Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.
LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry
LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.
For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.
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I have yet to use SketchUp though I have downloaded it and played with it (for about 20 minutes) but it is so radically different to the software I use that I fear I need some training!
In fact I don't NEED training because what I use is excellent and very powerful but I was wondering whether SketchUp offers you dimensions and quantities for your pricing and also can you produce scale plan drawings from it?
...I know you're the right man to ask mate!
Nicky
What software do you use, Vectorworks?
Honestly, given a quick over-view by someone who uses it regularly/following the on line tutorials, a competent draughtsman like yourself will take to SketchUp like 'a duck to water'.
Yes, there is the facility to dimension the drawing, turn off perspective and use it in 2D mode and if you select a line or 'face' there is the facility to right-click and find out information such as lengths and areas etc.
Pricing up is a doddle with SketchUp and I know there is add-ons that can help you compile Bills/Material Lists etc but I have never used them. In fact there is a huge on-line community of developers who produce things known as 'Ruby Scripts' which can automate the modeling of objects such as window details. You enter the basic dimensions and the script creates a model of a sash window etc.
When you buy the Pro version of SketchUp you get a compatible free program called 'Layout'. This basically performs the same functions of Adobe's 'In Design' and allows you to arrange/scale your drawing sheet prior to printing it off/creating a PDF etc. Layout allows you to import different views of your SketchUp model and manipulate them 'live', it also allows you to import other JPEG images from elsewhere and it has a collection of pre-drawn 2D graphics (e.g. plan trees, people, north arrows and scale bars etc.) to add the finishing touches to your drawing. There are also 'modern looking' drawing templates to choose from.
At the end of the day, SketchUp is primarily a 3D only platform. You can import dwg. files from AutoCAD directly into it and make them 3D etc. but it is not currently a replacement 2D CAD platform. However, there are rumours that SketchUp, at some point, will have all the drafting facilities currently integrated into AutoCAD and it's 'clones'.
With SketchUp, you are not just buying into a computer program, you are buying into a huge on-line backup culture with FREE components, Ruby Scripts, Materials and Advice all at the click of a mouse. Also, all the major render programs, animation software and Google Earth etc. are now all geared to the use of SketchUp.
SketchUp is now the industry standard software in a number of professions e.g. architecture and a 'must have' on your C.V.
I would like to get to know Sketchup more. I have downloaded it and 'messed' around but have no experience in CAD design, even though i'm very computer/systems literate.
I don't do creative designs (sub that out), but I do create simple plans etc for jobs.
I would love to understand more, but don't have time to go on lenghty courses.
Is there a middle ground route I can follow ?
You said re: Should LJN form an association:
"Regarding meetings: in another life I participate in regular 'virtual' business meetings held online. Simple software requirements mean that web based collabrative meetings can be held on line using most multi-media equipment PCs. Documents, can be shared and viewed, multi-party conversations undertaken and all can be retained for records. I could see this as the basis for regular meetings/training sessions etc run by the 'association with no name yet'."
What software do you use for this? I ask because I am offering on line SketchUp tutoring and was thinking of doing it via. Skype + web cam. If the software you use is FREE, maybe I could use this instead to teach you + others SketchUp at a discounted rate. I am currently tutoring a maintenance gardener near me to use SketchUp at his premises for £17 per hour and could do it cheaper if no travelling involved + more participants involved.
Stuart.
david beasley said:
AutoCAD is a fantastic piece of software for working on larger complicated schemes and producing detailed working drawings to send to other landscapers, architects, planning authorities and large A1 plans for clients etc.
However, where AutoCAD fails miserably is it's 3D drawing interface which is an absolute nightmare to learn (on a nightclass etc).
The Dummies books are very good (I have the ones for SketchUp and Google Earth) but as with all books they follow a typical step-by-step (learn every function) type methodology and you may get bored pretty quickly working through them (good as reference books though!).
Complicated designs can be produced on SketchUp (in fact an architect in Ireland uses SketchUp for all his 2D and 3D work) but it is put to its best uses if it is used alongside an AutoCAD/cloned package that produces .drg file output.
You would say, draw your site survey out using the AutoCAD package then develop the basic design layout.
This file is imported into SketchUp and 'traced' to replicate the design in .skp format.
As soon as you've done this you can add all the whistles and bells that SketchUp has to offer including:
* 3D extrusion (giving the model a 'z'/vertical element i.e. 3D features)
* photorealistic textures.
* ready made 3D landscape components e.g. trees, site furniture, cars, people and lighting etc.
* add shadows to your model/images based on you exact location, aspect and time of day.
* click on surfaces/lines to find lengths and areas etc.
* present your image in various Styles (see Kerry Jackson's Video).
* manipulate landscape terrains.
* print off instant drawings.
* export JPEGS.
* make 3D walkthrough animation videos for YouTube etc.
* export model data into rendering programs to make truly photorealistic looking designs.
* export models into Google Earth.
the list is endless!
SketchUp is no good for planting plans though, these are best done in an AutoCAD based program.
So to answer your original question, you are best knowing the basics of both AutoCAD and SketchUp.
stuart ralph said: