I've been getting into 3D modeling and want to know if SketchUp is the best software to start with. I'm pretty tech-savvy, but I struggled a bit with the setup and found some of the settings confusing. Is it worth the effort to learn SketchUp, or would I be better off starting with something simpler?
6 Answers
I actually found SketchUp to be pretty easy to pick up compared to Blender. For simple 3D projects, it was way more intuitive for me. Just remember that everyone's experience can differ!
All 3D software has a learning curve, but I think Fusion 360 is really worth the time you put into learning it. It was easier for me and quite accessible!
Honestly, SketchUp isn't the best when it comes to 3D modeling. If you're looking for organic shapes, I'd recommend checking out Blender. It's free and super powerful, but yeah, there's a bit of a learning curve. If you need more precise, technical modeling, Fusion 360 is the way to go. It's the best for that kind of work.
Just adding my two cents—Fusion 360 was my first real 3D software (aside from Tinkercad), and I found it really intuitive, especially since I’m a woodworker!
I’m tech-savvy too, and I feel like none of these programs are super intuitive. A lot of them have roots in older software, which can make things feel clunky. That said, I found Autodesk Fusion to be less of a headache to learn, even if it's still not perfect.
If you're looking for something free and open source for technical drawings, give FreeCAD a shot! It's fully parametric, so you can change your models easily by adjusting parameters in a spreadsheet.