wow a client with a video presentation of a walk-through of a botanic garden or apartment complex, complete with shadows that change with the time of day or year.
The user begins by using a "pencil" to do a basic line drawing and is guided by word prompts on the screen. The software's push/pull function (a patent is pending) allows lines to be easily pulled into 3-D. Then the user can look at the image from any angle by easily spinning it around and cloak it in any color or texture. An image can be augmented with catchy details - people on the street or a car in the driveway.
The five-year-old firm hit upon a niche unfilled by the many computer-assisted design (CAD) 3-D program offerings that, while highly detailed, can be expensive and difficult to use. @Last's motto is "3-D for the masses."
(Excerpt) Read more at rockymountainnews.com ...
Pretty cool.
bump--sounds like fun
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