Push/Pull Tool

Start with a box. Draw different profiles on the sides of the box. Use the Push/Pull tool to extrude the sides and follow-up by intersect the geometry and delete the excess geometry.

Click on the image to see how to create a v-groove at the end of a pipe:

Click on the image to see how to create a Push/Pull taco:

Click on the image to see how to Push/Pull a curvy box. Weld and Recurve are the two plugins mentioned in the tutorial.

Move

• • It can adjust edges and edge node without deforming the profile plane needed for Push/Pulling operations.

  • If some edges will not move as expected, try using Autofold, Move + Ctrl (PC).

Scale

• • If a model can be done as two mirrored components, make the initial model with the centerline on an axis. That will keep a scale bounding box 2-dimensional along the seam and easy to control. Otherwise use the script FreeScale.

  • Most faces will need to be triangulated. Often it's useful to re-scale a face prior to each Push/Pulling operation even though the profile doesn't need to be changed in order to triangulate the sides.

  • If a bounding box doesn't form around an edge or face as expected, select adjoining geometry to re-scale instead. Edges on one of the axes will have a bounding box.

Sandbox

• • Try coaxing out surface definition with the Flip Edge tool before using the Add Detail tool. That will help keep the poly-count as low as possible.

• • Use the minimum amount of geometry. Each edge should be important to define the model. Otherwise the model size can get out of hand. Besides, manipulating less geometry is less work to do.

  • If the circle, polygon or arc tool is used to make geometry, usually the geometry should be exploded. Otherwise the geometry may not move as expected during the sculpting process.

  • Softening the geometry softens the surface shading. It helps to see modeling progress with minimal geometry.

  • Import images into SU as reference guides.

  • Consider upgrading your navigation devices. Some mice have several extra buttons that allow you to map keyboard shortcuts to them. A navigation device like those offered by 3Dconnexion allows the modeler to orbit around the model with the left hand while working with SU tools with the right hand.

  • SelectionMemory2 This script has an option to recall the last selection set. So when you spend a lot of time selecting some geometry only to find you need do briefly do some work with another tool on something, this script will recall the previously selected geometry. And the plugin HoverSelect enables a different way to select bits and pieces of geometry to make selecting stuff easier.

With a little more manipulation using the tips shown on these Tweaking Tool Tips pages, mainly relying on the native tools, here's another progress shot of a different rock face:

Note: To download plugins from SketchUcation, join the forum and logon (free).

• • AutoSmooth ThomThom - Automatically softens and smooths auto-folded edges created by the native tools.

  • Bitmap to Mesh ThomThom - Generates a mesh from a given BMP image. - Free

  • Blend kirill2008 - a lofting tool.

  • LSS Toolbar kirill2008 - Adds control construction points to curves and groups with faces for 3D model manipulation.

  • Curviloft Fredo6 - Loft and skin.

  • DrawMetal Terry Ross - Creates spiral paths, tapered extrusions, and more.

  • Joint Push Pull Fredo - Push/Pulls a curved surface

  • HoverSelect Fredo - Alternative selection tool (join SketchUcation forum and logon to download.)

  • Nudge Smustard - Nudges, moves, selected geometry with the keyboard arrow keys. Fee

  • Point Merger Tools BTM - Merges multiple edges.

  • RpTools Suite of tools including a move wizard which nudges geometry. Fee - Windows

  • Sculpt Tools -BTM - Suite of sculpting tools

  • Shape Bender Chris Fullmer - bends a model to a curved path

  • Simple Loft Chris Fullmer - A alpha version loft script

  • Sketchy FreeForm and Deformation - Chris Philips - Deforms a model

Subdivision modeling

• • Artisan Whaat - Subdivision modeling with additional sculpting and soft transformation tools. This is also very useful even if you only need to create a finer, subdivided surface after low-poly modeling in order to prep the surface for 3D printing. Fee

  • Eneroth Fractal Terrain Eroder Enerroth3 - Nice way to initially break up surface into a more organic form. Free

  • QuadFace Tools ThomThom - Adds a suite of tools for working with non-planar quads in SketchUp. Free

  • SUbD ThomThom - Parametric quad-based subdivisions for SketchUp. Fee

  • Subdivide And Smooth Whaat - This plug-in can add excessive geometry, but many people find it useful. It was the precursor plugin to Artisan.

  • Vertex Tools ThomThom - Vertex editor. Fee

• • Tools on Surface Fredo6 - Suite of drawing tools for a curved surface.