db-3d.com Blog

Latest project

2011-07-13T10:44:00.001-04:00

Here's my latest animation using SketchUp with Vray to produce a photo-realistic walk-through. It is an elevator lobby redesign with a wall graphic.

Juror for Sketch Competition

2011-07-08T12:42:00.002-04:00

As written in the Architect Magazine blog posting:

The Designated Sketcher reports that its next competition, the Extrusion Competition: From 2 to 3D, has opened for registration. “The jury will be looking for the project that best represents a sketch that transitions into a form, while maintaining the original essence of the raw idea,” the organizers write. “There will be an emphasis on both the graphic and informative nature of the 2D sketch and how well it translates into 3D.” Submittals are due July 22 and the jury includes Lucas Gray, Dan Brown, Jeffrey Pastva, and Jesse Widtfeldt.

The 2nd place winner will receive a 2 hour online SketchUp webinar that I am offering as part of the prize.

Here's a link for more details on the competition.

SketchUp Class at UArts

2011-04-09T14:00:00.001-04:00

I'm exited for the opportunity to offer a Google SketchUp class at the University of Arts in Philadelphia. The course is 10 weeks from June 8th to August 10th (Wednesday's 6-9pm)

Here's all the information:

Course Description

Ideally suited for designers, broadcasters, architects, engineers, woodworkers as well as anyone who would like to learn to create 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional study models with ease and sophistication, this course delivers a well-rounded introduction to the power of Google’s SketchUp. Students are able to draw using a familiar pencil and paper paradigm in a software context, as Google SketchUp makes 3-D modeling easy enough for anyone to learn, and fast enough to use under real-world time constraints. SketchUp allows students to demonstrate to clients what a new building will look like, recreate and fly through the scene of an accident, or visualize a theatrical set before it’s built. At the conclusion of this course, students can be comfortable creating, animating, and displaying 3-D environments at a sophisticated level. Basic computer skills are assumed. Students should be comfortable with MAC OS X, keyboard and mouse commands.

CE 0812C 3 CE Credits $720, Fee $35
CE 0812N Non-credit $570, Fee $35

If you have any questions or are interested, feel free to send me an email.

Photography at First Friday

2011-04-01T09:13:00.005-04:00

I will have 8 of my photographs on display for this exhibit tonight for 1st friday. Come check them and others out on 2nd street bw race/arch.

Check out some of my work by here: danieljosephbrown.com

Latest Project

2011-03-03T10:27:00.003-05:00

I was asked a few weeks ago to be a volunteer for one of the Community Design Collaborative's latest projects. My role was to create a rendering for the layout of the revised office space / call center.

The process involves creating the sketchup model from the existing cad file, adding the furniture specs, people, lighting etc. Then using a layering technique, I mesh together the exported images into 1 final rendering.

Hidden line export

No displayed edges export

podium rendering + hidden lines + photoshop touchup

In all, this was about 10-12 hours of total work from start to finish.

Additions to the website

2011-01-27T10:13:00.000-05:00

Well, with cabin fever rising, I've been working or adding additional information to the website. A new look and feel that is much simpler to navigate (1 page scroll site). The blog will also get a facelift to match and will be more streamlined with the rest of the site.

I haven't posted much information lately, but it is my new years resolution to post 2-3 times per month about sketchup/design related topics. So come back and add to the discussion.

Presenting at SEGD Conference

2010-06-02T17:44:00.001-04:00

Join me Friday morning at the SEGD Conference + Expo from 7:45am - 9:00 am for "The Savy Designer Breakfast: Documentation and the Design Process." During a part of the session, I will explain how SketchUp can be used in Environmental Graphic Design with a project example.

A New SketchUp Book

2010-05-17T16:30:00.000-04:00

Packt Publishing recently released a new book on SketchUp called: SketchUp 7.1 for Architectural Visualization: Beginner's Guide. With step-by-step tutorials, description and workflow, the book looks to be a good companion for anyone looking for tips and tricks on creating successful SketchUp models. Click here to view a sample chapter from the book.

Having written several video tutorials and SketchUp manuals myself, I am curious to see the other examples and flow of the book. The sample chapter has a good blend of text, images, and step by step procedures. A great point mentioned in "Composing a Scene" happens all to often: over-modeling. I often fight with modeling every little detail in my models and then realize I only needed half the level of detail for the scenes or renderings I was creating.

Once I get my hands on a copy and go through the chapters, I'll write a full review about the book. Check back in a few weeks for that review. To purchase or find out more info, visit here.

4D BIM Plugin for SketchUp: Envision

2010-05-11T16:19:00.000-04:00

For the past few years, SketchUp has been one of the premier and easy to use design tools to convey projects in 3D. As companies continue to move towards 3D modeling in their design process, many look towards BIM (Building Information Modelings) solutions. Programs like ArchiCAD and Revit do this well, but cost thousands of dollars and involve hours of training and transition. SketchUp made a start at BIM modeling with its Dynamic Component feature introduced in SketchUp 7.0 but it falls short in its features, use, and interface.

My friends from Australia, Ennova, have released a SketchUp plugin called Envision that is currently in beta. Envision provides a visual online environment for project management and collaboration for the execution of construction projects. All members of a project can securely view project data in 4D through the plugin right inside of SketchUp.

Envision is delivered as a cloud based solution, and is the only one of its kind for SketchUp. Check out this video from Sales force that explains cloud computing and the benefits. If you can create simple models in SketchUp and have schedule data in MS Project / Primavera, Envision creates a 4D construction simulation playback for review by all team stakeholders to insure that the optimal construction sequence is developed. You can also visualize projected vs actual installation to ensure a project is on track and moving closer to completion.

You can try it for free. Pricing is then based on an affordable per project / per month basis for unlimited users in a project. Below is a tutorial on how the plugin works. You can also keep up to date by checking out their blog.

2010-04-28T14:27:00.000-04:00

Join me next week in Oklahoma City for the National Main Streets Conference. I'll be giving a demo during a session on Monday and a workshop on tuesday on SketchUp.

Speaking at RDC Boston 2010

2010-04-12T16:47:00.002-04:00

I will be speaking this week at
the RDC Conference in Boston.

Join me in the following events:

Presenting your SketchUp models with Google LayOut. 2:15-2:45pm

LayOut is a tool for creating presentations, design documents and simple construction drawings from your SketchUp models. See how to enhance your design workflow and make quick presentations for clients using LayOut.

Introduction to Google Building Maker. 3:45-4:15pm

Building Maker is a 3D modeling tool for adding buildings to Google Earth. It's fun to use, and an easy way to get on the 3D map. It’s as easy as selecting a city from around the world, make a building from photos provided, and saving it for millions of users to see in Google Earth.

Sharpen Your Digital Pencil: Getting Started with 3D Modeling with SketchUp 6-7:30pm
This seminar will be an introduction to 3D modeling for use in a design office using Google SketchUp. See how this fun to use and easy to learn software can be implemented throughout a project. The seminar is not intended as a class to teach SketchUp, but rather to show how SketchUp can be integrated into a designer's process and be used to maximum effect. SketchUp bridges the gap between 2D drawing and 3D modeling by enabling you to draw using a familiar pencil and paper paradigm in a software context. Architects, Interior Designers, Kitchen Designers, Builders, and Landscape Designers will benefit from this workshop. A Demonstration and a practitioner’s examples will illustrate the discussion.

For more information, go to rdcboston.com.

Create a Construction Sequence Animation in SketchUp

2010-02-03T08:31:00.008-05:00

This video will show you step by step how to create a complex animation using sections and scenes in SketchUp to animate groups in a model.

Google Earth Colored Image in Sketchup

2010-01-20T02:19:00.002-05:00

How to import imagery from Google Earth into SketchUp with the color instead of the greyscale image.

Building Maker Introduction

2009-10-21T18:36:00.003-04:00

I just finished creating an overview/introduction video for Google Building Maker. Created for quick 3D models in Google Earth, Building Maker uses oblique angle photographs. These images allow you to create models a lot faster than in SketchUp.

SketchUp one2one Web Training

2009-10-12T19:32:00.004-04:00

db-3d is proud to expand its training expertise by offering SketchUp one2one Web Training.

These webinars are easy on your budget and fully customizable.

Whether you have a problem with your current workflow or would like to learn SketchUp from the ground up, these sessions aren't limited in content or length. Sessions are also recorded for your viewing pleasure as a reference for later use. Using Skype as a video sharing and conferencing tool, you'll not only be able to see my screen, but I'll be able to assist you on your screen as well.

For more information on training, contact by email, or on Skype

Terrain in Google Earth Tip of the Day

2009-10-08T13:55:00.009-04:00

Today I was working on a SketchUp model and went to view it in Google Earth. After importing I came across the following error:

The model, complete in SketchUp with the terrain slightly fixed to keep building proportional.

And this it what it looked like incorrectly in Google Earth. Notice how it is floating.

As you can see the terrain is completely off. I knew it wasn't in the sketchup model and thought it was a bug. After looking at my options: I realized that I had my elevation exaggeration at 3 instead of the default of 1.

After changing it back this is what it looks like in Google Earth:

So if you're in Google Earth with the 3D Buildings layer on and it just seems like every building is floating, check your preferences.

SketchUp Shortcuts

2009-10-06T21:01:00.003-04:00

I want to share some great shortcuts that will reduce your modeling time in SketchUp. Most of the default shortcuts in are great and I usually don't change them:

However, I'll add a few...

H - hide all: this will make it quick to hide groups or components instead of having to turn layers on or off
U - unhide all: like hiding, just a quick keystroke will unhide all objects
G - make group (not component) I like to make objects groups first and then if I copy them, I right click to make a component.
Contrl + H - Hide rest of model: this has saved a lot of time. With it activated it will hide any geometry outside of the active group or component.
W - Texture/Position: also know as texture tweak, this makes its easy to adjust textures and avoids having to right click on a texture and go to texture/position
I - Import: Sounds simple, but saves time if you're importing several images frequently
D - display edges: this hides or displays all edges for a clean look of how a model will be displayed in google earth.

Also, a new reference card has been developed for Sketchup 7 and LayOut 2.0. You can find it here:

Lastly, if you're on a mac and using a 3 button mighty mouse, get rid of it! The scroll ball won't last you long in sketchup and you'll end up getting frustrated often with it.

Enjoy!

New World Trade Center in Google Earth

2009-09-11T16:21:00.006-04:00

Given that today marks 8 years since the attacks on 9/11, I felt it was necessary to pay a tribute by showing all of you what the world trade center looked like then and what it will look like in the coming years.

OLD:

NEW:

I cannot take credit for the models, they were done by a excellent 3d modeler. You can see his work here

Geomodeling Timelapse

2009-07-30T10:16:00.002-04:00

SketchUp has been used mostly by Architects as a way to convey designs and ideas. Recently, with the integration of importing/exporting capabilities of SketchUp and Google Earth, SketchUp is being used as a way to model building quickly with phototexturing techniques.

The workflow is quite different then typical architectural examples. Usually I will import the CAD geometry as a reference and develop a detailed model of the facades, windows, doorways, roof pitches, etc. However for Geomodeling, it is more about creating a massing model with less detail and allow the phototextures to convey realism in the model.

To my disappointment, most of the work for geomodeling is done in Photoshop creating the textures. My personal workflow tends to lag depending on the quality of photos taken. Below is a video time lapse of the process.

It is best to limit the amount of Photoshop work that is needed by creating generic textures for repeatable facades. The challenge is making these NOT look like a tiled texture. Other techniques used in SketchUp is the Matched New Photo (Photomatch). This feature allowed me to estimate building heights that are proportional to the building footprint.

Lastly, this model took a little over an hour to complete; which is really fast when considering the amount of detail and size of model. Enjoy!

Philadelphia Half Marathon in Google Earth

2009-07-29T14:54:00.005-04:00

So I'm planning to run the Philadelphia Half Marathon in November. Living in Philly, I wanted to plan the run and do portions of it as a train. To make it easier for myself, I created a map in Google Earth with mile markers of the actually course path used for the race.

Send me an email if you'd like the .kmz file to download. Check out the video:

Latest Project Finished

2009-07-20T14:50:00.004-04:00

Just finished a model for a client for their new residence. It's tucked in the heart of the Martis Valley and will hopefully come to fruition.

Residences at Ritz Carlton

2009-05-20T14:05:00.000-04:00

Check out one of the newest buildings to the Philadelphia skyline. Standing 48 stories tall, it's located next to City Hall.

2D Faceme Components

2009-04-22T12:38:00.001-04:00

Creating 2D faceme Components is pretty easy to do in Sketchup.

1. Find an image of yourself you want to use as a component.

2. Import the image into sketchup. Explode the image and use the freehand tool to trace around the outer edges and any detail inside for clothes and features.

3. Make the object a component as set to always face the camera.

4. Upload to the 3D Warehouse for others to use and see.

Below is the result on the 3D Warehouse.

American Commerce Center in Google Earth

2008-12-23T13:47:00.000-05:00

Philadelphia is likely to add to its skyline with the American Commerce Center. Standing at 1510ft and 63 floors it is planned to be the third tallest building in the US. Below are some images of what the skyline will look like. These were done in sketchup and then taken from google earth. You can download the model at 3d warehouse

Comcast Center Modeled

2008-12-13T14:00:00.000-05:00

I've added the Comcast Center to the skyline of Philadlephia. The previous model used in Google Earth was outdated with bad textures.

click on the title to open in Google Earth or just turn the 3d Buildings Layer On in GE.