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My name is Chris Picciano and I am a 3D Modeler.  

I first became acquainted with 3D Design many years ago when I took a course in AutoCAD Solid Modeling.  Back in those days I used the DOS version of AutoCAD (Release 11).  It was a decent software package but the ability to create rendered images was minimal at best.  I used a program called AutoSHADE which rendered the models in a blocky, cartoonish sort of way.

I have always enjoyed creating 3D Models in CADD (Computer-Aided Drafting/Design) but didn't have a way to bring them to life.  In 2006 I discovered Google SketchUp, and have been hooked ever since.  SketchUp is phenomenal.  For a Modeling program, it doesn't have the complex learning curve that AutoCAD has.  You can pretty much sit down, dig in, and with a minimal bit of effort, be using the software rather quickly.

Shown below is a 3D Model of a laboratory casework island assembly created in a CADD program:  

For all intents and purposes, this depiction is boring.  Yes, it is of a three-dimensional nature, but it could be more interesting to look at.  This is where the 3D modeling program SketchUp comes in.  With SketchUp, you can give this item a bit more pizzazz and make it seem more lifelike.  By adding various materials and/or textures, as well as shadowing effects, you can turn this assembly into the following:

And if you want to get really fancy and make this assembly look real, then you can photo-realistically render it and make it look like this:

There are all sorts of really visually-pleasing things you can do with 3D modeling, and they all start with the creation of a model.

On this site, you will find freely downloadable SketchUp (.skp) and AutoCAD (.dwg) models that I have created.  I also have a page showcasing some of the photorealistic renderings I have done with my models using the FREE software program Kerkythea, as well as a host of other information related to 3D modeling.  Although the majority of the information that will be presented here pertains to Google's SketchUp program, you will also find some items related to 3D modeling with AutoCAD.

On a whole, 3D modeling with SketchUp is more exciting than with AutoCAD.  With SketchUp, you can start with the rough concept in mind, and finish with a lifelike model complete with materials, textures, and shadowing effects.  With AutoCAD, you need additional software to show your model as something more than just a wireframe with hidden lines removed.  Fortunately though, models created in AutoCAD can be imported into SketchUp for "realism-tweaking" and presentation purposes.  With Google SketchUp Pro, a completed model can be exported to the .dwg file format for use in a CADD program.

I hope that the information presented here helps you in your quest to learn and master the art of 3D Modeling, and that you learn to enjoy modeling as much as I have.