Want to design your do-it-yourself project ? Google SketchUp
(free) is an easy-to-learn 3D modeling program that enables you to
create 3D models of houses, sheds, decks, home additions, woodworking
projects - even space ships. After you’ve built your models, you can
place them in Google Earth, post them to the 3D Warehouse, or print hard copies. - Click on a shape and push or pull it to create your 3D geometry.
- Experiment with color and texture on your model.
- Cast a shadow to see where the sun falls as you model.
- Select from thousands of pre-drawn components.
Try the push/pull tool that lets you expand the volume of geometry in your models.  - Select the Push/Pull Tool. The cursor will change to a 3D rectangle with an up arrow.
- Click on the face that you want to expand or decrease.
- Move the cursor to create (or decrease) volume.
You can even create a measuring tape to measure your designs.
- Select the Measure Tool.
- Click and hold on the starting point of the distance you wish to measure.
- Drag the mouse to the endpoint of the measurement.
- Release the mouse to obtain a measurement.

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