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How To: Place a Google SketchUp model in LayOut
Working closely with SketchUp models is key to LayOut and the primary feature that makes LayOut so unique. Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to place a SketchUp model in LayOut. To place the model, go to file and simply click insert. Find your model and then open it. The great thing about viewing a model in LayOut, is that it is presented in 3D form and you can build complex documents with infinite views of your model all with just one SketchUp model.
How To: Create shapes in LayOut
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the drawing tools in LayOut to create shapes. Although the tools work the same in both Windows and Mac versions, they are organized differently. Line tools infer the same way SketchUp does when you set down to create shapes. When using the Curve tool, click between points to draw straight lines, and drag the mouse button to create curves. Create waves and free form shapes with the freehand tool.
How To: Use Style Builder in Google SketchUp
Style Builder is a companion application to Google SketchUp 6 Pro that allows you to create, mix, and modify your own unique style that you can use and share in SketchUp. Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use this new software. This tutorial covers loading and mixing strokes, creating custom strokes, and how to finish the style in Google SketchUp.
How To: Create easy copies or arrays in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to create quick and easy copies as well as repeated copies, or arrays. As arrays are so easy to create, don't worry if you make a mistake. Simply undo the array and recreate it. This tutorial covers how to make one copy, creating multiple copies or arrays, changing the number of copies, the difference between external and internal array, and how to Create circular arrays.
How To: Use the scale tool as a mirror in Google SketchUp
Although there isn't an actual mirror tool in SketchUp, it is easy to mirror anything with the scale tool. Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the scale tool for mirroring purposes in SketchUp. This tutorial covers, how to mirror objects using the scale tool, how to use modifier keys, and mirroring symmetrical components or shapes for efficiency.
How To: Work with hyperlinks in OpenOffice writer
Wondering how to handle links, or hyperlinks, in OpenOffice Writer? This tutorial will show you how to create, edit, remove and navigate to hyperlinks in the OpenOffice word processor. Take a look.
How To: Use the paint bucket tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional vidoe and learn how to use the paint bucket tool in Google SketchUp. Selecting the paint bucket tool will open the materials browser. The materials browser is different for windows and mac users. On windows, the browser has two main tabs to select and edit materials. On the mac, you have several tabs giving you different ways to paint colors into your model. To start using the paint bucket tool, simply pick a material and choose a surface to paint it into you...
How To: Use the section tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the section tool in Google SketchUp. This tutorial covers how to create cut-away views of your model in any direction, the context options for the section plane, and how to move and rotate the section plane. You can lock the section orientation by holding the "Shift" key.
How To: Use the position cam & look around tools in SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the position camera and look around tools in Google SketchUp. This tutorial covers how look around is a stationary viewing tool, how position camera allows you to place your view, how to position your view exactly, and change your field of view.
How To: Use the navigation tools in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the navigation tools in Google SketchUp. This tutorial covers how to use the orbit, zoom, and pan tools; how to navigate using the scroll wheel on your mouse; tips for zooming; and the functions of zoom previous, next, and zoom extents.
How To: Use the axes tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the axes tool in Google SketchUp. The axes tool will be particularly helpful if you want to draw rectangles and lines in a different orientation. This tutorial covers how to reorient the default red, green and blue axes, and tips for quick axes orientation.
How To: Create your first OpenSceneGraph program for Mac OS X
New to OpenSceneGraph and not quite sure where to begin? If so, you're in luck. This tutorial will walk you, step-by-step, through the creation of your very first OpenSceneGraph program for the Mac OS X platform.
How To: Use the text and 3D text tools in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the text and 3d text tools in Google SketchUp. There are several ways to create text and annotations in SketchUp. This tutorial covers how to create on-screen text and annotations, how to change text settings, the differences between pixel and real world text siz, and how to create 3d text.
How To: Use the protractor tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the protractor tool in Google SketchUp. To measure in any direction or orientation, the protractor will align itself to any surface that it touches. This tutorial covers how to measure angles, create construction guidelines, control the tool orientation, and how to establish roof slopes.
How To: Set up an email account in Mozilla Thunderbird
If you're new to Ubuntu Linux and, for whatever reason, not so very keen on Ubuntu's default email client, Evolution, then you might like to try Mozilla Thunderbird. In this tutorial, you'll how learn how to go about setting up an email account in Thunderbird. Take a look.
How To: Use the tape measure tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the tape measure tool in Google SketchUp. You can use this tool to measure edges and distance, create construction geometry or dashed guidelines, and resize individual groups or the entire model. This tutorial covers all three of these functions in a step by step guide.
How To: Use the move tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the move tool in Google SketchUp. The move tool is actually several tools combined into one. The move tool functions as an auto fold and an array tool as well. This tutorial covers how move is an auto-selecting tool, how to pre-select objects for more control, moving objects with precision, and some common problems.
How To: Use the scale tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the scale tool in Google SketchUp. The key into using the scale tool correctly is in the scale grips. This tutorial covers how to scale in 2d and 3d, accuracy when scaling, how to use modifier keys for more options, and paying attention to the axis when scaling.
How To: Use the walk tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the walk tool in Google SketchUp. The walk tool allows you to explore model from eye height. When you click and drag, you'll see a plus sign appear. YOu'll be able to move slowly or rapidly accordingly. This tutorial covers how to walk around your model, collision detection, and how to use modifier keys for more options.
How To: Use the offset tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the offset tool in Google SketchUp. To click on any surface to offset its edges, in or out. The tool auto selects any surface if no particular surface is selected. You can select a number of different surfaces or an individual surface. This tutorial covers offsetting surfaces versus edges, inferring, and some speedy tips.
How To: Learn the basics of components in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn about the basics and functions of components in Google SketchUp. The difference between components and groups being that groups have no relation to each other. Any of copy of a group is a completely separate entity. This tutorial covers components versus groups, how to edit components, and the component browser.
How To: Draw a sphere in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to draw a sphere in Google SketchUp. First you'll want to draw a circle, then orbit to a side view. Draw a second circle from the center and perpendicular to the first, then select the first circle. Pick the follow me tool and click on the second circle. Erase the first circle and you'll have your sphere!
How To: Create a chair in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to create a simple chair in Google SketchUp. This tutorial covers how to render this piece of furniture in two different ways, and then shows a third more advanced method to introduce some new tools in SketchUp.
How To: Learn to use the push pull tool in Google SketchUp
Are you new to Google SketchUp? With the push pull tool, you'll be able to render any two dimensional shape into a three dimensional ojbect. Take a look at this instructional video and learn the basics on how to use the push pull tool in Google SketchUp. If you're concerned with the accuracy of your dimensions such as if you want an object to be approximately five feet in length or so, you can type in a value for it and it'll adjust accordingly.
How To: Draw shapes in Google SketchUp
New to Google SketchUp? Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to draw shapes in Google Sketchup. There are four fundamental rules to drawing edges.
How To: Use the select tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the select tool in Google SketchUp. Making good selections in SketchUp is crucial in properly using the other tools available in this 3 Dimensional modeling program. This tutorial covers the basic selections, window selections, modifier keys to add to and subtract from your selection, and tips for accurate and quick selection sets.
How To: Install OpenSceneGraph from the binary package on OS X
This video tutorial demonstrates how to install OpenSceneGraph, the high-performance graphics toolkit, in Mac OS X from the binary package. While this how-to is particularly geared towards non-expert users of Mac OS X, it is certain to benefit anyone interested in stalling the OpenSceneGraph toolkit.
How To: Use the rotate tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the rotate tool in Google SketchUp. When you pick the rotate tool, the icon orients itself to any surface you hover over. Click once to set the rotation and move away to set a rotation base. This is the controlling arm you will use to rotate your object. This tutorial covers how the rotate tool works, examples of the rotate tool in action, and how to lock or define the orientation of the tool.
How To: Draw rectangles in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the rectangle tool in Google SketchUp. Drawing rectangles takes two clicks of the mouse. Click once to start, pull away, and click again to finish. Remember not to draw rectangles that cross over edges, but you can draw rectangles over the top of other edges. This tutorial covers how to draw rectangles on any surface, how to draw a perfect square or golden rectangle. and tips on being accurate.
How To: Use the push pull tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this tutorial and learn how to use the push pull tool in Google SketchUp. This tool is the core of SketchUp. It allows you to pull any flat shape into 3D. This instructional video covers how to pull any flat shape into 3D, tips for accuracy and efficiency, how to cut away geometry and infer to other geometry.
How To: Use the line tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the line tool in Google SketchUp. There are two ways to draw edges with the line tool. The first method is to simply click your mouse at various points around the screen to draw connected edges in succession. The second way is by clicking and dragging the mouse button to draw an edge, and release the mouse button to create the edge. This tutorial covers the best practices for drawing lines or edges, how to draw accurately, and divid...
How To: Use the eraser tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the eraser tool in Google SketchUp. Keep in mind that the eraser tool only works for edges in SketchUp, and you won't be able to erase surfaces with the eraser tool. This tutorial covers how to erase single or multiple edges easily and how to soften or hide edges with the eraser.
How To: Use the freehand tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the freehand tool in Google SketchUp. This tutorial covers how to use freehand to draw free form edges. To do this, simply click and hold the mouse button to draw with the freehand tool. Like other drawing tools, be careful not to cross over edges while drawing, and draw to and from existing edges to properly break surfaces.
How To: Use the "follow me" tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the "follow me" tool in Google SketchUp. Merging different shapes with different paths renders powerful combinations. This tutorial covers an introduction to follow-me capabilities, tips on how the shape and path work together, how to create instant follow-me results, and creating lathed objects.
How To: Use the dimension tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the dimension tool in Google SketchUp. This tutorial covers how to add dimensions directly to your model and how to adjust dimension settings. To dimension a distance between two points, simply select the dimension tool and click between the two points your want to measure. Pull away and click to finish.
How To: Use the circle and polygon tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the circle and polygon tools in Google SketchUp. This tutorial covers drawing a circle or polygon, changing the number of sides of a circle or polygon, and viewing additional information through the entity info dialog box.
How To: Use the arc tool in Google SketchUp
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to use the arc tool in Google SketchUp. Using the arc tool is a three step process based on defining the two endpoints of the arc first and then pulling out the radius of the arc. This tutorial covers how to draw arcs, drawing tangent arcs, continuous smooth arcs, and defining the number of arc segments.
How To: Model a tractor in Google SketchUp 6
Google SketchUp is a powerful 3 dimensional modeling tool that boasts comprehensiveness and versatility for the average, everyday user. Unlike some of its contemporaries, this program is very user friendly. Check out this tutorial and learn how to go about modeling a Tractor from start to finish in Google SketchUp 6. It is sped up so it takes only 8 minutes to watch, though the original model took about 65 minutes to complete! Feel free to pause at any juncture during the tutorial in case you...
How To: Change and choose your styles on Google SketchUp 6
Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to choose, change, or update different styles to your sketch up models in Google SketchUp 6. This tutorial covers the new Styles dialog box that is a part of Google SketchUp 6. This replaced the previous dialog box called "Display Styles", and is much more powerful and combines many options for your convenience.
How To: Edit & convert video from the command line with ffmpeg
Non-linear video editing tools are great, but they're not always the best tool for the job. This is where a powerful tool like ffmpeg becomes useful. This tutorial covers the basics of transcoding video, as well as more advanced tricks like creating animations, screen captures, and slow motion effects.