Paul Hensey: SketchUp and Plants, Session 2
Following on from a hugely popular series, Elmtec is pleased to welcome Paul Hensey back in a series of new webinars utilising SketchUp for Landscape and Garden Design. The third session will focus on plants.
Extensions and resources
Most external plant collections/ websites are not free
Plant sources:
3D Warehouse (create folders by plant type and for low poly/ hi-polygon)
Evermotion: www.evermotion.org
Xfrog: www.Xfrog.com 2D plant sets also available which can be used in Photoshop
Turbosquid: www.turbosquid.com
Vizpark: www.vizpark.com
Dynascape: www.dynascape.com (Resources/ Sketch 3D) Low poly plants
SketchUcation: www.sketchucation.com
Sketchuptextureclub: www.sketchuptextureclub.com (free 3D models)
Envirographics: www.envirographic.com (some of the best 2D plants available, presaved as SketchUp files, require conversion to a “face-me” component)
Globe Plants: www.globeplants.com the SketchUp versions are very hi polygon and can slow down your computer.
Most sites have free samples available.
Extensions (F=free // £= pay for):
Transmutr (£): will reduce polygon / file size during import. This allows large files to be imported into SketchUp
Selection Toys(F): Extension Warehouse, allows edges/ faces etc to be filtered during selection. This is useful for hiding edges of plants.
Raytracer (F): Extension warehouse, selected plants can be sprayed onto terrain.
Random tools (F): Extension warehouse, selected plants can be randomly applied, scaled and rotated to a specific area.
Place shapes: Extension Warehouse, the selected plant can be placed at the click of a button
JHSPowerbar (F): SketchUcation, selected plants can be randomly rotated and scaled and selected plants will be placed onto control points
Compo spray (F): SketchUcation, selected components can be sprayed onto surfaces
Other resources:
TutotialsUp: Youtube channel showing how to use extensions for SketchUp
Paul Hensey is an experienced and award-winning garden designer, in practice for over 20 years. Originally trained in Industrial Design, he previously worked as a senior designer for one of the largest building materials manufacturers in the world. Paul undertakes landscape engineering for many landscape architects, garden designers and architects; advising and supporting them on all aspects of construction as well realising their visions. As a SketchUp evangelist he has also taught SketchUp for over 9 years at Colleges, Universities and professional institutes.