Kemper Smith (kemper@architosh.com)

13 July 2004

 

Expo: @Last Software Announces new SketchUp 4.0 - Detail Report

Lastest version of hot new 3D app for Mac is a feature at Macworld Expo

@Last, makers of the award winning Mac OS X 3D modeling application SketchUp, announced the release of SketchUp 4.0 today at this year's Macworld Boston. SketchUp is a modeling program designed for architects and used by a variety of other professions. It is used for quickly modeling three-dimensional forms using a simple, yet unbelievably powerful toolset. SketchUp 4.0 is major upgrade from the 3.1 version currently available. The new version adds significant functionality while maintaining SketchUp's ease-of-use and simple Aqua interface. In true @Last form, each new feature has been given a catchy name that describes what it does.

Follow Me

SketchUp 4.0 now has the ability to push/pull a surface along any path. This new capability allows users to create stair rails, molding, and curved tubing while simply using the push/pull tool along a previously selected line or path.

Texture Tweaker

@Last has taken image and texture manipulation several steps further in SketchUp 4.0 by allowing imported images to be manipulated and "tweaked" like a texture map. Texture maps and image maps can now be rotated, distorted, or-more importantly undistorted. This allows users to import a photo of a building distorted by perspective into SketchUp and un-distort the perspective to match the orthogonal dimensions of a modeled form. One can also draw on top of images and push/pull surfaces in and out to create three-dimensional depth in the image. Another improvement to image manipulation in 4.0 is the ability to project an image to multiple surfaces. An amazing use for this projection would be to apply an aerial photograph to an undulating terrain model.

Face Me

Previous versions of SketchUp have allowed the use and creation of two-dimensional components of people and trees to the model to keep file size low. SketchUp 4.0 will now allow those components to always face the camera view while orbiting around the model.

The Intersector

This new feature of SketchUp 4.0 is a direct response to the customer's demand for some form of Boolean operations. The Intersector is a good compromise between gaining the advantages and speed of Boolean operations while upholding SketchUp's tradition of ease-of-use. It allows one to subtract or union two forms that overlap each other in one easy step.

Ruby Scripting Interface

SketchUp 4.0 will allow for the creation of plug-ins to expand its capabilities beyond @Last's development. This new plug-in architecture has infinite potential to automate common tasks in SketchUp. Plugins written for SketchUp will use the Ruby scripting language which is similar to the lisp language used for automating common tasks in Autocad. Some common tasks that the Ruby Scripting Interface could automate are the creation of stairs, doors, and windows based on a few parametric dimensions, and the ability to draw a rectangle using three points instead of two.

Pricing

SketchUp remains an amazing Mac OS X modeling application at an affordable price point of $495. An upgrade to SketchUp 4.0 will cost $95.00 and is a free upgrade for people that have recently purchased version 3.1.

Other Notes

@Last has been extremely happy with the reception of the Mac version of SketchUp. The Mac version now accounts for an estimated 30% of total SketchUp users. The success of SketchUp on the Mac is certainly a result of @Last's dedication to making SketchUp adhere to the same principles and quality of existing Mac OS X software.

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