14 DAY TRIAL // Google has announced the release of a major new version of its 3D modeling software Google SketchUp 8. There are a number of new features for users to get excited about, but many of them focus on geo-location and working with Google Maps and Earth.
"I’m proud to announce that SketchUp 8, the next major version of our 3D modeling tool, is available for download today," Posted by John Bacus, Product Manager at Google, announced.
"We’ve added significant new geo-modeling capabilities that leverage Google’s vast collection of geo-spatial data to make it quicker, easier and more fun than ever to build models of the world around us," he said.
One of the biggest new feature is the built-in Google Maps. If you need to place your model in context, either because you're working on a building for Google Earth or just designing around a real location, you can now quickly open any location and select the area you're interested in to start off.
Also for building and site modelers, aerial imagery you import in SketchUp 8 is now in color. The terrain data for the location is also significantly more accurate and detailed.
SketchUp 8 also has an interesting new feature for those that have been using Google Building Maker to quickly create 3D models. Now you can import your Building Maker model, any model created by anyone in fact, into SketchUp 8 to add more details or better textures.
For the more professional modelers, SketchUp 8 comes with new Solid Tools which enable users to do additive/subtractive modeling operations. This feature is only available in SketchUp Pro 8.
Along with SketchUp 8, Google also released LayOut 3, a new version of the tool designed for professionals who want to create presentations based on models from SketchUp.
Google SketchUp 8.0 is available for download here on Softpedia.