An overview of how objects relate to one another in SketchUp is given. Here again the use of video is excellent. There are three videos in the chapter on basic drawing. If you can get in the habit of using the keyboard shortcut it won’t be long until using it becomes automatic, and you won’t waste time looking for an icon on the toolbar, or reading a list on a menu. By providing tips like keyboard shortcuts, Bob helps the reader create models faster. A goal of mine is to be faster and more efficient when using SketchUp. ![]() In the case of the line tool, you can select it by clicking the icon on the tool bar, but the easier way is to simply tap the L key on your keyboard. ![]() One thing Bob does frequently is give the keyboard shortcuts for certain tasks. With the basic tools out-of-the-way, its time to start drawing. If I only had Bob’s deep, calm voice to guide me, things would have been a lot better. I remember my early days with SketchUp – sometimes the program would be soooo frustrating, I felt like throwing my computer out the window. This combination of text and video is extremely helpful – almost all SketchUp instruction should be this way. Each item is discussed through text as well as video. Then Bob turns his attention to his list of basic SketchUp tools things like the line tool, push/pull, move/copy, etc. These two chapters help the reader embark on the road to SketchUp success. To start out, Bob sets the stage for the ebook by offering two organizational chapters: “Setting up Shop in SketchUp” and “Navigating the SketchUp World”. Let’s just say that I have never considered SketchUp to be “too easy” but, his point about learning too fast is absolutely correct. If you move too far, too fast you’ll learn to create a mess of stuff on-screen that you can’t do anything with. SketchUp is an easy program to learn, but in some ways it is too easy. So, it is no surprise this quote from Bob’s ebook caught my attention: But, as software programs go, SketchUp was a boat load of trouble to learn. I have written several times how I pride myself on being able to use technology well, especially software. It is loaded with illustrations and videos.Ī look at a typical page from Bob’s ebook. Graphic design is not a strong point in Woodworker’s Guide to SketchUp, but the somewhat humble appearance of Bob’s ebook certainly does not degrade the teaching points provided. Taunton publications are known for first-rate graphic design, photography and illustration. It seems to me that video would have been an easy addition to the Tauton backed effort by Tim Killen.īob’s ebook is easy to navigate by using either bookmarks or links to chapter titles. I find this interesting because Bob adds more technology to what is a home-grown, independently published effort. Bob embraces video early on in Woodworker’s Guide to SketchUp and video along with his text makes the ebook a more complete instruction experience. Video is something that Tim Killen’s ebook does not have and is especially needed for the advanced modeling taught. The SketchUp newbie should look upon video instruction with happiness. To call Bob Lang’s publication a book or an ebook does not do it justice because it contains a lot of video. Having reviewed SketchUp teaching products from Tauton Press, I wondered how Woodworker’s Guide to SketchUp would differ from Tauton’s competing ebook by Tim Killen titled SketchUp Guide for Woodworkers. He is highly regarded as a SketchUp instructor and each year teaches SketchUp classes at various locations around the USA. I share my thoughts on Bob’s ebook below.īob Lang is currently Executive Editor at Popular Woodworking magazine. Within the world of woodworking, I felt there was only one other source on SketchUp I needed to review to be well versed on the subject – that being Bob Lang’s ebook titled Woodworker’s Guide to SketchUp. Last year I did an exhaustive, multi-part review of Tim Killen’s SketchUp ebook, during which Dave Richard’s SketchUp video was launched.
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