GrabCAD Winners Announced

About a month ago, GrabCAD issued a challenge:  Come up with the best video you could for one of 3D Connexion's SpaceNavigator products and you could win cash prizes, and some new gear from 3D Connexion.

The winners have been announced and you can see them today over here at GrabCAD.  Unfortunately, my entry didn't make it into the top six, but after seeing the videos of the winners, I can see why.  These are some great videos.  Definitely worth checking out if you are interested in some seriously good kit for using Sketchup.

More Information about Trimble

In the wake of yesterdays announcement that Google has sold Sketchup to Trimble, we've been doing a little more reading on Trimble to see what they're all about.  This excerpt is from their investor relations page:

Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling ofthe field and the back office.

There is also this video that shows a run down of what industries they're involved in.  (Thanks to David Pillsbury for sending this in)

And if you are interested, a link to their current stock price:

So far it looks like they're a very capable company.  Hopefully this means a bright future for our favorite modeling program!

BREAKING: Sketchup has a new home

The Google Sketchup blog is reporting today that they have sold Sketchup to another company, Trimble.  After Google has been axing many of it's "Labs" products, and streamlining operations, I am not entirely surprised about this.

Here are some excerpts from the announcement:

That’s why I’m sharing today that the SketchUp team and technology will be leaving Google to join Trimble. We’ll be better able to focus on our core communities: modelers who have been with us from the beginning, as well as future SketchUppers who have yet to discover our products. Designers, builders and makers of things have always been the heart and soul of SketchUp. With Trimble’s commitment to invest in our growth, we’ll be able to innovate and develop new features better than ever before.

It's worth reading the entire post.  From the sounds of it they are going to keep Sketchup the same, and develop it even further.  If that's the case, I'm all for it.  Trimble looks to be a GPS solutions provider.  Since Google originally acquired Sketchup to augment their mapping products, this could be a very good fit.

There is also a great FAQ on the Trimble website that is worth reading.  I'd be very interested in hearing everyone's comments on this.

There is also a discussion going on over at SketchUCation if you are interested

Texture trick to look into a small space

The other day I was drawing a kitchen that had a roof detail that was important to the design of the kitchen.  I found it frustrating to be constantly hiding and showing the roof.  To make things easier,  I came up with this technique to use textures in Sketchup to allow me to "see through" the roof, without spoiling the view once you were inside the kitchen.  Take a look at the video to see how it all works.

A Rendered Garage

Over the past few years my view on renderings has changed quite a bit.  I used to be very against them, but now I am loving them! This is my latest rendering, designed by Mark Johnson FAIA. and modeled by Joe Sharkey.

This Sketchup model started out looking like this:

And ended up looking like this:

Pretty cool right?  And just for a reference, here is the garage in real life:

And lastly, if you want to see experience the model in 3D, you can download it and view it here: