Friday 2 July 2010

Sketchup Lawmaster

I've known about Google sketchup for a while and I've done nothing about learning how to use it, despite having heard pretty good things... that changed last week when I saw an amazing job that Richard Smith did using it to model a spaceship called the Terrapin (see Richard's website for more of his illustration work). The Terrapin is for a strip he is working on for a forthcoming issue of FutureQuake and looks awesome and I was inspired to learn more!


After asking Richard whether he thought it was worth learning how to use Sketchup, (a resounding yes), I decided I would spend a bit of time trying to get to grips with it. There are some limitations but I managed to build Judge Dredd's Lawmaster (his bike) and I'm not unhappy with the results... I will build a few other things and hopefully it will help greatly with that Dredd strip I'm doing for Zarjaz with Lee Robson.


I have to say, I'm thoroughly impressed with sketchup and for a FREE and EASY 3D package I can see no downside, especially when you can export animations that you can use to show others around the models you have built. So, can I recommend it? On Monday I had no idea how to create things in 3D that I could then use to plan scenes and things... and now I have a new and powerful tool in my skill set! So, I can strongly recommend it, well worth the time spent I think!

8 comments:

Brigonos said...

Cool Lawmaster, bro!

Phil Toodle said...

Wow Kev, that's AWESOME! I've been thinking abt getting Sketch-Up under my belt for a while now. I want to use it for sets and vehicles for MPF, which I've kick-started again as a comic (with the help of Pete and Gary). If you can learn to make that in less than a week, then I've got no excuses not to learn it myself.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Lee Townsend said...

Thats look great Kev! must check it out myself...

Cliff Robinson said...

I've had Google Sketch-Up on my computer for months and have done nothing with it. Your Lawmaster is fantastic, Kev. As Philip said, thanks for the inspiration. I must try my hand at it now (if I can find the time). Cheers.

Leigh G said...

Mate, that is fantastic! That is gonna help you out so much as that bike is a bastard to draw freehand.

nana said...

I've only dabbled in Sketchup so I feel pretty crippled when using it. I've only used it for the most rudimentary stuff, like setting up a scene in blocks, just to help out with perspective.
Did you follow some tutorials to get started?

Kev Levell said...

I followed a few tutorials... then it's really a case of mucking about an finding how to do various things.

Roberto Zaghi said...

Looks really great!
I made some practice with GSU myself and agree with you - useful and funny tool for comic artists.
Btw I like the combination of classic drawing and 3D skill in your blog!