Doodling in 3D, No Napkins Required

OK, Do you want to take your doodling to the next level? How about doodling in 3D? A few years ago Google, the Internet Search People, came out with a nifty little FREE program called SKETCHUP. (They do have a more potent Sketchup for $$$). Now the first time I looked at Sketchup, it looked to me like a simple little program used to draw cubes and cylinders for all those Dilbert types so they could make their Power Point Presentations more interesting. A few years later I looked at it again. I discovered a great little 3D modeling tool I could use to create objects for my 3D Architectural Modeling Software, Chief Architect. The first night I downloaded it, I sat on the couch watching a Bogart movie with my wife and in just minutes I drew this Kitchen Range Hood, that I show above, right on my laptop. Yea I know, pretty romantic guy, huh? No, she wasn't as impressed.

My 3D Architectural Modeling Software is written by a bunch of folks up in Idaho and so are the Stock Objects that come with the software. These objects are things like doors, windows, toilets, cabinet units, etc.. Now the object libraries in the software are a bit limited and you will wish there were more things, like Old World Kitchen Hoods. This is what makes Sketchup so welcomed is that I can create a 3D model of almost anything. Since the beginning I have created quite a few objects. Objects like stone headers for arched windows, rustic old world shutters, stone entry archways, and much more.

Maybe you have been thinking about one of those CAD programs you can use to express some of your own Home Design Ideas? AutoCAD is way too expensive and difficult to learn. Besides, you can't begin drawing house plans using AutoCAD right out of the box. Let me recommend the Chief Architect's line of products. You can start out with Home Designer Suite 9.0 for about $100.00. There are lesser priced programs but believe me, as soon as you work on one of those for a little while you'll be asking for a program with more features. Now the Home Designer Suite programs are written by the same people that writes the Chief Architect program. When the time comes to upgrade, you will be able to open all your home designs in the more potent design software. I have also used Home Designer Suite Pro 9.0 that cost around $500.00. A pretty powerful program but like Tim Taylor, I wanted more power.

For the past few months we have been building 3D models of the plans we offer over the Internet using this 3D modeling software. Since the beginning of the 2008-2009 recession, we wanted to make good use of the extra time we have on our hands so it was a no brainer to get started. Our web site illustrations could use it too. Besides, one color rendering from a Professional Delineator cost what the larger version of the software cost. To the left is one of the first 3D models we did. Click in the image and you will see the plan page where with just the click of the mouse we now have the side and rear views. Do you see the little dog on the back porch? Scroll down the page to see these. It's time consuming to create these models but with laptop in hand and a few Bogart movies (and an understanding wifey), I will have plenty more 3D models on our web site very soon.