Every SketchUp model is made up of just two things: edges and faces. Edges are straight lines, and faces are the 2D shapes that are created when several edges form a flat loop. For example, a rectangular face is bound by four edges that are connected together at right angles. To build models in SketchUp, you draw edges and faces using a few simple tools that you can learn in a small amount of time. It’s as simple as that.
Push/Pull: Quickly go from 2D to 3D
Extrude any flat surface into a three-dimensional form with SketchUp’s patented Push/Pull tool. Just click to start extruding, move your mouse, and click again to stop. You can Push/Pull a rectangle into a box. Or draw the outline of a staircase and Push/Pull it into 3D. Want to make a window? Push/Pull a hole through your wall. SketchUp is known for being easy to use, and Push/Pull is the reason why.
Accurate measurements: Work with precision
SketchUp is great for working fast and loose in 3D, but it’s more than just a fancy electronic pencil. Because you’re working on a computer, everything you create in SketchUp has a precise dimension. When you’re ready, you can build models that are as accurate as you need them to be. If you want, you can print scaled views of your model, and if you have SketchUp Pro, you can even export your geometry into other programs like AutoCAD and 3ds MAX.
Follow Me: Create complex extrusions and lathed forms
You use SketchUp’s innovative, do-everything Follow Me tool to create 3D forms by extruding 2D surfaces along predetermined paths. Model a bent pipe by extruding a circle along an L-shaped line. Create a bottle by drawing half of its outline, then using Follow Me to sweep it around a circle. You can even use Follow Me to round off (fillet) edges on things like handrails, furniture and electronic gadgets.
Paint Bucket: Apply colors and textures
You can use SketchUp’s Paint Bucket tool to paint your model with materials like colors and textures.
Groups and Components: Build smarter models
By “sticking together” parts of the geometry in your model to make Groups, you can create sub-objects that are easier to move, copy and hide. Components are a lot like Groups, but with a handy twist: copies of Components are related together, so changes you make to one are automatically reflected in all the others. Windows, doors, trees, chairs and millions of other things benefit from this behavior.
Shadows: Perform shade studies and add realism
SketchUp’s powerful, real-time Shadow Engine lets you perform accurate shade studies on your models.
Sections: See inside your models
You can use SketchUp’s interactive Sections feature to temporarily cut away parts of your design, enabling you to look inside. You can use Sections to create orthographic views (like floorplans), to export geometry to CAD programs using SketchUp Pro, or just to get a better view of your model while you’re working on it. Section Planes can be moved, rotated and even animated using SketchUp’s Scenes feature.
Scenes: Save views and create animations
We created Scenes to enable you to easily save precise views of your model so you can come back to them later. Need to create an animation? Just create a few Scenes and click a button.
Look Around and Walk: Explore your creations firsthand
SketchUp lets you get inside your model with a set of simple navigation tools designed to give you a first-person view. Click with Position Camera to “be standing” anywhere in your model. Use Look Around to turn your virtual head. Finally, switch to Walk to explore your creation on foot; you can even climb and descend stairs and ramps, just like you’re playing a video game.
Dimensions and Labels: Add information to your designs
You can use the super-intuitive Dimension and Label tools to add dimensions, annotations and other glorious detail to your work.
The Instructor: Catch on quickly
SketchUp’s Instructor dialog box, which you can choose to activate at any time, provides context-sensitive help.
Layers and the Outliner: Stay organized
When you’re building a big, complicated model, things can get messy very quickly. SketchUp provides two useful ways to keep your geometry manageable:
Google Earth: See your models in context
SketchUp and Google Earth are part of the same product family, meaning you can exchange information between them easily. Need a building site for your project? Import a scaled aerial photograph, including topography, directly from Google Earth to SketchUp by clicking one button. Want to see your SketchUp model in context in Google Earth? Click another button, and you can. Anyone can use SketchUp to build models which can be seen by anyone in Google Earth.
Sandbox tools: Work on terrain
SketchUp’s Sandbox tools let you create, optimize and alter 3D terrain. You can generate a smooth landscape from a set of imported contour lines, add berms and valleys for runoff, and create a building pad and driveway.
3D Warehouse: Find models of almost anything you need
The Google 3D Warehouse is a huge, online repository of 3D models which you can search through when you need something. Why build something when you can download it for free?
Import 3DS: Get a head start on your modeling
You can import 3DS files directly into your SketchUp models. Have a piece of furniture in 3DS format that you’d like to use? Import it in, then keep on truckin’.
Import images: Paint walls with photos
With SketchUp, you can import image files like JPGs, TIFFs, PNGs and PDFs. You can use them by themselves (kind of like posters), but you can also stick them to surfaces to create photo-realistic models of buildings, package designs, and more.
Export TIFF, JPEG and PNG
SketchUp lets you export raster images up to 10,000 pixels square, so generating an image which you can send in an email, publish in a document, or project on a wall is as easy as choosing a few options and clicking Export.
PRO Import and Export DXF and DWG: 2D line drawings and 3D models
Google SketchUp Pro allows you to import and export DXFs and DWGs, giving you an easy way to move plans, sections, elevations or even your whole model into (and out of) your favorite CAD program. Imported and exported geometry remains at 1:1 scale, and layers are preserved.
PRO Export PDF and EPS: 2D vector images
With the Pro version of Google SketchUp, you can export views of your models in PDF and EPS format, allowing you to continue to work on them in vector editing programs like Illustrator and Freehand. For 2D images that need to be resolution-independent, nothing beats exporting to these formats.
PRO Export 3DS, OBJ, XSI, FBX, VRML and DAE
If you’re using Google SketchUp Pro, you can export your models to a number of useful 3D formats. Pros use a number of different tools, and these exporters allow SketchUp to join most professional workflows by offering interoperability with just about every popular 3D modeling application in existence.
A & M Hire Ltd Stage Prop Suppliers offering a range of Furniture Hire and Prop Hire for Film and Television Industry
Stage Prop suppliers based in London, supplying furniture and small props to the entertainment industry, incorporating Film, Television, Theatre, Events, Themed Parties, Photographic Shoots and Show houses. We have our own Photographic Studios which can be hired at competitive rates, with a discount when you hire your props from our prop house.
Prop Hire From The Leading Stage Prop Suppliers
With over a million items to choose from we’re one of the largest prop houses in Europe. Anyone who walks through the door can only be impressed by the quality and quantity of our stock whether from the film / television companies or the amateur theatres. As one of the leading stage prop suppliers we have 4 floors of furniture and small props from which to choose, so if it’s a themed party you wish to create, try us first.
Artec 3D scanner InstructionsStep by step instructions on how to use the Artec scanner booked out at DMC Bartlett.
How to scan
How to process data
General info
file types
This section contains ‘How to’ guides for every part of an artist’s career. From exhibiting, to earning money and more. Everything you need to know about sustaining a career as a practitioner is here.
Slade alumni and artist Sam Belinfante has shared this great guide on how best to back up your computer data and files, giving many different options. The guide has been written by an artist specifically for artists. This is a must read for anyone using a computer.
CNC Routers and Laser Cutters can be booked 48 hours in advance. During busy times i the Bartlett schedule these can be very busy with queues
outside the office to book from 8am, so get there early! CAD/CAM workshop times: 9.30am – 4.30pm (Closed for lunch 1-2pm)
Cost of all machines for Slade students is £15 per hour, with the exception of the Slade CNC router which will be charged at cost (check in workshop for details).
DMC London, is the Bartlett’s new, state-of-the-art digital manufacturing (DM) centre. Bringing together two key technologies, and associated software solutions, the centre services all the DM requirements of the school, the wider needs of the UCL community, as well as, providing a highly valuable service to SMEs and micro-companies from within Greater London.
To access any of the technologies detailed below, it is first necessary to generate a 3D CAD file of your design and export this into .stl format. The majority of 3D CAD packages have this export facility.
www.ceramatech.co.uk
Ceramatech stocks a comprehensive range of Clays & Glazes, Underglazes & Stains, Raw Materials & Oxides, Tools,Equipment & Accessories.
Frontier Works is Just Off the North Circular Road in North Tottenham, North London. Open Daily 8.30 ’till 3, & ’till 12 on selected Saturdays. Recommended to check stock before making a visit & to confirm someone is in. The daily ‘Delivery Run’, when the Warehouse closes (usually at 3, but can vary from day to day). Free Customer Parking for collections is available in the yard.
0208-885-4492
info@ceramatech.co.uk
Ceramatech Ltd,16-17 Frontier Works, 33 Queen Street, London N17 8JA
Clay is one of the most satisfying and seductive materials to work with. It is made up of millions of tiny plate shaped particles. When water is present in the correct proportion these particles will slide easily over each other without breaking. When the clay body contains approximately 20% water it can be easily moulded or shaped. From the earliest times man has used the qualities of clay to form functional and decorative artefacts. We can arrange clay bodies into five general groups:
RAKU
The word raku has Chinese origins and describes a specalist type of firing where the pots are taken from the kiln at red heat and quenched in combustible materials or water immediately. Normally this type of clay will be very coarse to with stand the thermal shock and will be used from 900°C approximately. Raku bodies can also be fired to higher temperatures.
EARTHENWARE
The first type of clay used by man would have been locally found – red clays or terracotta. We now have buff and white bodies. The body will still be absorbent when fired and therefore need a glaze to hold liquids. The textures of the bodies can vary from smooth to coarse.
STONEWARE
This type of clay fires to a much higher temperature than earthenware. It produces hard, strong pieces and therefore is good for oven to table ware and other functional pieces.
BONE CHINA
A hybrid clay, first developed by Spode. Normally used as a casting slip, it contains a high proportion of calcined animal bones. Bone china fires very white, but at lower temperatures than porcelain.
PORCELAIN
Another hybrid body formulated from china clay (kaolin), silica and feldspar. Porcelain originates from China and must be fired to stoneware temperatures. It is renowned for its whiteness, purity and translucency.
Nearly all the bodies we supply are especially formulated for the craft or studio potter. They are supplied as “plastic”, which describes a mixed formula containing approximately 200/0 water. The word plastic can also be used to describe the malleability of the clay. Our clays are supplied in polythene bags, in 10kg, 12.Skg and 25kg pack sizes.
Prepared bodies are formulated for colour! texture and performance, as well as fired range. The bodies are formed to a recipe using different mixing methods and then pugged for consistency. As the clay is cut from the bag it can be formed into a ball by kneading on a clean work surface: which should be slightly absorbent. Lengthy kneading and working on a more absorbent surface is only required if the clay is too soft. When reclaiming clay it requires soaking in water) this is best carried out by first drying the clay completely. The slurry is then placed on absorbent batts. At the right stage the clay can be removed and pugged for re-use. If a pugmill is not available it will require wedging and then kneading before use. Faulty wedging can cause splits and cracks that can occur in any part of a pot during the making process, drying or firing. Air pockets can cause splits, cracks and bloats. They are easily noticeable during throwing and if only found in small numbers can be pierced with a sharp object. The air should then be gently pressed out with the fingertips.
Ageing will dramatically improve the working qualities of any clay, therefore it is an advantage to keep a 3 – 6 month supply if space and finances allow.
There are three basic ways of making a prepared clay body:
SLIP HOUSE METHOD
Normally this method uses clay as dug, The materials are placed in a large vat containing water. They are mixed, sieved to remove any foreign or coarse particles and then pumped into a “filter press”. This machine squeezes the water from the clay to form filter cakes, which can then be pugged to form the final body. This method gives greater product uniformity and virtually guarantees freedom from contamination. The disadvantages are that it is more difficult to control grog content (due to settling from suspension if added during mixing). It is the best technique for smooth bodies.
PANMILLING METHOD
This method is the best for mixing grogged bodies or those incorporating a high percentage of very plastic clays, such as ball clay. The materials, which must be processed, are added to a revolving pan, water is added in measured amounts. Rollers above the pan mix the materials and water to form “lumps” of clay, which can then be pugged. This method is more open to contamination from larger or extraneous particles in the final body, but generally produces better moisture control in grogged bodies.
MACHINE MIXING METHOD
A method that produces very similar results to panmilling. Used in the main for the production of the 1154 Oz Crank/Raku body imported from Australia.
GrabCAD is a community founded by mechanical engineers. It is also a place for engineers to share their talent, expand knowledge, find a dream project and work with tools and features that make life better. Our HQ is located in Boston, MA with the development team in Estonia.
When shipping artwork around it is ideal to have custom wooden crates made to the right size. It protects the artwork and makes shipping and handling easier and safer. It is often cheaper buying ready made plastic.
Recommended companies: Packable, wood approved for international shipment, fast turnaround, many options.
Easy Website Building Tools
Onepager is the easiest way for small business owners to setup a professional looking website in minutes.
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Give your customers a positive first impression! Create a website with our professionally designed themes or create your own look and feel.
Get Found By Customers
Sites built with Onepager have the best standards for search engine optimization so your customers can easily find you online.
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Get insightful analytics on where your users are coming from and how they are finding you through your dashboard.
Use Custom Domains
Your domain name is important to your business’s online presence. Purchase one through Onepager or use one you already own.
You can test out the interface and tools before committing
Once upon a time to work with 3d software you’d need a small fortune to get you started – a few thousand Euros for the software, and a few more to partake in a premium rate course or two to learnthe basics. Or you could save your pennies and buy a mute tutorial book, which would invariably goout of date as newer versions of your program would surface, and keyboard short cuts, terminologyand layout would change. Now the world of 3D computer graphics has opened up and its anyone’s game. Blender potentially replaces the industry standards of Maya, Cinema4D and 3DS Max, happily quelling the age olddilemma of ‘which 3D program is best / should I fork out on?’ (‘try Blender, its free and its great’).Your premium rate teacher is replaced by the hoards of helpful souls wandering Blender forums,waiting and eager to help, and to get you started you can search for the array of video tutorials onYouTube and beyond, lovingly created to make learning easy.In the year and a half I have been learning and working with Blender
Richard Taylor looks at how to create a documented library of your work for online and print publishing: producing better professional practice and forwarding your work by establishing a self-archive.
We’re drowning in email. And the many hours we spend on it are generating ever more work for our friends and colleagues. (Here’s why.) We can reverse this spiral only by mutual agreement. Hence this Charter…
1. Respect Recipients’ Time
This is the fundamental rule. As the message sender, the onus is on YOU to minimize the time your email will take to process. Even if it means taking more time at your end before sending.
2. Short or Slow is not Rude
Let’s mutually agree to cut each other some slack. Given the email load we’re all facing, it’s OK if replies take a while coming and if they don’t give detailed responses to all your questions. No one wants to come over as brusque, so please don’t take it personally. We just want our lives back!
3. Celebrate Clarity
Start with a subject line that clearly labels the topic, and maybe includes a status category [Info], [Action], [Time Sens] [Low Priority]. Use crisp, muddle-free sentences. If the email has to be longer than five sentences, make sure the first provides the basic reason for writing. Avoid strange fonts and colors.
4. Quash Open-Ended Questions
It is asking a lot to send someone an email with four long paragraphs of turgid text followed by “Thoughts?”. Even well-intended-but-open questions like “How can I help?” may not be that helpful. Email generosity requires simplifying, easy-to-answer questions. “Can I help best by a) calling b) visiting or c) staying right out of it?!”
5. Slash Surplus cc’s
cc’s are like mating bunnies. For every recipient you add, you are dramatically multiplying total response time. Not to be done lightly! When there are multiple recipients, please don’t default to ‘Reply All’. Maybe you only need to cc a couple of people on the original thread. Or none.
6. Tighten the Thread
Some emails depend for their meaning on context. Which means it’s usually right to include the thread being responded to. But it’s rare that a thread should extend to more than 3 emails. Before sending, cut what’s not relevant. Or consider making a phone call instead.
7. Attack Attachments
Don’t use graphics files as logos or signatures that appear as attachments. Time is wasted trying to see if there’s something to open. Even worse is sending text as an attachment when it could have been included in the body of the email.
8. Give these Gifts: EOM NNTR
If your email message can be expressed in half a dozen words, just put it in the subject line, followed by EOM (= End of Message). This saves the recipient having to actually open the message. Ending a note with “No need to respond” or NNTR, is a wonderful act of generosity. Many acronyms confuse as much as help, but these two are golden and deserve wide adoption.
9. Cut Contentless Responses
You don’t need to reply to every email, especially not those that are themselves clear responses. An email saying “Thanks for your note. I’m in.” does not need you to reply “Great.” That just cost someone another 30 seconds.
10. Disconnect!
If we all agreed to spend less time doing email, we’d all get less email! Consider calendaring half-days at work where you can’t go online. Or a commitment to email-free weekends. Or an ‘auto-response’ that references this charter. And don’t forget to smell the roses.
The way you process your three dimensional data will depend on the 3D program you are using to model in. Different programs utilise different approaches to modelling, however, the following points need to be considered independently of your software type:
Ultimately the data you supply needs to be in .STL format. The three dimensional geometry created in your 3D program can be converted to this file format typically under the File–Export menu of most programs.
All geometry to be 3D printed must be in three-dimensions. Any two-dimensional geometry will not be processed or built by the 3D printer.
All three-dimensional geometry must consist of closed volumes. Further, all closed volumes must have a minimum of 1mm thickness. Single surfaces cannot be built.
Generally it is best to unify any parts that are attached in to one file, and surface normals should be correctly orientated.
Some issues can be fixed in our software, but some will need to be corrected first in the native software. With typical deadlines in mind, it is good practice to bring the model down to us as early as is possible to help identify any problematic data.
Exporting Guidelines
Once you have checked that your file consists of only three dimensional closed volumes you are ready to export your file.
Translate your model to the HOME axis of 0,0,0
Scale your file to final print output size
Change the units in your application to millimeters
Exporting an STL file usually involves the ‘Export’ or ‘Save As’ function. STL is the most common file format for use in 3D printing. Your three-dimensional design will be converted to a three-dimensional triangulated polygon mesh, made up entirely of triangles. STL stands for Standard Triangulation Language.
If your application does not export to STL the next preferred file formats are .3ds and .dwg. This format can be brought into almost any 3D CAD application and exported to STL from there.
Double check your .STL file to ensure it looks right and is to the correct size and scale
Specialist theatre hardware and paints, catering for Stage Managers, Production Managers, Workshop Managers, Scenic Artists, Engineers, Carpenters, Painters and Propmakers.
FreeAgent Small Business Online Accounting – perfect for self-employed artists, almost makes accounting fun. It really does take the hassle out of accounts, I can’t recommend it enough…
Our Basics section covers some of the most common issues that you might come across while developing an art or design related career, from gaining confidence to sorting out your taxes. We’re expanding this section all the time so keep checking back.
The articles here are intended as informal guidance, giving you an overview of some important topics. For in-depth advice, always consult a lawyer, accountant or other relevant professional. You can also get one-to-one guidance from our free helpline service, Fuel Line, plus there are lots of helpful books on business matters and career development in the FuelRCA library collection.
Glazes can be classified into two simple groups, which are earthenware and stoneware. These groups can also be classified by firing ranges for individual glazes. Earthenware glazes mature in the range 950°C to 1190°C, where as stoneware glazes fire in the range 1200-1300°C. Some crossover can occur between the high earthenware and low stoneware temperatures. For ease of selection sub-groups are arranged within these groups based on temperatures ranges. Other methods of grouping are based on colour or finish (e.g gloss, opaque, matt etc) or even speciality (e.g. raku). At Clayman we also include a third large group called Brush-on. These are glazes that were initially developed for the hobby market. but are now used by many studio potters and education, for the many additional qualities they offer. All glazes under brush-on start out life as a earthenware or stoneware glaze, but are then added to a media or gel that places them into permanent suspension to make application by brush easy. All brush-on glaze manufactured by Clayman are available in powder form as well.
Hamar Acrylic: Suppliers and fabricators in Acrylic Cast, extruded tube, rod high tolerance acrylic sheet, Polycarbonate, Foamex, Diabond. Polypropylene.
David Bourell of UT Texas describes how laser sintering works. This method of 3D printing uses a laser that fuses plastic powder, building up layer by layer somewhat same way as filament-based 3D printers do.
Directions on making a silicone mould from an object to use for casting. The video describes the processes of pouring and mixing the silicone and making a plaster jacket for both sides of the object that will be cast.
A book about code that doesn’t read like a 1980′s VCR manual… It’s not just for programmers, it’s written and presented to make it easy for designers, artists, bloggers, content and e-commerce managers, marketers to learn about the code used to write web pages…
Learn how to:
Read and write HTML5 and CSS3
Structure and design web pages and sites
Prepare images, audio and video for the web
Control typography and layout
You will also find lots of helpful hints and practical advice alongside the code
www.mdfcuttosize.com
London based MDF suppliers supplying a wide range of ‘cut-to-size’ MDF sheet, including Veneered MDF and Melamine Faced MDF.
Metropolitan Works is London’s leading Creative Industries Centre, helping designers and manufacturers develop ideas and bring new products to the marketplace through access to digital manufacturing, workshops, knowledge transfer, advice, courses and exhibitions.
At the heart of Metropolitan Works is the Digital Manufacturing Centre, housing a range of new technology for prototyping, manufacture, research and experimentation.
Their large format 100 watt laser cutter has an effective cutting area of 1227mm x 2422mm and cuts a maximum thickness of 12mm. It is the largest currently in London
A Safari subscription gives access to a huge library of technical books and videos. This is invaluable to someone learning a new programming language or trying to write the next big iPhone game. Safari’s monthly subscription cost is less than the price of a single printed programming book. I’ve had access to Safari at a few jobs, and the large selection of searchable books made jumping into a new project much less daunting.
ONull is an image based Vector Generator for Mac OSX. It allows the user to convert images into rasterized vector graphics. This tool was developed to give graphic designers the ability to transform small images from the Internet into printable and editable graphics.
Reclaimed frames, new frames and artist materials. Frames start from £5!
Location: 4 Morris Place London N4 3JG
www.johnjones.co.uk
info@johnjones.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7281 5439
Got a broken TV to dispose of, or want to know how to recycle batteries, bulbs or an old laptop? Find out how to recycle an array of household products and electrical appliances here.
Select the product you’re interested in and we’ll let you know if and how you can recycle it, plus share insider tips from Which? experts on how to make money recycling certain products and the range of recycling services available to you.
