Architectural_Design_with_SketchUp

Chapter 4 Using Plugins Effectively
Selection Toys
By thomthom—Free [5, 6]
This plugin adds a toolbar containing a multitude of tools to aid in selecting objects in
SketchUp. It works very much as a selection filter and allows you to include or exclude certain
categories (faces, edges, components, etc.) from the current selection. In addition, you
can select connected edges or faces and similar components. This can even be done by layer.
As a bonus, this plugin lets you customize the number of buttons that are shown—a
very nice user interface feature.
Shape Bender
By C. Fullmer—Free [5, 6]
When you do woodworking, you sometimes
need to bend a shape based on a
curve. This plugin lets you do this virtually.
Add a group or a component, a reference
line, and a curve (or a set of curves). As
you can see in the image shown here,
everything is bent along the curve shape.
Soap Skin & Bubble
By J. Leibinger—Free [www.tensile-structures.de/sb_software.html]
Based on the theory of tensile structures
(fabric or canvas roofs), this plugin takes
a set of edges and stretches a surface
between them. With this plugin, it is
quite easy to create hyperbolic paraboloids
(hypar shells) as well as surfaces
that are held up by internal pressure (as
in air-supported structures).
To use this plugin, select a set of edges and fit a surface with the first tool on the toolbar.
If you want to add pressure to the surface (to blow it outward or suck it inward), use
the third tool on the toolbar.
SubdivideAndSmooth and Artisan (SDS2)
By Whaat—$15 and $39 [4, www.artisan4sketchup.com]
This has been the organic-modeling plugin of choice in SketchUp for a while now. What
started as the SubdivideAndSmooth plugin has lately become the expanded Artisan plugin.
While SketchUp may not be known specifically for polygon-based organic modeling, it is very
much capable of creating non-rectilinear shapes, as this plugin shows.
With this plugin, you can subdivide any object and then crease, push/pull, sculpt, paint,
and otherwise deform and change polygons to your artistic liking.
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