Hellstrong Wrote:

Getting started with Sketchup 101

About SketchUp.

SketchUp is an easy to use 3D program it is available in a free version and a paied version, current version is Sketchup 6 but Sketchup5 is recomended for use with IMVU, u can create about anything with it, although u have to work around some issues when u want to make cloths and such.

What do I need to know before I start?

Sketchup basicly works like an graphic program, u litterally draw ure project, before u start any tutorials i would advice to play around with it 1st just to get the hang of it 1st

1st.

u have lines, these lines will have no role in the exporting proces but u need to draw lines to create faces

2nd.

faces. if u for instance draw 4 lines in the shape of a squire ull end up with a squire suface called a face, a faces is what ure mesh exists of.

3rd,

a face without a texture equils nothing since ure product exist of a mesh and textures, thats why when makin the mesh u have to color your faces, or use textures , each diffrent color and/or texture u use will be a diffrent material number in the previeuwer

4rd.

If u plan on using Sketchup 6 u will only be able to use seamless textures, in the previeuwer, cause in the exporting progress only the placement of the textures gets translated so ure textures end up in the right place but tiled.

If u want to be able to map your textures you will have to use sketchup5 pro.

What files do I need to get started with SketchUp?

1st. Sketchup can be downloaded here (Sketchup5 is recomended)

2nd. U need the Previewer offcourse. it can be downloaded here

3th. If u are using SketchUp5 u need to install the KMZ plugin it can be downloaded here

4th.And u need the ''Sketchup to IMVU Exporter whitch can be found here

Thats basicly all u need, but here are some optional downloads, that help u to get things easyer

1.

the ''Male03_Anime01_WeightingPoseMASTER'' this is a model of the avatar specially made for sketchup, if u plan to make accasories or clothing u will need this to get the posotions right, u can also use it for scaling purposes when makin furnuture. it can be downloaded here

2.

The room template can be used to make rooms, it has already furnuture nodes, but it can also be used to get certain parts of the xsf file, it can be found here.

Well i think this whas a pretty complete introduction, some tutorials will follow