Ever wanted to try your hand at architecture? Ever wished you had a way to draw up plans for a new deck but your pen and paper sketches never looked quite right? Well now there is a way for you to quickly and easily create 3D models for home improvement projects or just making a mockup of your latest invention. Google SketchUp 5.0.245 popped up online recently and I decided to try my hand at it. So let’s take a look at what SketchUp can do.

Google SketchUp appears daunting at first, but you’ll be modeling the Taj Mahal in no time. I have no experience with any 3d modeling software, but I was impressed at what I could create after a short time. I spent roughly 25 minutes following the three, simple tutorials included in SketchUp and another 20 watching the help videos online. By following along with them, and exploring a bit on my own, I was confident that I understood the basics. I decided to tackle a model of my house to put SketchUp and my new skills to the test.

Using the basic tools, I quickly created the basic outline and shape of my house, including rooflines, a porch and windows. I then added a paint color, vegetation and a car model from SketchUp’s pre-made models. In only one hour, my house mockup was complete. I did not worry about accuracy my first time out, so it is a bit smaller then the real thing, but I was amazed by how fast I could create a complex object.

If you are concerned about accuracy for something like a new backyard shed, SketchUp includes measurement tools. Use the tape measure, check dimensions and even add text measurements on top of your model. With the proper sizes in place, you can just print your model and take it to the lumber yard for building materials.

SketchUp is a perfect example of simple tools which combine to form a powerful piece of software. Simply draw a rectangle and use Push/Pull to form a box. Then move it where you like, draw lines to divide, reshape as needed and add colors/surfaces. It really is simple to start, but it will take time to master. The important thing to note is that the program is not meant to replace any professional drafting tools; you can in fact purchase a Pro version. But SketchUp free does make 3D models accessible to the everyman. In my time with it, I found SketchUp succeeds admirably.

You can quickly and easily move around your models with the Pan, Zoom and Orbit functions mapped to your three button mouse. Combine those with various camera angles, including Set Camera Position, Walk, and Look Around and you can explore your model from any perspective. Use the View menu to add shadows, look at transparencies and examine wireframes. As you familiarize yourself with all of the options, you’ll start to feel like Frank Lloyd Wright.

Use the included models to add vegetation, cars, and buildings to your creations for a truly realistic and interesting scene. The included models are sparse, but you can go online to the “3D Warehouse” to share and download models from other SketchUp users. As Google so often does, you can combine this program with another popular program, Google Earth. You can explore real-world locales and maps by combining your model building into an actual city skyline. You’ll be redesigning Manhattan faster then the Donald.

Google SketchUp’s low learning curve and simple, yet effective interface, makes it another excellent addition to the Google product family. And you can’t beat the price tag. If you are looking for a complex drafting tool, SketchUp is not for you. But if you want to quickly visualize your widgets and projects in three dimensions, I highly recommend SketchUp. Grab the 19MB download here: http://sketchup.google.com/