SketchUp is a modeling and 3D design software that stands out for its ease of use and professional results.

3D design programs usually are complex and require a long learning process. This is due to the large number of tools and options that these programs have. Despite this, the results are worth the time invested in learning and mastering these programs.

SketchUp is presented as an alternative to these complex 3D programs, offering a simple and adaptable interface according to the project type we will start with. For example, we can select different templates to start, and each one will be focused on a kind of work. We can choose the “general use” template, which allows us to design any 3D model, or we can also select the templates: “architects and designers,” “create models for Google Earth,” “engineers,” “product designers and woodworking,” “plan view.”
These templates are focused on a particular job and show the most appropriate tools for carrying out such work. An interesting is the so-called “beginning training template,” which is the template that we have to deal with if we're following the training courses available on the official website of the program. Following these learning courses is recommended for all those users who have first contact with this tool.

The program stands out for its simplicity of use, as from the very first moment, we can begin to make our 3D design using only the mouse, whose management is very intuitive. Even without having read the user manual, we will be able to do basic and simple designs. If we want to take full advantage, we must follow a tutorial or learn using the user manual.

The user interface can be configured to use a different unit of measure, such as meters, millimeters, inches, or feet.

The 3D models generated can be exported to different formats: .dae and .kmz. We can also save a 2D image of our model. This image can be saved as .png, .jpg, .bmp, and .tif.

Another essential feature of this program is the ability to import 3D models designed by other users. The program has access to a vast library of 3D models (3D Warehouse) that we can download and include in our design. In this gallery are football stadiums, furniture designs, trees, cars, historical monuments, spacecraft, electrical appliances, aircraft, and various designs.

This program offers the possibility to create 3D models of real buildings easily. That is to say, we can create a 3D model from the satellite images of Google Earth. Once we've created the model, we can request its inclusion in Google Earth so that if our 3D building model is accepted, it will be visible to all Google Earth users.

The program is free for personal use, and there are other paid versions for professional use. The version that we offer here is the one that is oriented to personal use.