Features of Sandbox Bonus Tools 2.0.2

The Sandbox Bonus Tools is developed by Cadman to include the functionality of the Sandbox tools. It simplifies the process for working with terrain all through the design stage.

This newest extension is compatible with SketchUp 2014, SketchUp 2015, SketchUp 2016, SketchUp 2017, SketchUp 2018, SketchUp 2019.

The Project Mesh tool shows a regular surface grid onto a selection. The new surface grid belongs to a quad face mesh and is well matched with quad face tools. Choose the surface or objects upon which a grid mesh should be arranged.

1. Provide the size required for each square of the mesh grid. Put a negative number (except units) to subdivide the extents of the grid by that number.

2. Indicate the direction, the mesh is required to be projected onto (Top, Bottom, Front, Back, Left, Right).

3. Provide a number for a shard factor.

Since a grid is draped over an unequal shape, the length of each triangle is expanded greater than the base square size indicated in step #1. With more stretch the projection surface or objects become steeper. The shard factor specifies a multiplier of the base square size away from which the triangle will be removed from the draped grid. The default is 0 (no triangle should be removed despite of edge length). A number of 2.5 is a standard limit for steep slopes. For most landscape drapes, depart the shard factor at the default of 0.

The Foam Core tool performs sequential push pull operations upward on selected faces, increasing each following push-pull with the user specified increment distance.

When a negative number is provided, the tool will push the contour surfaces (levels) downward. This tool forms a ‘layer cake’ version of terrain out of contour surfaces.

The Hoola Hoop tool forms Contours around a selection set of surfaces and objects. Choose the objects or surface, then

1. Put the type of contouring to be executed: either Interval or Number. Interval belongs to the contour interval. Number sets the total number of contour lines to produce equally across the entire depth of the surface or objects.

To get more details or purchase the extension, go through the following link extensions.sketchup.com

2. Put a Value. For Interval put a distance, for Number put the total number of contours required.

The Drop Downward tool places (drops) every item of a selection of groups and components downward in the blue direction onto the model. Choose the objects to drop downward. All through the drop, the elected objects will not drop onto one another. The objects will land on the first part of the model they run into.

The Set to Elevation tool shifts all objects in a selection to a symmetrical elevation. Choose the objects to shift. Then provide the elevation value to where it is required to shift them.



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Published By
Rajib Dey
www.sketchup4architect.com
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Modeling Terrain and Other Rounded Shapes

Drawing terrain in SketchUp does not require you to be a pro in the 3D designing. You can sketch the model as simply as you draw a line on a paper. But your 3D model needs other things to mirror the objects or scenes as accurately as the real one. The model you are drawing gets a special look when you add grounds and landscape. Along with terrains other forms of designing create a visually satisfied project. But how SketchUp perform all these tasks so efficiently is the question of many modelers. The content brings out the hidden facts of SketchUp tool in designing terrain and other round faces.

The answer actually lies in SketchUp Geometry. All SketchUp users must be familiar with the term – Sandbox tool – the tool needed for designing terrain. With this tool, you are originally using a special type of geometry – TIN that allows you to draw anything as per your wish.

TIN stands for Triangulated Irregular Network which is commonly popular as ‘a group comprised of triangles.’ The below image shows hills carved by TIN.

The content below deals with technicalities of designing TINs and Sandbox tools. The basics of designing that you must learn to Sketch the complex model in 3D.

Get started with TIN: If you are creating TIN first time, then you must try simple designs rather than opt for the complex ones. You need to import contour lines from another application or can import terrain from Google Earth using SketchUp building tools. Your drawing onto the TIN can is used in your design. But the easiest option will definitely be drawing a flat rectangular TIN.

For importing pre-existing terrain, Visit help.sketchup.com and for designing terrain from scratch, click help.sketchup.com

Use Sandbox tool: Sandbox tools stay in a sandbox toolbar or you can follow the steps – Tools > Sandbox

If you are designing a terrain, you can geolocate the model or add a geographic location embedment that places your model into a specific point of the model. Advantages of using geolocated the model are given below:

• You can get a comprehensive idea of sunlight and sun shadows that add a different angle to your model. Light effects always take a picture to a new level and your design will get a sense of reality with this.
• You can view your design in Google Earth.

Geolocated terrain helps your model locate into a specific place on the earth. You can also add different functions and features with the sandbox.

Reference: help.sketchup.com

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www.sketchup4architect.com

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How to Create Component in SketchUp

When an object of your design has several uses in a model, component tool proves to be a great help for you. It saves your time from repeating the same design you need. Creating components enhances the accuracy of a model, and it is a must-to-apply trick for expert modelers. Benefits of using this feature can be felt while designing a model. Below are a few things that you can do with the component tool.

• You can reuse your component whenever you want.
• The geometry of a component stays separate from other components connected with it.
• You can also edit component whenever you feel so.
• You can cut a hole in a face with your component and can also stick it to a specific plan by changing setting of the glue panel.

Creating components can be made in the model itself or a separate SketchUp file. The create component dialog box will help you put the needed specification in your component object.

The steps that you need to follow for creating a component are given below.

1. Select the geometry of the object you want to make a component.
2. Go for the Edit > Make Component. A Create Component Dialog Box will appear.
3. In the Definition tab, give a proper name to your component.
4. Ad a short description of your component to the Description.
5. To use gluing plane, you need to select an option from its Glue To drop down list that contains – Horizontal, Vertical and Sloped. If you are using Glue To option, a few changes you will notice such as Cut Opening Check Box will be active and Always Face camera and Shadow Face Sun will be inactive.
6. (For Cut Opening Option Only) if you want to use the Cut Opening option for your component, select the check box.
7. (For Always Face Camera Only) Always Face Camera helps you turn your 3D model into 2D forms without hitting the rendering option. If you apply this feature to your component, the Shadow Face Sun will also be active.
8. (For Face Sun Only) the feature is used in casting shadows of your components. The shadows will be cast the same way as the component is facing the sun.
9. (For Set Component Axes only) Set Component Axes defines the component’s axis origin. When you press the button, the cursor will tell you to insert a new axis for your component. Once you are done, the Create Component Dialog Box will be re-active again.
10. (For Selecting Type) the Type drop-down menu will help you classify your components.
11. For transforming the geometry you have selected for creating component, let the Replace Selection with Check Box selected.
12. Click the ‘Create’ button for creating the component.

These are the steps that you get while making components from the geometry of the model. Following this method will bring you a component that you can use several times in your design. You can also get video tutorials on the internet that provides a complete guide on how to create a component in SketchUp.

Video tutorial for the component:

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www.sketchup4architect.com
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Ruby Code Editor – The newest sketchup plugin

Alex Schreyer, Senior Lecturer at the University of Massachusetts, has developed Ruby Code Editor. This is an exclusive sketchup plugin that can be used to write and rectify Ruby scripts directly inside SketchUp with user-friendly and visually fascinating.

The plugin is compatible with SketchUp 8, SketchUp 2013, SketchUp 2014, SketchUp 2015, SketchUp 2016, SketchUp 2017.

These scripts can then be utilized to generate geometry, include functionality as well as data inside the SketchUp 3D modeling environment. A huge set of functions in the SketchUp Ruby API can automate SketchUp in various ways or generate scripted, computational geometry.

To edit and run SketchUp Ruby code within sketchup, most of the time an external editor is utilized. But this internal editor facilitates for both scripting and modeling simultaneously on the basis of your requirements.

To get access Ruby coding environment and function more like a real code editor, a bit of jQuery (and jQuery UI) magic is included with the plugin. Besides, there is CodeMirror syntax highlighting engine to offer multi-language code highlighting, exact TAB control, find/replace, bracket matching, code folding etc.

To run this plugin, select Window > Ruby Code Editor or open from the Ruby Code Editor toolbar.

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Rajib Dey
www.sketchup4architect.com

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Learn to generate a custom building in sketchup & export to X-Plane 10

Vittorio Greco, the youtuber, presents this useful sketchup tutorial to teach you how to create custom buildings in sketchup and export them in X-Plane 10 without any difficulty.

X-Plane 10 is the most powerful aviation software having good flight simulation feature. X-Plane contains the most realistic flight model. X-Plane 10 offers the complete 3-D scenery.

We want to feature this page: sketchup4architect.com/sketchup-plugins

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www.sketchup4architect.com

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Learn to apply Sketchup and PlusSpec for improved steel structural & electrical design

Watch the following sketchup youtube video to discover some striking features of sketchup and PlusSpec which are very useful for the professionals dealing steel structure and electrical designs. They can easily produce virtual design of Steel end detailed electrical component in a BIM environment.

PlusSpec is a useful plugin for Sketchup as well as a BIM/VDC software for effective building design, planning and estimating. It offers complete BIM solution for Architects by applying the power of Computer Aided Drafting (CAD).

Watch a demo online.

Image Courtesy: extensions.sketchup.com

We want to feature this page: sketchup4architect.com/sketchup-plugins

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www.sketchup4architect.com

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Five Most Effective Ways to Learn Sketchup Quickly

Sketchup, a 3D modeling software, aids in making interior designs, films, civil and mechanical engineering works, designing video games and for architectural applications. Sketchup is also a boon to those seeking to create dazzling 3D models for their projects.

The training for Sketchup is something that needs to get started. There are guides, online courses, tutorials, expert guidance and many more services are offered to you to learn the perception and concept of this software program.

This is the list of the five most excellent ways to study and learn details about Sketchup and making 3D models using the program.

Online courses: Those looking to accustom themselves with Sketchup can avail of a number of online courses. These courses help them to study the fundamentals of this software sharply. The faster you take hold of the knowledge, the sooner you can put it to use and make amazing 3D models.

However, you have to be careful while selecting the courses as there are many fake courses too. Select the courses that make accessible for you as a certificate confirming your knowledge about the software program.

Image Courtesy: 3w.dokisoft.com

Expert guidance: It is ways best to learn from the experts as it would never go waste.

For Sketchup too, you can look for an expert guide who could teach you about the software and share his/her own knowledge and experience.

Technical skills are such that cannot be gain only through reading about them. An expert who knows precisely about the software is the best source to learn as only an expert can give you the tips to make optimum use of the software in the easiest possible way. An expert guide is the one you should seek if you are keen on learning Sketchup Pro quickly and with ease.

Image Courtesy: 3w.dokisoft.com

Proper practice: Using a tool to prepare creative models would require practice as only practice would lead you to perfection. Those aspiring to become a professional in using the Sketchup software will require an in-depth study of the software, its functioning and its processes. You have to learn properly and then practice as much as possible to attain perfection in handling the tool.

Tutorials/Guides: When nothing works, tutorials and guides are available for you both online and in stores, which can help you learn Sketchup quickly. The only thing you need to do is look for a genuine guide or video tutorial. An easy task, isn’t it? Go online, surf the internet and learn all about Sketchup pro in no time.

Image Courtesy: 3w.dokisoft.com

Training center: If interested, you could also join a training center which offers proper training of the technical skills of using this 3D software. Just get enrolled in one of the many renowned training institutes and enlighten yourself about this amazing tool that helps you create 3D models easily. Look up for a training center that offers training in every minute concept relating to the software and present you a certificate for the training as well.

Ref: 3w.dokisoft.com

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Rajib Dey

www.sketchup-ur-space.com

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An exclusive sketchup competition on SketchUp Layout 2D Documentation by PlusSpec

PlusSpec is going to organize an exclusive contest on SketchUp Layout 2D Documentation. Sketchup Layout is considered as a robust & professional 2D presentation and documentation tool. The theme of this contest is “How SketchUp Layout is the ideal 2D documentation software for Architects, Designers, Engineers and Builders”.

All the creative people can attend the contest at free of cost.

The time limit for submitting entry : All entries must be submitted prior to Monday 06 April 2015.

Award date: The names of the winners will be declared on: Monday 27 April 2015.

Prizes:

1st Prize: 24 month PlusSpec licence (valued at AUD$1590). The licence information will be delivered through email.

2nd Prize: 12 month PlusSpec licence (valued at AUD$795). The licence information will be delivered through email.

3rd Prize: 6 month PlusSpec licence (valued at AUD$398). The licence information will be delivered through email.

Media coverage:

All of the winners will be acknowledged globally regarding their work, which will be published on some of the recognized websites like plusspec.com, Sketchucation.com, Sketchupartists.org, sketchup-house-plans.com, Google SketchUp Facebook page, Kemp Productions and other leading social media platforms.

Judging criterion:All (or the greater part of the) drawings must be finished with SketchUp Layout. One can also submit their any previous, existing, or experimental work (paid or unpaid).

Design preference: One should prioritize the Residential work. But one can also present the commercial or retail designs.

All the entries will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• Artistic quality of 2D drawings/documentation

• Readability/Interpretability of the 2D drawings/documentation

• Professionalism of the 2D drawing/documentation package (use of proper title blocks, notes, standard symbology and nomenclature)

• Innovative application of SketchUp/Layout/PlusSpec

Entry Submissions:
The participants can send their entries through mail to drew@rubysketch.com, and keep their below 15MB. The participants should use sketchup layout to complete their and place them on a personalized title block and exact paper size, in accordance with their geographic region. The following drawings should be included:

• Cover Page (with entrants contact information: email address, Country, telephone number)

• Presentation renderings/images (Note: Perspective/Renderings are encouraged, but will not significantly impact the judging criteria)

• Floor plans

• Roof plans

• Elevations

• Sections

• Room elevations

• Details

Terms and Conditions:

• All the participants should keep copyright of their work, but allow the sponsor and judges to make use of their drawings on web sites, forums, blogs, and other social media websites for presenting to the community.

• The participants should not deliver or include any work that belongs to other.

• The drawings should not have a genuine property address. If the drawings include a job address, it must be eliminated.

• No marketing or branding will be encouraged other than the participants name/company name and logo which should be appended on the drawing.

• Once the names of the winners will be declared, PlusSpec will get in touch with the prize winners and give them necessary information on how to download PlusSpec, as well as its licence code.

For getting more updates, visit www.plusspec.com/blog or contact: drew@rubysketch.com or E:drew@rubysketch.com

Image Courtesy: www.plusspec.com

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Rajib Dey

www.sketchup4architect.com

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Trimble initiates a free access to Sketchup Pro 2015 for all the K12 schools in Hawaii, USA

Trimble together with Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology (WIT) is providing an exclusive opportunity for all K12 public, private and charter schools in Hawaii states of USA to access the most updated version of sketchup software alias SketchUp Pro software (2015) at free of cost.

The Women in Technology Project is a statewide proposal of the Maui Economic Development Board, partly supported by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, and Agriculture to improve the skills of the workforce.

With Sketchup Pro, the students will be able to start from the very beginning to import sketches, CAD plans, photos, aerial imagery and other accessible data into a project. By applying the The Pro’s superior modeling tools of Sketchup Pro, the students can easily generate 3D renderings and export them to other 3d modeling programs afterward.

With the combination of STEMworks™ and software like SketchUp Pro, students get the ability to use the identical industry standard tools recognized now-a-days by the architects, designers, builders and engineers. There will be significant divergence in the workflow of the students as they can apply their vital thinking and project based learning capabilities for the real world solution for 3d modeling communities.

With this alliance of MEDB-Trimble, the students from the eligible local schools can access the more dominant and feature-rich Pro version through a short, online survey form.

All the public, charter, and private educators of Hawaii can go through the following linkwww.surveymonkey.com/s/SketchUpPro2015 to finish the survey. A code will then be sent to set up the software.

For any further queries on the distribution procedures as well as getting more updates about STEMworks™, contact Isla Young at 875-2307 or email isla@medb.org.

Image Courtesy: lynda.com

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.sketchup4architect.com

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Sketchup 50 Plugins for architecture

Because it's simple, it SkechUp used for many fields especially the architecture. But it simply is one limitation in architectural design. So we can find many plugins to extend the functionality in that area. If you use sketchup for architectural design purposes, you will need to understand first few plugin as follows:

Courtesy: www.suplugins.com

Rendering

1. LumenRT – It is an application for visualization plugin architecture in real space environment with realistic lighting. LumenRT is the most comprehensive solution for transforming 3D models and designs into rich, nature-filled videos, images and real-time immersive experiences.

2. V-Ray for Sketchup – It is plugin for rendering fast and great lighting tool, with the ability to take learning to the complex images. Used is almost the most popular. V-Ray 2.0 for SketchUp Service Pack 2 is now available for download. A few new features have been added and improvements have been made to many current ones.

3. Maxwell for SketchUp - Gives you the higher technology of Maxwell render in a stand-alone application and simple. Maxwell for SketchUp is a plugin which has been designed for rendering in SketchUp.

4. Indigo Renderer - It is render realistic physics-based lamps to achieve the requirements of the actual picture because the architectural illustrator. Indigo is a photorealistic renderer which simulates the physics of light to achieve near-perfect image realism. By combining an industrial-strength renderer with a high quality exporter for SketchUp, you can create great images directly from SketchUp. The images are so good that your friends and clients will not be able to tell if it's a photo or computer generated.

5. IRender NXT - It enables architects and designers to create high-quality photo slideshows for sketchup their products. SketchUp 2014 was released in February 2014. This plugin has many exciting new features. SketchUp 2015 is now released. Please read out notes on SketchUp 2015. To use Render Plus products with SketchUp 2014 you will need to download the latest version.

Courtesy: http://ryanwilliamcook.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/summer-house-rendering/

Modeling

6. Artisan - great plugin to help build the image inorganic complex curved surfaces. Artisan is a SketchUp plugin filled with powerful organic modeling tools. It is perfect for designers to create. The important features are Terrain, Furniture, Characters, Abstract Sculptures, Fabric, curtains, and pillows, Rocks, tree trunks, and plants.

7. SketchUpBIM - sketchup change in BIM software, to help you build projects faster. SketchUpBIM is a plugin for Google SketchUp. It provides simple tools to create grids, floors, and all common structural engineering and architectural primitives’ tools.

8. Extrude tools - Tools to create curved surfaces and construction of structures on the surface, strong and simple. The Tools should now appear in the 'Plugins' Menu 'Extrude Tools' submenu and also on an 'Extrude Tools' toolbar.

9. Dibac - Draw the inside sketchup architecture - architectural drawing surface using tools 2D and 3D models automatically removed. DiBAC for SketchUp is a plugin for architectural design. It is a great tool for architects and for anyone who wants to draw 2D architectural drawings using tools and then get the 3D automatically.

10. BuildEdge PLAN - Similar Dibac. Users can Draw and modify complete buildings in a matter of minutes using BuildEdge Pro, the latest in building information modeling (BIM) technology. BuildEdge Pro is a plugin that expands upon the basic functionality of SketchUp software by simplifying and automating many of the processes associated with building design. BuildEdge Pro allows users to draw and edit floors, walls, roofs, doors, and windows in 3D quickly and easily, eliminating countless steps required to accomplish the same tasks using SketchUp alone.

11. 1001bit Tools - a collection of many useful tools for the fast creation of architectural objects. 1001bit tools are ruby scripts that focus on the automated creation of 3d architectural components.

12. Architect Tools - This is the the choice of tool for creating buildings and building terrain for the author while working with imported CAD files.

Courtesy: sketchucation.com

Animations

15. Keyframe Animation - It is moving your sketchup model by adding dynamic effects to any object. Users can animate your SketchUp model by adding movement to any object. Keyframe Animation will move objects along a straight line, rotate them about any axis, or even change their size. You can move the camera too. Best of all, the animation you create can be exported to a movie, directly from SketchUp.

16. Podium Walker - Photo surreal time in motion steps. It is a photo-realistic, real-time, animations plug-in for SketchUp that allows for quick photo-real visualization and the production of video animations. It uses ray tracing and ambient occlusion to create photo-real renderings and animations. It works directly with SU Podium V2 and/or Podium Browser. It reads Podium's reflections, blurred reflections, refractions, bump maps, omni lights, LEM lights and translates SketchUp sun position to create its own sun and sky light. It is CPU based, not GPU based.

Furniture

17. BIMobject Sketchup app - Find thousands of real objects from sketchup specific manufacturer. The BIMobject® App for SketchUp is compatible with SketchUp 7, 8 and 2013 for Windows and Mac OS X. Versatile and user-friendly, this app is the perfect sketch tool for just about anyone; architecture students, architects or interior designers just to name a few.

18. ProjectSketch - It chooses and offices the furniture set in sketchup drawing. ProjectSketch is a free SketchUp add-on for the selection and placement of Commercial Office Furniture in SketchUp drawings. ProjectSketch is free and includes a generic furniture library with hundreds of 3D contract furniture components.

Export / Import plugins

19. Simlab 3D Plugins - 1 set of series of tools for sketchup import and export files with other software

20. Viso3D - Convert sketchup model to be able to see and drive in 3D on the iPad and iPhone / iTouch.

21. IFC2SKP - Download model or data object from the IFC file exported from software such as ArchiCAD BIM popular, Revit or Microstation.

Courtesy: extensions.sketchup.com

Analysis

22. Affinity - Create a connection between the models, spreadsheets, and all the basic data about the conditions necessary for the project.

23. IESVE for Architects - architectural analysis through guided workflows.

Courtesy: extensions.sketchup.com

Scheduling

24. 5D BiMUp - Perform calculations using formulas and products from many appropriate report using the form designer.

25. Connect Product - 1 takeoff and flexible reporting solution that helps you answer the question: "What in my sketchup model?"

Courtesy: www.sketchup4architect.com

Vali Architects plugins

28. Instant Roof - Create a complex roof - just select the sides and sugar.

29. Instant Fence & railing - Create fences, balcony railings, handrails and balustrades.

30. Instant Wall - Create different types of walls.

31. Instant Terrain - Terrain create simple shapes and complex, which does not match the dc tools.

32. Instant Road - automatically generates terrain road through the edge or center of the road.

33. Instant Site Grader - Combining the surrounding terrain with closed boundaries.

SketchUcation plugins and scripts

34. Joint Push Pul - Elevate push / pull with function push / pull towards any and pushpull surface.

35. Surface Operations - 1 draw on the surface most natural way.

36. Free Scale - More swords to scale with features twisting, bending.

37. Sketchy Bevel - Make angled surface, banjcos controllable way to inset face.

38. RoundCorner - Bo extreme edge quality, no one can replace him.

Smustard plugins and scripts

39. Instances - select all objects similar isoforms.

40. CADLayers - Export and import layers from autocad into sketchup.

41. StrayLines - Labels, select, delete or do all the road segments are not limited to drawings.

42. Stitcher - Create the surface between curves.

43. Parking - Create parking lots are divided road with 2 click.

44. Profile Builder - a great tool to create rooms or objects only runs followme style

45. SceneExporter - Export to jpg scene.

46. FlightPath - Simple steps to create animations or videos flying near.

Ruby Library Depot plugins and scripts

47. Desel - select or deselect multiple lines or surface

48. SmartDrop - Dropping objects onto a surface weighted Z, too, or always.

49. TubeAlongPath - create pipe for these lines

50. ado - Automatic 2D output from pages (supported output formats: jpg, tif, bmp, tga, png, dwg, dxf, eps, pdf).

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Published By

Rajib Dey

www.sketchup-ur-space.com

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