3D Concept Designs

[TheUltimateChosenOne]

Here is something I find very helpful. I use this program to design space ships, planets, technology and buildings that are in my stories to get a better visual. I'm working on a large castle for a royal family in my stories. It looks great. You can even import images for background or colors.

its called: Google SketchUp and its free! Or if you want you can buy the pro.

Google SketchUp

 

[Lenny]

Ah, good stuff, another SketchUp user.

I've been plugging it in various threads for quite some time, but no-one seems to listen.

Check out this thread: http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/43538-3d-modelling-google-sketchup.html

Also, if you head on over to the Technology forum, I've just started a thread for people to show off their models.

 

[fabio0069]

Sketchup is awesome (and free)! Another good program, although not for the faint-hearted, is Blender (also free).

If you wanna download it, the website is www.blender.org. Plenty of free tutorials out there, too.

Peace

 

[Uberflaven]

Thanks for the links!
I'm writing a book, and as I see, I have the same problem as you; writing about something that does not exist is tricky since you might change your oppinion (I keep having trouble keeping track of where pockets are on futuristic military uniforms). I have a friend who studies art, but he's far too busy to show me how to work 3D studio, autocad or ye good o'l photoshop, and I can't imagine learning by myself how to use those. But it sucks to draw a laser rifle and then "misplace" the paper where it has been drawn, or to spend a long time drawing a rifle that ends up looking like crap, so hopefully these programs will help with that issue (for starters, they are free).
Again, thank you all.