Hot Software Tips How-Tos
How To: Model a house from an image in SketchUp 6
You don't have to have an authentic 2-dimensional CAD drawing to model a house or building in SketchUp, all you really need is a floor plan or good image. If you don't have a CAD drawing to use to create your SketchUp model, learn how you can take an image of any floor plan and quickly turn it into a house in SketchUp 6.
How To: Photomatch a chair component in SketchUp 6
Alright MacGyver, for this week's assignment, you're going to need a picture of a chair, and SketchUp. And maybe some duct tape. We're going to show you how to use Photo Match to create a chair component from a digital image in this SketchUp software tutorial. It's one thing to use Photo Match in SketchUp to adjust perspective with buildings, but you can also use it to work with components, as you'll learn in this video.
How To: Solve common SketchUp problems
The guys at the SketchUp show have received some great SketchUp questions recently. After a careful board meeting with lots of people in suits and ties and plenty of donuts and coffee, they decided to answer those questions in this podcast. In this video, they tackle the following beginning and advanced SketchUp topics: Getting a grasp of your Keyboard Shortcuts, Optimizing Print Quality, and creating Tensile Structures using the famed Soap Skin Bubble plugin. So if you need any help with Ske...
How To: Create Face Me components in SketchUp 6
This tutorial shows you a few ways to use images to make custom face me components in Google SketchUp 6. Mike demonstrates how to make your own custom Face Me components in SketchUp, using some pretty funny pictures. You will need Photoshop or some soft or image editing software as well as SketchUp to follow this Face Me tutorial.
How To: Create terrains with the sandbox tools in SketchUp 6
This two part software tutorial shows you how to work with the sandbox terrain tools in SketchUp 6. Take a look at how to create your own terrain in Sketchup using 4 different methods.
How To: Animate a camera on a path in SketchUp 6
This SketchUp software tutorial shows you how to work with moving cameras. Learn how to animate Sketchup "cameras" along a precisely drawn path using the camera position tool. You'll also cover the uses of Layers and Scenes to help create a final animation in SketchUp 6.
How To: Use the sandbox tools in SketchUp 6
SketchUp 5 and up has a Sandbox. But there are a few rules to know before you're allowed to play. In this episode of The SketchUp Show, Alex leads you in creating a landscape from scratch, and a second way to model terrain from existing contour lines using the sandbox tools. Landscapers will love learning to use the sandbox tools in this episode!
How To: Use SketchUp plugins and ruby scripts
In this software tutorial, Mike and Alex discuss how to use three great Sketchup plugins. Learn how to download and install a plugin or ruby script. Then try out three different SketchUp plugins: Make Faces, Simplify Contours and Drop.
How To: Create tileable textures in imageSynth & SketchUp
Mike demonstrates how to quickly and easily create custom tileable textures for your SketchUp models using a Photoshop plug-in called imageSynth. You will be using Photoshop and imageSynth to create the textures but the end goal is to be able to apply those seamless textures to a model in SketchUp.
How To: Model a lantern in SketchUp 6
How comfortable are you with designing products in SketchUp? Maybe you need a bit more practice? Why not try your hand at this SketchUp modeling challenge. Mike Tadros hosts a tutorial on how to best model a lantern in SketchUp.
How To: Use LayOut in SketchUp 6 Pro
Have you seen the new 'program-within-a-program' in Google Sketchup 6? It's called LayOut, and it provides SketchUp users a cool way to present their 3D models in a 2D paper-space environment. Mike Tadros shows you how to use the new program LayOut available in SketchUp 6 Pro in this 4-part tutorial series.
How To: Use lights and shadows in SketchUp 6
Do you know where your shadow is? If you don't, it might be time to crack open SketchUp, download The Sketchup Show episode #42 and work along with Mike as he demonstrates how to harness the power of shadows and location in SketchUp. It's one thing to build a model in SketchUp, but it's just as important to show it off with lights and shadows. See how in this tutorial.
How To: Use the camera tools in SketchUp
If you've ever wondered how to get more precise views of your model, The Sketchup Show episode #12 is for you. Alex covers the three basic "camera" tools in SketchUp, and explains how you can manually adjust view settings for the height and field of view of your SketchUp camera.
How To: Draw a sphere in SketchUp
Some SketchUp users already know the quick and easy way to use the follow-me tool to create a sphere. But for anyone who doesn't, make sure to check out this episode for two quick ways to create a sphere in SketchUp.
How To: Accurately measure a room and model it in SketchUp
Alex leaves the studio to help a friend redesign his garage into his own video production studio. Watch and learn how to use SketchUp by starting a project from scratch. See how to take measurements of the space you want to model or remodel in SketchUp, then use those measurments to build a perfect model in SketchUp. This is a great tutorial to show you how to use SketchUp in the real world.
How To: Use styles in SketchUp 6
Mike explains the ins and outs of using Styles in SketchUp 6. There is so much to learn about working with styles, that this is a two-part tutorial. Mike starts by using a house project to run through the different options you have available to use in the styles palette in SketchUp. Learn how the styles palette interface works and then how to work with style folders in SketchUp.
How To: Use the Space Navigator in SketchUp 6
Mike Tadros demonstrates some useful techniques for incorporating the Space Navigator by 3D Connexion into your Google SketchUp workflow. Create smooth animations, pre-visualize motion graphics sequences, and even create a Star Wars flight simulation. All possible with the Space Navigator for SketchUp 6.
How To: Use the Film & Stage plugin in SketchUp
Alex Oliver demonstrates how Art Directors and Cinematographers can use the Film & Stage plugin in SketchUp to explore the use of different camera lenses and aspect ratios on location or on a production set. The Film and Stage plug-in is a great way for film makers and directors to pre-visualize shots and scenes in SketchUp, a software you may only have thought useful for architecture and product pre-visualization. Learn how to plan shots and do animatics in this SketchUp tutorial.
How To: Customize a website left panel in XSitePro 2
This web development software tutorial shows you how to create a custom left panel for a website using XSitePro 2. The options for XSitePro 2 have changed from XSitePro 1. Now, it's easy to change the right panel, but the options to change the left panel have been hidden. Watch as Jason shows you how to rebuild the template in XSitePro 2 to allow you to modify and customize the left panel.
How To: Create a full width header and footer in XSitePro Ver2
In this web development software tutorial you will learn how to create a full width header and footer for a website using XSitePro 2. Starting with a blank template that's 800 pixels wide, you'll learn how to add a black stripe running along the top and bottom of the website page. If you are building websites in XSitePro 2, this tutorial will show you how to create 100% wide headers and/or footers.
How To: Work with tables in XSitePro Ver2
In this web development software tutorial Jason Smith shows you how to build a table for a website in XSitePro version 2. The tutorial shows you an existing table on a site and then shows you how to recreate the table step by step in XSitePro 2.
How To: Change the template of an existing XSitePro 1 website
This web building software tutorial shows you how to use XSitePro to change an existing XSitePro website template with a new XSitePro template. Don't worry if clients, or you, change your mind about what you want your XSitePro website to look like. This tutorial will show you how easy it is to change from one template to another for an existing website in XSitePro.
How To: Link complex forms to drive massing in Rhino & Revit
This Revit Architecture 2009 video tutorial covers how to import geometry from Rhino via Autocad. Really this technique will work for any program that can output a .sat. Even if the program cannot, Rhino imports many formats (such as .step or .iges) which you can then export as a .sat for Autocad. The basic logic in this tutorial is to create a tower which has geometry too complex to build in Revit. We then pass it through Autocad to export a closed solid .dwg. As of now Rhino only exports .d...
How To: Create and control schedules in Revit Architecture
This Revit Architecture 2009 video tutorial covers how to create and control schedules. In this tutorial we schedule different wall types to manage the quantities of a buildings facade in Revit. If you are a beginning Revit user, check out the video and learn how to use schedules properly.
How To: Schedule curtain panels in Revit conditional statement
This Revit Architecture 2009 video tutorial covers how to use conditional statement when scheduling curtain panels. The techniques put forward in this intermediate Revit tutorial are done in an effort to avoid making different families for one curtain system. By using techniques like these, one can manage variable parts within one Revit Family while making it easier ti manage a schedule. This video is part of a series David Fano is working on, in which he hopes to show ways Revit can be used ...
How To: Schedule with conditional statements in Revit
This Revit 2009 video tutorial covers how to add parameters for scheduling and tagging. In this case the objects being scheduled are parking spaces. The problem was that by default Revit is able to schedule the “count” of objects. We want to schedule stacker parking which meant every parking component equaled 2 spaces. In order to schedule the number of spaces, a shared parameter is added which looks for a yes/no parameter stating whether or not the component is a stacker. This is done by add...
How To: Build a parametric truss system in Revit
This Revit software tutorial shows how to array a series of voids to create a changing truss system. Rather than thinking of the modeling in components what we are doing here is modeling a solid and using Revit’s cut geometry tool to slice a solid into stick members. The only catch to this techniques is that each truss has a slight slant on the top and bottom. This is something we can look past since it will be lost in the line weight. Once this model needs to transfer to a higher lever of pr...
How To: Create shared parameters in Revit Architecture
This intermediate level CAD software tutorial gets into the basics of creating shared parameters in Revit and how to create schedules to access them. In this Revit tutorial scheduling is meant to be used more as a spreadsheet interface for driving the model and not so much for putting schedules in a drawings set. That being said this video covers the basics of making a schedule in Revit which one could easily then place on a sheet.
How To: Use sweep blend feature in Revit Architecture 2009
Revit Architecture 2009 is out and has some pretty cool new features. The first one David Fano talks about is Sweep Blend. Imagine taking the blend tool and combining it with the sweep tool. It’s pretty much just that. Like in the blend you pick to shapes “profiles” to blend between except now you can o it along a path. You could easily experiment with surface continuity by importing 3D curves from Rhino but for now this video covers the basics of how the sweep blend feature in Revit Architec...
How To: Model 3D geometry in Revit Architecture
This CAD software tutorial covers the different methods of creating 3D geometry in Revit Architecture. David Fano explains the pro and cons of using solid extrusion, Blend, Revolve, and sweep. These more advanced Revit modeling techniques are explained within a massing object but apply to all families. This Revit Architecture tutorial is geared for beginners that are familiar with the Revit software. Start building more complex geometries with these modeling tips. Model 3D geometry in Revit A...
How To: Create and use face based families in Revit
This CAD software tutorial covers how to make face based families, change a family category, and make voids in Revit Architecture. Face based families are pretty handy for a few reasons. a big one though is that they do delete when you erase the host object (this is not the case with wall based and floor based) families. Also face based families are easy to move around, re-host and rotate. See how to create and work with face based families in this Revit Architecture tutorial. Create and use ...
How To: Use reference lines to control radial shapes in Revit
This CAD software tutorial covers how to use reference lines to constrain or drive radial shapes in Revit Architecture. This can be tricky when using Reference plane but with a reference line it is quite easy. David doesn't get too much into adding parameters but one could imagine using a length parameter to drive the length of the reference line as well as the ellipse. Watch and learn how to model and control radial shapes with reference lines in Revit Architecture. Use reference lines to co...
How To: Export DWG files from Revit Architecture
This CAD software tutorial covers the process of exporting DWG files from Revit Architecture. We export a DWG file as a solid for Rhino and David Fino explains the process for exporting Meshes. This is a good beginner level Revit Architecture tutorial. Follow along and learn how to export DWG files from Revit. Export DWG files from Revit Architecture.
How To: Create line based parametric arrays in Revit
Although a little jumpy, this CAD software tutorial covers using a line based family to make a parametric awning in Revit Architecture. As the line is drawn longer you get more awning members. It covers using formulas in families as well as nesting one family in another in Revit. Watch and learn how to create line based parametric arrays in Revit Architecture. Knowledge of Revit is necessary to really follow the tutorial. Create line based parametric arrays in Revit.
How To: Add angle parameters to curtain panels in Revit
This Revit software tutorial covers how to add angle parameters. In this case we put them in a curtain panel to break from such an orthogonal grid. Here they a tilted mullions but one could imagine using a curtain system just and a construction grid then using face based families for more complex systems on top of the grid. Watch and learn how to add angle parameters to curtain panels in Revit. Add angle parameters to curtain panels in Revit.
How To: Pattern with two attractor points in Rhino 3D
In this Rhino 3D / Grasshopper software tutorial we expand on a previous video from the site, Rhino - Patterning Based on Point Distance with Grasshopper. The idea is to use 2 points rather than one. The logic is borrowed from Andy Payne on a 3ds Max model with wire parameters. Basically the idea is to drive the radius of the circles with the distance between the point(s). The circles then use the MIN component and a “range” factor to limit how big the circles can get as well as the area of i...
How To: Use the shift component in Rhino & Grasshopper plugin
In this Rhino / Grasshopper 3D software tutorial we rebuild the shift tutorial provided by David Rutten.
How To: Make scaling circular patterns in Rhino & Grasshopper
In this Rhino 3D software tutorial covers how to make scaling circular patterns based on the distance between points. You will be using the Grasshopper (Explicit History) plug-in for Rhino in this tutorial.
How To: Make a sine & cosine curve Rhino's Explicit history
In this Rhino video tutorial we cover how to make a sine and cosine curve with Explicit History (Grasshopper). The initial set up for this Rhino tutorial can be used to test any of the math functions. We set up a a simple interface to drive range parameters which can then connect to many of the scalar components. Get better at your math skills for modeling in Rhino with this 3D software tutorial. This Rhino video is best viewed full screen. Make a sine & cosine curve Rhino's Explicit history.
How To: Make an exponential curve with Grasshopper in Rhino
In this Rhino tutorial we cover how to make an exponential curve with with Explicit History (Grasshopper). This is an intro to using scalar parameters in Rhino to driving geometry with math. Also covered, is how to use the range components in Rhino to make collections of objects, in this case points. By learning the simplest commands in Rhino, you can start to build on them and combine them for more complex results. This tutorial is best viewed at full screen. Make an exponential curve with G...