SketchUp Make

SketchUp Make is free for educational and personal use. SketchUp Make allows you to test the LayOut and Style Builder tools found in SketchUp Pro for 30 days. After this period, you can continue using SketchUp Make. If you want to benefit from all the functions of the application you can choose to purchase it.

SketchUp Make is a tool designed to teach you 3D modeling, whether you are a novice or experienced user.

The installation process you are required to go through is over in a jiffy as it does not come packed with any third-party product offers. Completing it brings you to a pretty friendly interface, as it does not contain a myriad of buttons, panes and boxes.

Moreover an “Instructor” guides you every step of the way, while it is also possible to access multiple video tutorials, tips and tricks.

When you launch the application, you are required to select the type of template you want to work in - simple, landscape architecture, 3D printing, interior and production design, woodworking, urban planning, or a simple one.

From the main window, with just a click of the window, it is possible to insert lines, rectangles, circles and arcs, erase objects, measure distances or scale an entire model with the help of a measuring tape, and use a paint bucket tool.

In addition to that, the push/pull tool lets you add or subtract volume from 3D models, while you can also move, stretch or copy entities, rotate, stretch, distort, or copy items along a rounded path, and create a copy of a line at a uniform distance from the original.

The orbit and pan options can help individuals gain control over the camera, by rotating it, as well as moving it vertically or horizontally.

You can also add photo textures to your model (a feature that uses Street View photos imported from Google Maps), get models from the Internet, or share your own creations. If you create a model that exists in reality, you can add it as a location, so SketchUp Make can share it online.

It does not require a large amount of CPU and memory resources, and therefore, it does not hamper the computer’s performance. The response time is quite good and the interface encloses quite an intuitive design.

In conclusion, SketchUp Make proves to be a reliable and efficient program, which comprises a large amount of tools, as well as options to aid novices in using it without hiccups.