Computer Studies
Creating a LEGO BRICK using Google SketchUp Mr. J. Borg
STEP 1 When you open Google SketchUp Select Product Design and Woodworking in Millimetres, Millimetres and then start using SketchUp.
STEP 2 This is the main screen; showing the axis you are going to work on, and additional menu items have been opened which you will need, they can be found in the Views then Toolbars menu, check the following menus:
Large Tool Set Views Face Styles Shadows
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STEP 3 Creating the base using the rectangle tool (hover over the tools and their name will appear), draw a square, to get the correct dimensions, type in: 80, 80 and then hit Enter You do not type the numbers into the box shown above, draw the box then type the th numbers and they will appear in the box as you type, clicking enter will then re re-size size your square
STEP 4 A. When you hover over an object it will become highlighted with blue dots, this indicates that this face has been selected.
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B. Using the extrude tool, pull up the selected face, then type in: 96 and then hit Enter. Your Lego brick is starting to take shape.
STEP 5 To create the interlocking pin of the logo brick, draw a circle on the top face of the brick, then type in the radius: 25 then hit Enter
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STEP 6 Extrude the cylinder to the height of: 17 then hit Enter
STEP 7 Using the 3D text tool, type the word LEGO, Use Script MT Bold Size: 15 by 2 mm high Place centrally on top of the cylinder. You may have to resize it further using the resizing tool.
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STEP 8 By adding shadows you can make your model look more dynamic dynamic.
STEP 9 You can colour the whole brick with one colour, or a texture, or individual faces can be coloured separately: select the whole brick with the selection tool, select the paint bucket, choose a colour from the palette touch the selected model
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In the Views menu, un-check check the Axis option, to clear the image area for better screen shots.
You can select to remove the black line edges, in the Views menu
Example of a multi-coloured coloured Lego brick
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STEP 10 Taking images from Google SketchUp: Using Print Screen, and pasting into paint software such as Gimp or Photoshop for further editing. Using the Export feature in the File menu, select 2D Graphic, save as a .jpeg or as a .png. Then paste into your project work.
STEP 11 When you make new models it is a good idea to group them or make them into components, it will ill make moving them much easier. Select All then using Make Group or Make Component from the Edit menu
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