New Google SketchUp released
Elinor Mills Former Staff Writer
Elinor Mills covers Internet security and privacy. She joined CNET News in 2005 after working as a foreign correspondent for Reuters in Portugal and writing for The Industry Standard, the IDG News Service and the Associated Press.
Google unveiled a new version of its 3D software modeling tool, SketchUp 6, at Macworld on Tuesday. The software allows people to create 3D models of anything. The models can then be placed into Google Earth, the company's free 3D globe software.
New features in SketchUp 6 include the ability to trace a photo to create a 3D model, as well as new collections of display settings like Watermarks, which are 2D images behind or in front of models, and Sketchy Effects, which look as though they were drawn by hand. Users can also now convert text to 2D outlines, filled surfaces or extruded 3D objects. An enhanced application programming interface lets third parties create custom applications.