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Google SketchUp 7 released

Posted by sudhirmangla November 18, 2008

Google has released SketchUp 7 (download), the latest free version of its 3D modeling software, along with its premium counterpart, SketchUp 7 Pro.

Like previous iterations of the software, SketchUp 7 will enable you to model just about anything you’d like as long as you start with a predesigned template. The new version, released Monday, offers simple templates that help you gauge size through feet or meters, but it also includes architectural design, Google Earth, and a product design template to aid you in your modeling endeavors.

 

SketchUp 7 also supports a major new feature for Dynamic Components – doors that open, wheels that turn, etc. Unfortunately, models with the dynamic component do not show the animations in Google Earth – yet. We’ll probably have to wait for a future version of GE to get that support.

Here’s the rather silly announcement video (which covers a few of the new features):

 

SketchUp 7 is still a relatively simple tool. It won’t provide the kind of modeling capabilities you’ll find in high-end tools, like Caligari’s software, which starts at $895. But it’s a fine solution for beginners and advanced users alike who want to quickly create a model and share it through Google Earth or with others via the 3D warehouse.

It would have been nice to see Google add more of the "pro" features from SketchUp 7 Pro to its free software, like the ability to make presentations with LayOut 2 and the option to make your own Styles, but the free version is still a fine product for those who want to test their modeling skills and don’t necessarily need top-of-the-line features.

If you’re a novice modeler, SketchUp 7 is ideal. Its free version will teach you how to perform simple tasks and you can eventually choose to graduate to its Pro version to enhance your skills. And although it’s just a gateway to more capable software on the market, it’s certainly worth downloading and trying out for yourself.

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