If you're contemplating the need for 3D modeling software, then you needn't look any further than SketchUp.

SketchUp is a very powerful tool which allows you to turn a mere conception into something almost tangible right in front of your eyes.  And, unlike other CAD software packages, SketchUp's learning curve is almost nil.

For professional woodworkers and carpenters SketchUp can make the selling of a project or piece an almost instantaneous event because your client can see exactly what they are getting.  Or, if it's their idea or their thumbnail sketch then they get really excited when they see it turned into a real-life model - as I said, this can be a very powerful tool.

Recently, I was asked to build a deck.  the client wanted it placed in a very peculiar area; it was located a considerable ways from the house, down a steep embankment and sitting next to a grove of fruit trees.  The thing was, he had no clues to offer me on what he wanted it to look like - just that, "I want stairs from up there down here to the deck and then from the deck another set of stairs down to this lower level."

Before leaving, I took some extremely rough measurements from the site then went home to plug them into SketchUp.  A little while later I had a respectable model I could show him and his response was nothing short of, "This is exactly what I want, build it!"

Well, I finished the deck and, like any carpenter proud of his creation, I took some digital pictures from different angles.  Then, I thought it'd be cool to show you the SketchUp angle first then the same real-life angle shot.

So, follow along as I take you from the playground of SketchUp to the field of reality...

Thanks for stopping in.