SketchUp is a Computer Graphics software program widely used within the realms of architectural designing, CAD, and 3D modeling. Mechanical engineers, interior designers, and film and video game creators actively use this software to deliver prolific results.
The software was originally developed by startup company @Last Software, co-founded by Brad Schell and Joe Esch in 1999. SketchUp was released to the public in August 2000 as a “general purpose” 3D modeling tool – looking to make the design process easier, more intuitive, and more fun. It gave users the flexibility to “draw the way they want”. They were acquired by Google in 2006 with the purpose of creating a “plug-in” for Google Earth, and enable the “geo-locate” option for models. Since then, Google released version 6, different updates for this version till March 2010. Version 7 saw several dynamic upgrades such as Component Browser integrated with Google 3D Warehouse, LayOut 2, etc. In order to make designing easy.
After, Trimble Navigation stepped up and acquired SketchUp in 2012, and released a new 2013 version. The program includes drawing layout functionality, allows surface rendering in variable “styles”, supports third-party “plug-in” programs hosted on a site called Extension Warehouse to provide other capabilities (e.g. near photo-realistic rendering).
The core of SketchUp is a web-based application that interfaces in which the user draws the edges of the desired model in 3D space, and the software automatically “fills” the shapes to create 3D geometry.
Thank you let me know the history of this nice and easy modeling tool!