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5 Responses to this post.

1. 

   Posted by Daniel Bay Gibbons on 07.11.09 at 4:56 pm

   The book lives up to its billing–a concise, step-by-step introduction to SketchUp, with ample illustrations to help you connect all of the dots. The absolute novice will enjoy having this “crutch” to the actual use of the software. It also provides a nice reference work for more experienced users. I do feel, however, that any reasonably tech-savvy buyer would be bored out of his or her mind by the detail.
   Rating: 4 / 5

2. 

   Posted by Gang Chen on 07.11.09 at 4:56 pm

   SketchUp is a very powerful 3D modeling tool. As a practicing landscape architect and a SketchUP specialist, Daniel Tal shows you how to use SketchUP the right way in “Google SketchUp for Site Design. ”

   I have written several books on LEED, Architecture and Landscape Architecture myself. I know the most important and the most difficult part of writing a book: To understand and digest very complicated issues yourself, and then explain them to your readers in a simple and straight forward manner.

   Daniel Tal understands and knows the arts and crafts of writing. He is able to understand, digest, and simplify the complicated and overwhelming SketchUp software and explain it to readers in a concise and simple manner.

   Daniel Tal actually had two independent landscape architects (Carol McClanahan and Natalie Vaughn) tested his manuscript before the publication of this book. Neither Carol nor Natalie had any prior experience using SketchUP. Based on the common user errors and software problems discovered by their tests, the tutorials in the book were clarified, added or removed.

   “Google SketchUp for Site Design” is a good guide for design professionals who want to unleash the power of SketchUp!

   Gang Chen, President, ArchiteG, Inc.
   AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Real Estate Broker (DRE# 01232392)
   Bestselling Author of books on LEED, Architecture and Landscape Architecture

   Rating: 5 / 5

3. 

   Posted by Paul E. Poppert on 07.11.09 at 4:56 pm

   I have had the opportunity to participate in some of Daniel’s classes and am now finishing reading the latter part of the book related to the utilization of CAD files in SketchUp. I also own the Google SketchUp for Dummies book which is a good resource. Google Sketchup for Site Design is geared very well to the person who needs to know how to accomplish specific tasks in SketchUp related to site plans, terrain and architecture as the title suggests. The previous reviews are spot on so I will keep this short. I would recommend this book for the landscape architect, land planner, urban designer, architect or others working with sites. It is very easy to understand and follow. It is backed by Daniel’s numerous hours of practical product use and those little things he has learned, he has incorporated them into the text. This book is a definite must have for those learning to work in SketchUp or as a great reference. Well written, logical and concise.
   Rating: 5 / 5

4. 

   Posted by Edson C. Mahfuz on 07.11.09 at 4:56 pm

   After watching a video of a talk given by Daniel Tal at the Sketchup Basecamp (July 2008) my approach to terrain modeling changed completely for the better. Thus when i heard of the book he was about to publish i got really excited and looked forward to what else he could teach me about terrain modeling and the use of the sandbox.

   I thought the book would only deal with site modeling and the sandbox but was pleasantly surprised to see it covers much more than that. No book on an application like Sketchup is so complete as to cover all its uses and features but Daniel Tal’s does a hell of a good job at showing what it can do. Focusing on landscape architecture, the book covers all the basics of modeling landscapes – natural and man-made -, buildings and urban elements.

   The initial chapters are useful even for Sketchup veterans but my interest picked up in chapter 12 which, along with 13 and 14, are like Daniel’s video written down in much more detail. Chapter 15 (Sandbox Architecture) is a real treat, revealing one of the many different uses of Sketchup’s tools that are there but one does not find by oneself. I had never thought of using the sandbox tools to drape a 2D drawing of a façade over the 3D volume of the building it corresponds to. Great stuff indeed! Even the AutoCad chapters are useful for people who use other drafting applications.

   The book is full of tutorials, and when you finish each of them you really know how to do what it intended to teach you. The illustrations are really helpful in that respect too. No subject is left without illustration or tutorial; there is hardly a page without at least an image – and with very good images: they look good and one can see the many details in each one. It helps a lot that the book is printed on paper of superior quality.

   I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to use Sketchup or to improve his or her knowledge of this superb program. Moreover, it is a must for anyone wishing to go beyond buildings to model terrains and landscape architecture in detail. In this respect, Daniel Tal’s book is unique and well worth every cent.

   Rating: 5 / 5

5. 

   Posted by javajunki on 07.11.09 at 4:56 pm

   This book delivers exactly what it promises. . . step-by-step, easy to understand and very clear instructions with plenty of pictures to demonstrate each and every page.

   Very user-friendly and clear enough to be of value for a complete novice but in-depth projects that will delight more advanced users as well. Unlike many introductory books, this doesn’t stop at the most basic projects but continues to pursue advanced topics making it a one-stop-shop for sktechup.

   Novice users such as myself are strongly encouraged to take a second look. Excellent resource!
   Rating: 5 / 5