Daniel Tal

Optimizing SketchUp performance. RENDERINGS 01

In Part 1 of this series, I discussed the optimal hardware for SketchUp performance, and in Part 2 I discussed some user interface options you can set to speed things up. In this post, I’ll discuss the modeling process that will allow you to keep performance at its peak, for any size model. Specifically: Using components and […]

Optimizing SketchUp Performance: Part 2 - Settings

Part 1 of this three-part series focused on the hardware you need to maximize SketchUp performance. In this part, I’ll discuss how to adjust SketchUp settings for the most efficient performance. Here’s what I’ll cover: Edge Styles Shadows OpenGL Outliner   Edge Styles These are the easiest setting to change, and can have a significant impact on performance. […]

gigabyte-gtx-980-gpu

This is the first in a three-part series, based on my 12 years of using SketchUp. It’s my answer to the one question I constantly see online and hear in classes: HOW DO I MAKE SKETCHUP RUN FASTER?   In  this part (as you might have guessed from the post title), I discuss the best hardware for running […]

SketchUp Preferences 7

In the previous post I reviewed SketchUp‘s Model Info window, highlighting some of the options it provides to make your SketchUp modeling life easier. People often associate Model Info with the Preferences window. The difference is that Model Info affects just the model you’re working on, whereas Preferences affects how SketchUp runs for ALL models. Also called System Preferences, you can […]

SketchUp Model Info Window 02

There are several menus and windows in SketchUp that are easily overlooked, even by experienced users. The Model Info (menu: Window / Model Info) window is one of these. All of the pages of the Model Info window are useful. But the three pages I’ll discuss here, which are relevant to model performance, are: Statistics Components Units […]

SketchUp Layers Detailed Park

In Part 1 of this series, Bonnie discussed best practices of layer placement, and in Part 2 I showed some large-model case studies of layer organization. In this last post of this series, I’ll demonstrate the power of combining SketchUp layers with scenes to make model presentation simple and efficient. This complicated-looking project is a prime candidate for simplification using scenes […]

SketchUp Layers: Part 2 - Layer Case Studies

In Part 1 of this series, Bonnie showed the importance of using SketchUp‘s Layer0 for all loose geometry, and placing components and groups on other layers. In this post, I’ll demonstrate how layers can take you beyond basic organization. And in Part 3, I’ll combine scenes and layers for seamless control of object visibility. Layer Organization Case Studies The […]

Interview with Chuck Vali

Chuck Vali is an architect, coder, and developer of fantastic SketchUp extensions. And he lives in Hawaii, where he gets to design gorgeous resorts like this one:   I’ve used Chuck’s tools for years. Collectively known as Instant Architecture , this combination of tools automates the creation of terrain, walls, fencing roads, trails, roofs, and more. […]

sketchup graphics and styles Vineyard Styles Model

If you missed Part 1 of this series, I went over the basics of how to change your model’s style. This post goes a little deeper, showing a few dos and don’ts. Pro Style Tips It’s rather fun to open SketchUp‘s Styles window and try out everything you see, to play with different face colors, backgrounds, watermarks, background […]