Navigate SketchUp Easily with LaunchUp

Do you ever find yourself adrift in the Sea of Many SketchUp Plugins, or trekking unproductively through the Valley of Productivity Extensions? With so many great SketchUp tools to use, aren't you sometimes just... lost?

Fear not! For a new beacon is here to light your path. From famed SketchUp adventurer Aerilius comes a new plugin to organize and access all your plugins, tools, and other SketchUp extensions... Behold: LAUNCHUP! 

I've tried it myself and it really does work well. Quite amazing. You should try it, too! Enjoy this new way of exploring SketchUp, and thank you, Aerilius!

Schloss Eneburg

Via +Douglas Triana take a look at this video rendering of +Christina Eneroth's eye-popping, mind-blowing, inspirational-juices-flowing, German cousin-of-Hogwarts, 3D SketchUp model Schloss Eneburg.

Christina (aka Eneroth3) has been building her Alpine "dream home" for years! See the original SketchUp model at this link.

Getting Rid of PNG Halos in Google Earth

Modeler Aerilius says the pesky "halos" around your PNG transparency textures in Google Earth can be eliminated by grouping sections of the SketchUp model separately. Read more here.

In the model above I tried this technique to avoid the PNG railings I had created from "burning through" the rest of the building. It helped!

I also replaced transparent JPEG window textures with PNG files so that the interior can be seen through the windows. The transparent bucket colors in SU are JPEGs and don't appear transparent in GE.

I placed this model in these 3D model collections: Disney and PIXAR, Models By Zoungy, Zoungy Google Earth Models, My Favorite Models, BIG STUFF

Walbridge Barn

Check out this colorful and unusually shaped barn, modeled by Jean. Wonderful geo-models like this allow us to explore buildings we might otherwise never encounter!

I've added this excellent geomodel to quite a few model collections: 1880s, Colorful Places, My Favorite Models, My Favorite Thumbnails, Museum, Barn and Farm

GO Green Team! GO Entourage!

"The Green Team" is a cool collection of Google Earth greenery. Use it for inspiration and, as collector Ghaleb fawzi puts it, "to encourage ... beauty and [enhanced realism]" (in Google Earth).

3D modeler Aerilius has created a collection of beautiful and low-poly Google Earth entourage. Plant-making tips are included (eliminate pesky white halos around PNG textures!)

Modeler KangaroOz 3D has curated this collection of Google Earth trees as well. I have also begun a new collection called Park and Recreation. "Arboleda del Kiosko de Polvoranca" (above) by J.A. Alvarez

Colorful Places

The vibrant 3D SketchUp model seen above is Donostia - Cristina Enea by gi3d. Check it out and all the other colorful models I've added to the collection Colorful Places on the Trimble 3D Warehouse!

Schneidemühl - Evangelische Johanniskirche

Is it a time machine? Nope! It's 3D modeler Generalfeldmarschall who takes SketchUp and geomodeling in a different direction than most-- backwards in time-- recreating structures that no longer exist. He writes on his blog

As happens usually with other buildings that do not exist anymore, the geometry work was the easy part. However, looking for other churches with similar caracteristics (sic) and some reference pictures was enough to get such a beautiful result.

I included this model in the collection Place of Worship

Michael Jackson- Neverland Ranch

I just came across this model of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch by giotis (who also brought us the Sphinx). Pretty colorful and well done in my opinion!

I've added it to these 3D model collections: Americana, House and Hotel, My Favorite Thumbnails

The Great Sphinx of Giza- Cairo, Egypt

This great model of the Sphinx was created by talented 3D modeler giotis. Be sure to look at all his models because they do not disappoint!

I've added the model into these 3D collections: My Favorite Thumbnails, Place of Worship, Around the World in 3D, Sculptures and Monuments of the World

Desktop 3D Scanning On Its Way

Bre Pettis of Makerbot wowed us all last October at 3D Basecamp with his Makerbot Replicator 2 desktop 3D printer.

He's done it again by announcing desktop 3D printing soon will be a reality! The image above from Makerbot shows how a garden gnome or anything up to 8 inches in diameter can be scanned and printed within minutes.

Want the scoop? Sign up for information at this link.

Jack Kerouac Birthplace

Jack Kerouac's birthday is coming up (on March 12) and what better way to mark it than by sharing this attractive 3D SketchUp model by BerylDrue?

According to BerylDrue Kerouac was Lowell, Massachusetts' "most famous writer." He would have been 91 a week from today.

I've added this model to the collections Americana, My Favorite Thumbnails and House and Hotel. See this link for other "literary landmarks" modeled by Beryl.

3Doodler: 3D Drawing Pen

This is pretty amazing! A pen that heats a quick-cooling plastic allowing users to actually "draw" in 3D space. Here's a link to their Kickstarter page if you want to support the project. At the very least watch the video; it's pretty crazy!