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- Herausgeber: Packt Publishing
- Kategorie: Fachliteratur
- Sprache: Englisch
Owing to its ability to create models quickly and with high level of dimensional accuracy, SketchUp Pro has become a popular choice for many industries, including architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and video game design. If you are seeking to adopt Trimble's exceptional design software, Getting Started with SketchUp Pro serves as an ideal primer to prepare and equip you for its use.
This book will help you lay the foundation of a project from scratch, set up appropriate units, and follow a guided path to structure your 3D models. You’ll explore the workflows used for creating designs from sketches, making CAD drawings (DWG), and even updating your existing 3D models. Finally, you’ll work with extensions and 3D Warehouse to find new workflows and models to add to your skill set.
By the end of this SketchUp book, you’ll be able to confidently create and share models of your design through CAD drawings and 3D views, and even take them online through the 3D Warehouse
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Seitenzahl: 546
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
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Getting Started with SketchUp Pro
Embark on your 3D modeling adventure with expert tips, tricks, and best practices
David S. Sellers
BIRMINGHAM—MUMBAI
Getting Started with SketchUp Pro
Copyright © 2023 Packt Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.
Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author nor Packt Publishing or its dealers and distributors, will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this book.
Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
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First published: May 2023
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ISBN 978-1-78980-018-0
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To my wife and best friend, Alexis Sellers, thank you for supporting me through this long journey. I could not have continued to work on this project without your support and encouragement. And to everyone who never stopped believing that I could complete this project – here it is!
Contributors
About the author
David S. Sellers is a licensed architect and the owner and president of Virtual Design & Construction Institute (VDCI), a nationally accredited vocational school that provides training and education to AEC professionals. David works extensively with Autodesk, Adobe, and Trimble software, and has 15+ years of experience working with AutoCAD and Revit. David is an Autodesk Certified Instructor, Adobe Certified Instructor, and Certified 3D Warehouse Developer for SketchUp Pro.
I want to thank Packt for providing this opportunity to share SketchUp with a greater audience. I love teaching software, and this is my first attempt at teaching through a textbook. I hope that you find something helpful in this guide and that you find a passion for design software as I have. Thank you, Packt, for remaining patient and vigilant in this effort, and I hope this book was worth the wait!
About the reviewers
Rebecca Terpstra is an experienced interior designer, practicing both residential and commercial (landlord/tenant) design. Her passion as a designer lies in the technical details, using drafting software such as SketchUp to create textbook construction documents. Rebecca has been teaching collegiate-level beginner-to-advanced SketchUp and interior design courses since 2015. She has written effective, industry-based SketchUp curricula for architecture and interior design programs. She is now head of the CAD and interior design programs at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado. You can find Rebecca presenting at SketchUp Basecamp or through LinkedIn Learning, teaching SketchUp basics and other SketchUp courses aimed at interior designers.
Alessandro Barracco is an aerospace engineer and architect (automatic BIM modeling from CAD drawings) and has a Ph.D. in the technology and management of aeronautical infrastructure – artificial intelligence. He is currently an assistant professor at the University of Palermo, the Kore University of Enna, and SUPINFO Paris, where he teaches informatics, mathematics, and Python programming. He is an IEREK scientific committee member (Egypt) and was a guest editor for the Parallelism in Architecture, Engineering & Computing Techniques conference at UEL (UK) in 2016. He is a member of the editorial board of several journals edited by John Wiley & Sons (US). He is a SketchUp Certified Specialist, the CEO of TECLAsoftware, and the author of several extensions for SketchUp. He wrote SketchUp for Architecture, a guide for design from concept to BIM models, published by Apogeo, in Italy.
Table of Contents
Preface
Part 1 – User Interface and Beginning Modeling!
1
Beginning with SketchUp Pro
SketchUp Versions
Exploring the SketchUp Pro User Interface
Drawing Area
Title Bar
Menu Bar
Getting Started Toolbar and Other Toolbars
Status Bar
Default Panels
Navigating in SketchUp Pro
Orbit
Pan
Zoom
Zoom Extents
Views Toolbar
Other Zoom Tools
Active Tools while using Navigation
Geometry “Rules” in SketchUp
Edges (Lines)
Faces
Rectangles
Polygons
Curves (Welded Edges)
Summary
2
Principal Tools, Axes, and Inferences
Working with the Principal Tools
The Select Tool
The Lasso Select Tool
The Eraser Tool
Axes – orienting in our Model
Place
Move
Reset
Align View
Hide
Understanding Snaps and Inferences
Snaps
Inferences
Summary
3
Modeling with Groups and Components
Working with “Sticky Geometry”
What is Sticky Geometry?
Avoiding Sticky Geometry
Using Sticky Geometry
Model with Groups and Components (Objects)
Objects in SketchUp
Deciding When to Use Groups versus Components
Summary
4
Drawing Tools – We Begin Modeling!
Modeling with the Drawing Tools
Where Can You Draw Geometry?
Line Tool
Freehand Tool
Rectangle Tool
Rotated Rectangle Tool
Circle Tool
Polygon Tool
Arc Tool
2 Point Arc Tool
3 Point Arc Tool
Pie Tool
Creating 3D, Solid, and Watertight Geometry
Understanding how Faces Heal
Creating Faces by Drawing Edges
Healing “Broken” Faces
Summary
5
Editing Tools – Making Big Changes!
Changing Geometry with the Editing Tools
Preselecting Geometry – Workflow Order of Operations
The Move Tool
Copy and Array
Autofold
The Rotate Tool
The Scale Tool
Where to scale from?
Which Scale Proportions?
How Much Scale Should Be Applied? (Scale Amount and Flipped?)
The Push/Pull Tool
The Follow Me Tool
The Offset Tool
The Flip Tool
The Legacy Flip Along Workflow
Editing Existing Geometry and Creating New Geometry
Face Orientation
Tape Measure and Protractor Guides
Summary
Part 2 – Views, Animations, and Materials
6
Camera Options
Camera Options – My Geometry is Not Straight!
Perspective View
The Two-Point Perspective View
The Parallel Projection View
Camera Tools
Position Camera
Look Around
Walk
Field of View
Summary
7
View Options
Styles
Edge Styles
Face Styles
Component Styles
Creating and Editing Styles
Shadows and Fog
Shadows
Fog
Sections
Section View Options
Scenes
Animation
Summary
8
Materials
Materials
Colors
Textures
Paint Bucket Tool
Applying Materials
Sample Materials
Overriding Existing Materials with Modifier Keys
Creating and Editing Materials with the Materials Panel
Finding Materials
Creating a Material from an Existing Material
Creating a Material from an Image Import
Editing Materials
Saving Materials and Collections
Managing Materials in Your Model
Advanced Techniques
Texture Position
Projected Textures
Additional Material Options
Summary
Part 3 – Advanced Modeling and Model Organization
9
Entity Info, Outliner, and Tags Dynamically Organize Your Models
Entity Info
Edges and Welded Edges
Faces
Groups
Components
Construction Geometry
Outliner
Tags
Tag Visualization Options
Tag folders
Cleaning Up Unwanted Tags
Using Tags with Scenes
Summary
10
Model Info and Preferences
Model Info
Animation
Classifications
Components
Credits
Dimensions
File
Geo-location
Rendering
Statistics
Text
Units
Preferences
Accessibility
Applications
Compatibility
Drawing
Files
General
Graphics (Formerly OpenGL)
Shortcuts
Template
Workspace
Summary
11
Working with Components
Using the Components Panel
Creating Components
Creating New Components
Nested Components
Component Statistics
Updating and Editing Components
Component Instances
Instance Options
Dynamic and Live Components
Dynamic Components
Live Components
Summary
12
Import, Export, 3D Warehouse, and Extensions
Import Options
Importing 3D Files
2D Files
Image Files
Export Options
Exporting 3D Files
Exporting 2D Files
Image Files
Section Slices
Animations
Send to LayOut
3D Warehouse
Extensions
Extension Warehouse
Extension Manager
Overlays
Summary
Index
Other Books You May Enjoy
Preface
Welcome to Getting Started with SketchUp Pro, a comprehensive guide to learning SketchUp Pro for a range of 3D modeling applications. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this book will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to create high-quality 3D models with ease.
SketchUp Pro is a versatile and powerful 3D modeling software that is easy to learn and use, making it perfect for beginners and professionals alike. Whether you’re an architect, interior designer, woodworker, or simply interested in 3D modeling, SketchUp Pro can help bring your ideas to life with its intuitive interface and robust set of tools.
In this book, we will guide you through every step of the SketchUp Pro workflow, starting with the basics of the user interface and working through the common toolbars. We will then cover Default Tray panels and advanced workflows, giving you a comprehensive understanding of SketchUp Pro’s capabilities.
Our focus will be on a range of 3D modeling applications, including architecture, interior design, woodworking, landscape design, and industrial design, giving you the skills you need to create 3D models in a variety of settings. We’ll provide you with practical examples and real-world scenarios to help you apply your new skills to your own projects.
By the end of this book, you’ll have developed a strong understanding of SketchUp Pro and the confidence to tackle any 3D modeling project. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or an enthusiast, we are confident that this book will serve as an invaluable resource for you. Let’s dive into the fascinating realm of SketchUp Pro and unleash your creative potential!
Who this book is for
This book is for anyone interested in creating their own models in SketchUp Pro. SketchUp Pro is used professionally by architects, interior designers, landscape architects, woodworkers, hobbyists, industrial designers, cabinetmakers, and many more professions. However, SketchUp is not unapproachable or difficult to learn, and I would encourage anyone to try and make something for themselves. SketchUp is a versatile platform and can create drawings, renderings, animations, and 3D prints.
What this book covers
Chapter 1, Beginning with SketchUp Pro, takes a visual tour through the SketchUp Pro user interface, looking at the general structure, toolbars, and dialog boxes. In addition, this chapter will discuss how to use SketchUp tools and examines the rules that apply to all SketchUp geometry.
Chapter 2, Principal Tools, Axes, and Inferences, examines the Principal Tools used in almost every SketchUp workflow. We will also understand the importance of using Axes and Inferences while drawing and editing SketchUp geometry.
Chapter 3, Modeling with Groups and Components, discusses the principles of modeling in SketchUp when it comes to “sticky geometry.” We will also discuss the importance of modeling using groups and/or components.
Chapter 4, Drawing Tools – We Begin Modeling!, begins with modeling! More importantly, we will start to understand how to use the drawing tools to make sure we can effectively create basic geometry.
Chapter 5, Editing Tools – Making Big Changes!, uses the Editing Tools to make changes to basic geometry. We will talk about how we can use the Editing Tools to make changes to our models and how to create new Edges and Faces using existing geometry.
Chapter 6, Camera Options, examines 3D camera options in SketchUp Pro. We will discuss the Perspective, Two-Point Projection, and Parallel Projection views as we look at example geometry. We will also analyze the available Camera Tools to introduce different ways to place the SketchUp camera and navigate the model.
Chapter 7, View Options, examines the various options to change the view in SketchUp Pro. We will explore Styles, including the Edge, Face, Component Styles, Shadows, and Fog, including how this can be set by a Geo-location. We will also discuss Sections that allow for dynamic views of a SketchUp model. Finally, we will review how to save these view options into snapshots, known as Scenes, which can be animated!
Chapter 8, Materials, looks at Materials in SketchUp Pro. We will discuss how to use the Paint Bucket Tool and the Materials Panel to select and apply Materials to Objects. We will look at creating Materials as colors and as image imports, and we will finish the chapter by looking at advanced texture Material editing techniques.
Chapter 9, Entity Info, Outliner, and Tags Dynamically Organize Your Models, examines three Default Tray panels: Entity Info, Outliner, and Tags. We will discuss how the Entity Info panel can be used to view and edit geometry attributes. Then, we will discuss the Outliner panel and start to see our models in a new way. We will also look at the Tags panel (formerly called the Layers panel), which can be used to assign visibility options to sets of geometry.
Chapter 10, Model Info and Preferences, looks at two advanced dialog boxes in SketchUp Pro: Model Info and Preferences. We will discuss how to utilize the Model Info dialog box to update settings for the current file, including Objects, Statistics, and Units. We will also discuss utilizing the Preferences dialog box to change overall SketchUp settings, including Accessibility, Drawing, and General.
Chapter 11, Working with Components, explores Components and what makes them special in SketchUp Pro. Components allow us to keep our files more organized, easily use Objects in multiple files, and automatically align geometry in our models. Component attributes can be set and edited to achieve many different functions in SketchUp Pro. We will wrap up this chapter by briefly discussing Dynamic and Live Components.
Chapter 12, Import and Export, 3D Warehouse, and Extensions, talks about the different types of files that SketchUp Pro can import and the different options for exporting information from our SketchUp models, including images, 2D and 3D files, and animations. We will also talk about the 3D Warehouse for downloading and uploading files and sending our SketchUp files to LayOut. We will finish by looking at Extensions in the Extension Warehouse and Extension Manager.
To get the most out of this book
This book is a hands-on exploration of SketchUp Pro, so it is recommended to have a version of SketchUp Pro for Windows operating system (OS) installed on your computer. This book includes features from the latest version of SketchUp Pro, but older versions of SketchUp Pro will be compatible with this book. Using a full keyboard and mouse with left-click, right-click, and a scroll wheel is highly recommended.
Software/hardware covered in the book
Operating system requirements
SketchUp Pro 2023
Windows
The SketchUp for Web and SketchUp Make user interfaces are different from SketchUp Pro. Additionally, multiple workflows are discussed in this book that are exclusive to SketchUp Pro, including DWG import.
Download the color images
We also provide a PDF file that has color images of the screenshots and diagrams used in this book. You can download it here: https://packt.link/CHJYk.
Conventions used
There are a number of text conventions used throughout this book.
Code in text: Indicates code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles. Here is an example: “If working in a feet and inches file, you can also type mm (millimeters), cm (centimeters), m (meters), and yd (yards).”
Bold: Indicates a new term, an important word, or words that you see onscreen. For instance, words in menus or dialog boxes appear in bold. Here is an example: “Axes can also be hidden by going to the View menu dropdown and choosing Axes.”
Tips or important notes
Appear like this.
Get in touch
Feedback from our readers is always welcome.
General feedback: If you have questions about any aspect of this book, email us at [email protected] and mention the book title in the subject of your message.
Errata: Although we have taken every care to ensure the accuracy of our content, mistakes do happen. If you have found a mistake in this book, we would be grateful if you would report this to us. Please visit www.packtpub.com/support/errata and fill in the form.
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Submit your proof of purchaseThat’s it! We’ll send your free PDF and other benefits to your email directlyPart 1 – User Interface and Beginning Modeling!
The learning objectives in Part 1 of this book are to help you understand the basic functionalities of SketchUp Pro and to get you familiar with navigating the user interface. We will begin by reviewing the user interface and Principal tools, including new tools introduced in 2023. Then, we will expand on the “rules” of SketchUp Pro, including how to model with Groups and Components. Part 1 also includes an introduction to all of the tools on the Drawing and Editing toolbars, including the Line, Rectangle, Arc, Move, Push/Pull, and Flip tools.
This part has the following chapters:
Chapter 1, Beginning with SketchUp ProChapter 2, Principal Tools, Axes, and InferencesChapter 3, Modeling with Groups and ComponentsChapter 4, Drawing Tools – We Begin Modeling!Chapter 5, Editing Tools – Making Big Changes!1
Beginning with SketchUp Pro
Welcome to SketchUp Pro! I am excited to work through this introductory book with you.
In this book, we will examine the tools, workflows, and best practices to get started with using SketchUp Pro. SketchUp Pro is powerful software for anyone interested in 3D modeling and design, 3D printing, and even visualization and rendering! We will start with the basics and slowly work our way through to showcase some advanced professional workflows at the end of the book.
In this chapter, we will take a visual tour through the SketchUp Pro User Interface, looking at the general structure, toolbars, and dialog boxes. Then, we will discuss navigating through a 3D SketchUp model using some standard SketchUp tools but, more importantly, the keyboard and mouse. Finally, we will look at some of the underlying rules that apply to all SketchUp geometry. We will start with a quick discussion about the available SketchUp versions you may have seen online.
The following topics are covered:
SketchUp VersionsSketchUp Pro User InterfaceUnderstanding toolbars and the default trayBeginning to navigate through SketchUpSketchUp geometry basics and rulesLet’s get started!
SketchUp Versions
SketchUp Pro is a desktop software and is the traditional format for utilizing SketchUp. Recently, SketchUp has released a new way to access SketchUp through a web browser app, known as SketchUp for Web. While the newer version of SketchUp will be more accessible and does not require any installation time, SketchUp Web does not support Extensions or desktop integrations. Because of this, SketchUp Pro is the preferred software for working professionals.
SketchUp for Web has been included in many pricing models outlined on the SketchUp website. This includes SketchUp Go, SketchUp Shop, and SketchUp for Schools. SketchUp Studio has also been introduced, which includes SketchUp Pro and SketchUp for Web as well as a collection of design and analytics tools that go beyond the scope of this book.
A full comparison of the different SketchUp options can be found on the SketchUp website.
You can see the interfaces for SketchUp Pro and SketchUp for Web in the following figures. We will discuss the parts of the SketchUp Pro User Interface later in this chapter.
Figure 1.1: SketchUp Pro User Interface
You can see that SketchUp for Web needs to be run in a web browser and in this case, it is Microsoft Edge:
Figure 1.2: SketchUp for Web User Interface
Exploring the SketchUp Pro User Interface
SketchUp Pro is available for both the Windows OS and macOS environments. This book will focus on using SketchUp Pro in the Windows OS environment using a PC keyboard (with Shift, Ctrl, and Alt keys) and a 3-button mouse.
SketchUp provides quick reference guides for both Windows and macOS on their website. I would suggest downloading the Quick Reference Card for your preferred software. This book will exclusively focus on the SketchUp Pro interface toolbars and buttons, and keyboard and mouse controls for the Windows OS environment.
Note
It will be possible to use this book while working in SketchUp Pro in a macOS environment, but you will notice differences in the User Interface and keyboard and mouse shortcuts!
Figure 1.3: SketchUp Pro Quick Reference Card for Windows OS
Note
You can find the enlarged image here – https://download.sketchup.com/HC-QRC2022-en-SU-win-v01.pdf.
The SketchUp User Interface is composed of six main elements:
Drawing AreaTitle BarMenu BarToolbars (the Getting Started Toolbar)Status Bar (Prompts & Measurements)Default Tray (containing Default Panels)Each of these elements is identified in the following screenshot:
Figure 1.4: SketchUp Pro User Interface with Labeled Elements
Let’s look at each of them in detail.
Drawing Area
The largest part of the User Interface is the drawing area, which is the large modeling section in the middle of the screen. This is where all SketchUp geometry is created and edited! The drawing area is always a fully 3D environment, meaning that you can draw and move geometry in any direction, and you can move the camera to view geometry at any distance or angle.
The drawing area will contain the drawing axes (red, green, and blue lines) and typically will show a model of a person to get a sense of scale. All tools are used by interacting with the drawing area. We will talk more about templates and using the drawing area in Chapter 3, Modeling with Groups and Components.
Note
The drawing area traditionally had a green ground and blue sky in older versions of the Simple SketchUp Pro template. This template has been updated to have a blue-gray ground and bright blue sky in newer versions of SketchUp.
All other User Interface elements surround the drawing area. The Title Bar, Menu Bar, and Getting Started Toolbar can all be found above the drawing area.
Title Bar
The title bar is a standard Windows OS element and will include standard Windows controls, including minimize, maximize, and close. Additionally, the title bar will show the name of the currently open file. If you have not yet saved an open file, it will show Untitled.
Menu Bar
The menu bar is another standard element found in many Windows OS software and includes the majority of all SketchUp tools in drop-down menus. File, Edit, View, Camera, Draw, Tools, Window, and Help are the main menu titles for the menu bar:
Figure 1.5: Title Bar (Top), Menu Bar (Middle), and Getting Started Toolbar (Bottom)
Getting Started Toolbar and Other Toolbars
The Getting Started toolbar is meant to provide a visual and linear guide for creating 3D models in SketchUp Pro. The Getting Started toolbar is the only toolbar that is displayed when opening SketchUp Pro for the first time. All toolbars in SketchUp Pro follow the same visual design, with colorful icons that represent the tools.
While the Getting Started toolbar contains an excellent guide for working linearly through a SketchUp project, it does not contain all tools that are in SketchUp Pro. Additional toolbars can be displayed by right-clicking on the gray space directly to the right of the getting started toolbar and selecting additional toolbars. Additionally, toolbar visibility can be toggled by doing the following:
Accessing the Menu BarSelecting View | ToolbarsThis workflow will open the Toolbar dialog box:
Figure 1.6: Toolbar Right-Click Contextual Menu and Toolbar Toggle Options
More toolbars will be introduced alongside professional workflows as we move through this book. It is recommended that the getting started toolbar remains visible and in the original position. However, all toolbars can be hidden or displayed, can be moved to dock at the sides of the drawing area, or can float in front of the drawing area.
To move a toolbar, do the following:
Click and hold on the line of small dots on the left or top of the toolbar.Drag the toolbar to the preferred location.Figure 1.7: “Docked” Toolbar with Small Dots (Left) and “Floating” Toolbar (Right)
Turn on Toolbars and try moving them around for yourself! SketchUp Pro users will often have different sets of Toolbars open – you will need to find the right Toolbars and locations for your workflows.
Status Bar
The Status Bar can be found at the bottom of the screen. The Status Bar contains the Geo Location button, the Attribution button, Prompts, Measurement Label, and Measurements Value. These elements cannot be moved to other locations in the User Interface but can have their display toggled by right-clicking on the Status Bar.
Note
The Status Bar may appear to be frozen at times. This may be because SketchUp Pro is performing an autosave of the SketchUp Model. Try to back out of the tool and redo the workflow.
For now, we will focus on the prompts (or tooltips) and the measurements value. Both the prompts and measurements will constantly update as you work through a SketchUp Model. It is essential to know how to read and use both elements.
Prompts
The prompts will clarify what to do next while using a tool. Even before a tool is selected, the prompt will give a brief description of the tool’s function. Additionally, the prompt will provide options that expand on the primary function of the tool, typically accessed by using the Shift, Ctrl, and Alt keys on the keyboard.
Figure 1.8: SketchUp Pro Status Bar Prompt for the Move Tool
Measurements
The measurements label and value (measurements box collectively) should be used when creating precise geometry. SketchUp geometry can occasionally be created without specific dimensions, but typically professional projects require precise dimensions.
Note
SketchUp Pro is incredibly precise, down to 15 decimal places. For reference, writing 1/64 as a decimal only requires 6 decimal places (0.015625).
The measurements value will behave similarly to the prompts in that it will update to show different values depending on the type of tool being used. The value will be a distance (dimensional) value when drawing, offsetting, or extruding with the Push/Pull tool. Similar to showing a Distance value, the measurements box value can also be an angle, like when using the Rotate or Protractor tool. Additionally, the measurements box value could represent a whole number like when using the Copy tool to create an array.
We will use the measurements box often during this book and so it would be good practice to recognize what the measurements label is prompting during different workflows:
Figure 1.9: SketchUp Pro Status Bar with Measurements Box Showing a Typed Distance (Dimensional) Value
Note
SketchUp Pro will recognize Imperial and Metric units in the same SketchUp model. If working in a feet and inches file, you can also type mm (millimeters), cm (centimeters), m (meters), and yd (yards).
Default Panels
The Default Panels are collected in the Default Tray, and these are docked on the right side of the drawing area when first using SketchUp Pro. The default panels are essentially the most used dialog boxes that are tied to tools and workflows, so SketchUp is designed to keep these panels in a convenient place.
The default panels’ visibility can be toggled by doing the following:
Accessing the menu barSelecting Window | Default TraySelecting the appropriate panels:Figure 1.10: Menu showing Visibility Options for the Default Tray
The Manage Trays… option in the Window menu will also open a more comprehensive dialog box for managing the Default Tray:
Figure 1.11: SketchUp Pro Default Tray
The default tray is located on the right of the screen to start, but this tray can be located on any side of the drawing area or can float above the drawing area.
To move the default tray, do the following:
Click and hold on the blue section at the top of the tray.Drag to the preferred location. Alternatively, drag on top of the placement guides that will appear.The panels in the default tray can be minimized or expanded by clicking on the title text or on the black arrow to the left of the title text. Panels can also be hidden by hitting the small gray “X” button, but they must be unhidden (shown) by accessing the menu as discussed at the beginning of this section.
Note
The Default Tray can also be “minimized” by unpinning the Tray. Trays can be unpinned by clicking the Pin icon in the top blue bar, which will “minimize” the bar to the side of the screen. When the Tray is hovered over with the mouse, the Tray will appear. This is helpful for smaller screens where the screen can get crowded.
Default tray panels will be explored as we move through this book. However, it would be a good idea to view the Instructor panel while going through this book, as the Instructor panel provides helpful animations and expanded tooltips for the SketchUp tools:
Figure 1.12: Instructor Panel Included in the Default Tray
Note
Additional User Interface elements, such as dialog boxes and context menus, will be explored later in this book. As you move forward with your skills in SketchUp Pro, this Tray can be hidden as screen space is highly valuable when modeling.
The SketchUp Pro User Interface may seem complicated at first! Please take some time to explore, move toolbars around, and begin to get comfortable knowing where things are. You could even start clicking on tools to read the Prompts and see the Measurements Box update. Don’t worry, we’ll discuss all of the basic tools as we move through the next few chapters.
The first set of tools that we must become familiar with is the Navigation tool set. SketchUp is a 3D modeling program, and we first need to learn how to navigate through our 3D space!
Navigating in SketchUp Pro
Navigation is required in all steps of a SketchUp workflow, from drawing and editing to visualizing the model. The primary navigation tools can be found on the Getting Started Toolbar, and these are the Orbit, Pan, and Zoom tools. While we will discuss how to use these tools, we will also discuss the relevant keyboard and mouse shortcuts that can be used to activate these tools. Using the keyboard and mouse shortcuts will drastically increase modeling productivity for all tools, but especially for the navigation tools.
We will also explore some other ways of navigating through SketchUp, which includes introducing the Views Toolbar, Zoom Extents, Zoom Window, and Zoom Previous. While these options are used far less than Orbit, Pan, and Zoom, they all have unique use cases that you could find helpful as you navigate your SketchUp models.
Note
The Orbit, Pan, and Zoom tools all use the scroll wheel on a 3-button mouse. Please make sure that you are using a 3-button mouse while using SketchUp Pro. When the tools are described, “scroll” means to roll the scroll wheel, and “press” means to click down and hold the scroll wheel to use it like a button.
Figure 1.13: Orbit, Pan, Zoom, and Zoom Extents on the Getting Started Toolbar
Orbit
The Orbit tool is the most essential tool for working effectively in SketchUp. SketchUp requires that the drawing area camera be placed at specific angles to create and edit geometry, and orbiting the camera is a quick way to align your view with the desired modeling result.
The Orbit tool button looks like a vertical black line being “orbited” by red and green arrows:
Figure 1.14: Orbit Tool Button
The Orbit tool can be activated by doing the following:
Clicking the orbit buttonPressing the left mouse buttonMoving the mouseOr, at any time (including while using any other tool), the Orbit tool can be activated by doing the following:
Pressing the scroll wheelMoving the mousePressing and dragging using the middle mouse wheel is the most common and effective way of using the Orbit tool!
Figure 1.15: Orbit Tool Reference Guide for 3-Button Mouse
Tip
Try moving the camera with the Orbit tool! It will take some practice. Orbit will always rotate the camera around the middle of the screen, so it is best to practice using Orbit alongside the Pan and Zoom tools.
Pan
The Pan tool is a perfect companion to the Orbit tool. While the orbit tool rotates the camera, the Pan tool moves the camera laterally from side to side or up and down. This means that you will always face the same direction when using the Pan tool while the camera slides around the 3D environment.
The Pan tool button is an open hand:
Figure 1.16: Pan Tool Button
Just like the Orbit tool, the Pan tool can be activated by doing the following:
Clicking the Pan buttonPressing the left mouse buttonMoving the mouseOr, at any time (including while using any other tool), the Pan tool can be activated by doing the following:
Pressing the scroll wheelPressing Shift at the same timeMoving the mouseJust make sure that you hold down Shift at the same time as the mouse scroll wheel while you move the mouse to pan!
Figure 1.17: Pan Tool Reference Guide for 3-Button Mouse
Tip
The Pan tool and the Orbit tool work the same way with the 3-button mouse; just add Shift to activate the Pan tool! You can even try holding the scroll wheel and alternating between pressing Shift and releasing Shift to switch back and forth between Orbit and Pan. Note, however, that this method is not commonly used in professional workflows.
Zoom
The Zoom tool is the third primary navigation tool alongside the Orbit and Pan tools. While Pan and Orbit move the camera side to side, up and down, and around objects in the drawing area, the Zoom tool moves the camera in and out. The Zoom tool is not moving the objects – it is sliding the camera!
The Zoom tool button is a magnifying glass. There are other zoom tools, and these also have a magnifying glass, but the Zoom tool is the tool with only the magnifying glass:
Figure 1.18: Zoom Tool Button
The Zoom tool is easy to use! The Zoom tool can be activated by doing the following:
Clicking on the buttonPressing the left mouse buttonMove the mouse up and downOr, at any time (including while using any other tool), the Pan tool can be activated by scrolling the mouse scroll wheel:
Figure 1.19: Zoom Tool Reference Guide for 3-Button Mouse
Tip
Scrolling the wheel “up” will zoom in and scrolling the wheel “down” will zoom out. Pointing the mouse button at Geometry on the screen will make SketchUp zoom quickly, and pointing the mouse at empty space will make SketchUp zoom slowly. Try this for yourself!
Field of View
The camera in SketchUp Pro has a default Field of View value of 35.00. When activating the Zoom tool, you will see the Measurements Box update to have a Field of View value.
The Field of View can be changed by using the Field of View tool in the Menu Bar under the camera. In SketchUp Pro 2023 a Field of View button was added to the Large Tool Set Toolbar:
Figure 1.20 Field of View Button on the Large Tool Set Toolbar
The Field of View can be adjusted by pressing and holding the Left mouse button and dragging up or down to change the field of view.
Alternatively, the Zoom tool can activate the Field of View tool. Do the following:
Pressing and holding ShiftPressing and holding the left mouse buttonMoving the mouseField of View can be changed at any time while you are modeling, but it is not recommended to do so unless it is necessary for the project.
Figure 1.21: Standard Field of View of 35.00 (Left) and Extreme Field of View of 100.00 (Right)
Note
SketchUp workflows will often involve getting the right camera angle for a tool or process. Using Orbit, Pan, and Zoom in concert will allow you to set up your camera view for each workflow. This takes patience and practice!
Zoom Extents
Zoom Extents is a fast way to automatically adjust Zoom and Pan to fill the drawing area with all visible geometry. This means that you will see your whole model very quickly! The camera view will not be orbited when using Zoom Extents.
The Zoom Extents tool button looks like a magnifying glass with three red arrows:
Figure 1.22: Zoom Extents Button
Zoom Extents has a slightly more complicated keyboard shortcut, Ctrl + Shift + E, so it is suggested to use the toolbar button to activate this zoom option.
Views Toolbar
The Views toolbar includes six tools, Iso (Isometric), Top, Front, Right, Back, Left, and Bottom:
Figure 1.23: Views Toolbar
These tools change the camera view like Zoom Extents. The updated view will change the zoom level slightly, but it will also orbit the camera view to align with the original drawing coordinates. These standard views may be helpful when modeling, as they will quickly zoom to show all geometry, and move the camera around to different angles:
Figure 1.24: Model Shown at a Random Angle (Left) and Model at Front View (Right)
Note
Zoom Extents and Views are not the same tool, but they are very similar! You may never need to use the standard Views while modeling, but it is suggested to try to use Views and Zoom Extents. We will discuss more views and camera options in Chapter 5.
Other Zoom Tools
Two additional Zoom tools can be found on the Large Tool Set. These are Zoom Window and Zoom Previous Tools. Zoom Window will allow you to drag a window to zoom into a specific section of your model. Zoom Previous can be clicked to move back through your recent camera views. This can be very helpful when setting up Scenes.
Figure 1.25: Zoom Window (Top) and Zoom Previous (Bottom)
Active Tools while using Navigation
SketchUp allows for all navigation tools to be used while in the middle of using any other tool. This includes when you are drawing or editing geometry in the model! All six tools, Orbit, Pan, Zoom, Zoom Extents, Zoom Window, and Zoom Previous, can be used without interrupting the editing tools.
We will look at a few examples using the Push Pull Tool. You do not need to follow along with these examples; they are just provided for context. We will talk about the Push Pull Tool in more detail Chapter 4, Drawing Tools: We Begin Modeling!.
In this first example, we start with a circle drawn on a box. After activating the Push Pull Tool, we want to orbit the camera angle to see the geometry from a different angle. Using the 3-button mouse shortcut, the orbit tool is activated, and the camera angle is changed. When the 3-button mouse shortcut is released, SketchUp resumes the Push Pull tool.
Figure 1.26: Starting the Push Pull Tool (Left), Orbit (Middle), Pan, and Zoom (Right)
Note
In the example, the Push Pull tool was not cancelled while the view was changed with the navigation tools! You can even use the toolbar buttons, but you must click the same creation or editing tool to resume the workflow without canceling the tool.
In this second example, we are using Push Pull on the circle again. After activating Push Pull on a new camera angle, the Pan tool is selected from the toolbar. When the camera has been panned into the location that we want, Push Pull can be reactivated from the toolbar and the workflow will be resumed.
Figure 1.27: Push Pull, then Pan, then Push Pull, which resumes the previous Push Pull workflow
In this third example, we will see how a workflow can be canceled accidentally. Again, we are beginning with the Push Pull tool, then selecting the Pan tool from the toolbar. But in this case, after the pan is completed, the Select tool is chosen instead of Push Pull. Even though it appears as though the Push Pull tool created a cylinder of geometry, the workflow has not completed. When a different tool was chosen, the workflow was canceled, so no work was completed.
Figure 1.28: Push Pull, then Pan, then Select, which has canceled the workflow
It is so very helpful to understand how to use the 3-button mouse shortcuts while navigating in SketchUp. But even without a 3-button mouse, it is even more important to understand that you can continue working while navigating, even when clicking on the navigation tools in a toolbar.
I would highly suggest that you practice navigating in SketchUp, even if it is just around the default person component when you create a new file! Navigation takes time and practice, and it would be good to have some practice navigating before you begin to model. We will talk about modeling soon, but first, we want to look at some rules that govern SketchUp geometry.
Geometry “Rules” in SketchUp
It is undeniable – SketchUp does rule! But, more importantly for this section, SketchUp has rules that govern the geometry that is created in SketchUp.
The Geometry rules are as follows:
All edges are straight lines between two pointsAll faces are bounded (surrounded) by edgesAll faces are two-dimensional (flat)Note
Even though faces are two-dimensional, they do not have to align with any of the model axes, but it does mean that faces cannot be bent! If a surface appears curved in a SketchUp model, it is actually made of many flat faces.
All SketchUp geometry can be categorized as either an edge or a face. All other geometry is comprised of edges and faces. There is no geometry in SketchUp that breaks this rule! We will evaluate the rules that govern edges and faces and then look at some common SketchUp geometry that is comprised of these basic geometry elements.
Edges (Lines)
Edges (sometimes referred to as lines) are the foundation of all SketchUp models. Edges are always a straight connection between two points. Edges are typically drawn individually with the Line Tool, but all creation tools make new edges:
Figure 1.29: A Single Edge (Left) and an Edge on a Cube (Right)
Faces
Faces are two-dimensional surfaces that are bounded (surrounded) by multiple edges. There is no limit to the number of edges that can surround a face, but the edges must all be in the same plane. Edges cannot be bent or warped; they are always two-dimensional or flat. It is important to remember that faces cannot exist without their bounding edges, but edges can exist without faces. We will expand on this concept in later chapters.
Figure 1.30: Face on a Cube
If all edges are straight, and all faces are flat, then how can we create complex and “real-world” models in SketchUp? What about the parks, plants, buildings, and interiors that we see online? How is that geometry created? SketchUp has built-in tools that allow us to get a head start on our modeling so that we do not have to draw each edge or face one by one.
Rectangles
Rectangles are familiar shapes that have a square or rectangular face surrounded by four edges. This is one of the most common shapes to start with in SketchUp. The Rectangle tool and Rotated Rectangle tool are used to quickly create rectangles, but it is good to know that any shape can be drawn with the Line tool!
Figure 1.31: Rectangle with Faces and Edges
Polygons
As mentioned before, there is no limit on the number of edges surrounding a face. In some cases, the lengths of the edges and the angles connecting them are equal, which creates regular polygons. These shapes are also very common in designs, and SketchUp helps us model these with the Polygon tool.
Figure 1.32: Pentagon and 12-gon (Dodecagon)
Polygons in SketchUp typically refer to regular polygons because that is what the Polygon tool creates. Any loop of edges that creates a face is technically a polygon, but we will not use the word polygon to refer to these objects in this book. We will use the term “shape” for any irregular, closed loop of edges surrounding a face:
Figure 1.33: An 8-sided Shape
Curves (Welded Edges)
Curves in SketchUp are not just arcs or squiggles; Curve is a blanket term that includes any collection of edges, connecting into a continuous path, that are Welded together. This could include any squiggle or path, two-dimensional or three-dimensional, and includes arcs and the edges of circles and polygons. Essentially, this is a collection of lines that are stuck together.
Arcs and circles seem to break the rule that all edges in SketchUp are straight. Of course, we know that arcs and circles have curved edges! To make sure that the first rule of SketchUp is not broken, arcs and circles have a series of short, straight lines that collectively look like a smooth curve. We will talk more about arcs and circles when we discuss the creation tools.
Note
By default, the Freehand, Arcs, Circle, Polygon, and Pie Tools all create curves. The Line and Rectangle Tools do not create curves because their edges are not welded together.
This is a curve that is comprised of 12 segments in a standard Arc. Remember, this is a curve because the edges are connected:
Figure 1.34: Curve – Arc
This is a “closed” curve because it creates a loop. This was created using the polygon tool:
Figure 1.35: Curve – Polygon (Hexagon)
This is a curve that was created manually by drawing using the Pencil tool and using Weld Edges. We will discuss this process later in the book.
Figure 1.36: Curve – Welded Edges
Summary
In this chapter, we quickly compared SketchUp Pro and SketchUp For Web, explored the User Interface and associated toolbars and dialog boxes, learned how to navigate through 3D space in SketchUp models, and looked at the underlying rules for SketchUp geometry. We will build on all of these as we move through the rest of the book.
In the next chapter, we will look at some of the most used Tools – the Primary tools – as well as Inferences. These tools and Inferences will be essential to every SketchUp model you work on, so let’s get started!
2
Principal Tools, Axes, and Inferences
In this chapter, we will examine two of the Principal tools that are used in almost every SketchUp workflow! The Select and Eraser tools can do more than you might think at a first glance! We will also understand the importance of using Axes and Inferences while drawing and editing SketchUp Geometry.
The following topics are covered in this chapter:
The Principal ToolsSelectLasso SelectEraserAxesSnaps (Point Inferences)InferencesWorking with the Principal Tools
If you have skipped ahead to this chapter, I understand! We always want to jump right into any new design software or tool and begin to see our designs realized! However, I highly suggest that you review the previous chapter before you begin modeling in SketchUp Pro. It is very, very important to understand the basics before beginning your SketchUp journey.
We will continue with a couple of other basics before we look at the Drawing Toolbar and the Drawing Tools. Five of the most essential and most common tools have been collected in the Principal Toolbar. These five tools are Select, Lasso Select, Paint Bucket, Eraser, and Make Component. We will cover Make Component and Paint Bucket extensively in later chapters, so for now, we will focus on the Select Tool, Lasso Select Tool, and the Eraser Tool.
The Principal Toolbar typically does not need to be individually opened and shown on screen. Instead, it is common to have the Large Tool Set Toolbar open. This toolbar is typically docked to the left-hand side of the screen. Remember that toolbars can be shown by right-clicking on the gray space directly to the right of the Getting Started toolbar and selecting additional toolbars. Also, toolbars can be moved and docked by clicking and holding the line of small dots on the left or at the top of the toolbar and dragging the toolbar to your preferred location. You can see the Large Tool Set Toolbar docked to the left-hand side of the drawing area in the following figure:
Figure 2.1: Large Tool Set Toolbar docked to the left of the Drawing Area
You can see that the four Principal Tools can be found at the top of the Large Tool Bar:
Figure 2.2: Select (Top Left), Lasso Select (Top Right), Paint Bucket (Middle Left), Eraser (Middle Right), and Make Component (Bottom Left)
Note
The Tag Tool is included in the top section of the Large Tool Set Toolbar but is not one of the five Principal Tools. The Tag Tool will be reviewed in Chapter 9, Entity Info, Outliner, and Tags Dynamically Organize Your Models.
We will take a deep dive into the Make Component and Paint Bucket Tools in later chapters. So, for now, we want to focus on the Select Tool, Lasso Select Tool, and the Eraser Tool.
The Select Tool
The Select Tool should be the most frequently used tool in any project! The Select Tool is suggested to be the “home” or “default” tool that is used after every workflow. This includes after long workflows, but also after using any Drawing or Edit tool – unless there is a clear chain of Tools that you are using. There is nothing more frustrating than accidentally reactivating a Drawing or Editing Tool after finishing a workflow. Returning to the Select Tool is a great habit to get into!
Figure 2.3: The Select Tool
The Select Tool can be found on the Getting Started Toolbar, the Large Tool Set Toolbar, and the Principal Toolbar. The Select Tool can be activated as follows:
Clicking on any of the Select Tool ButtonsHitting the Spacebar on the keyboardHitting the Spacebar is the easiest and most convenient way to activate the Select Tool!
Note
Unlike some other modeling software, the Esc (escape) key does not activate a “home” or “default” state. Instead, we should use the Spacebar to activate the Select Tool.
The Select Tool can be used in multiple ways to select objects and geometry. These ways include left-clicking, dragging windows, using keyboard shortcuts, and using modifier keys.
Left-Clicking
The most common use of the Select Tool is done with the left-click button on a three-button mouse. Using a single-, double-, or triple-click with the left button will result in different results.
A single click will select the object or geometry that is directly under the tip of the mouse cursor. Using a single click is a great way to make the exact selection you are attempting to highlight!
A double click will either do the following:
For Objects: Open the contextual edit for the Object. This will “drill” one layer into the Object.For Edges: Select the Edge that is under the cursor, and then select all connected Faces.For Faces: Select the Face that is under the cursor, and then select all connected Edges.Note
For Edges that are not connected to any Faces, there is no difference between a single click or double-click.
We will go into detail about Objects in SketchUp Pro in the next chapter. Groups and Components are known as Objects in SketchUp. Please see that chapter for more information about editing in the contextual edit for Objects.
When selecting standard Geometry, a double-click is a fast and easy way to select geometry and the geometry that is immediately connected. This will only select the first connection from edges to faces or vice versa. This will not select edges that are connected endpoint to endpoint, or a large collection of faces. Please see Modifier Keys later in this section for more information about selecting custom selection sets.
You can see that when the edge is double-clicked that the two connected faces are also selected. Similarly, the edges that bound the rectangular face are selected when double-clicking the rectangular face.
Figure 2.4: Double-Clicked Edge (Left) and Double-Clicked Rectangular Face (Right)
If you would like to select all connected Geometry, you can use a triple-click. Triple-clicking on any geometry will not just select the immediately connected geometry but also any geometry that is connected to that geometry in a chain! This can get out of hand very quickly if not using Groups and Components to separate your Geometry! We will learn much more about Sticky Geometry and separating Geometry using Groups and Components in the next chapter.
We can see a triple-click in three stages for the following Geometry. The first click selects the face, the second click selects the face and the bounding edges, and the third click selects all connected geometry. The cube to the side is not selected because it is a Group:
Figure 2.5: Geometry selected by single- (Left), double- (Middle), and triple-clicking (Right)
Note
A triple-click will select geometry even if it is connected with endpoint-to-endpoint edges or intersecting edges, but a triple-click will not select intersecting faces if the bounding edges of those faces never intersect!
Figure 2.6: Intersecting faces are not selected because their edges do not connect or intersect
You should practice single-, double-, and triple-clicking Geometry as you work through the rest of this chapter. You will notice that you have to click quickly to activate the multiple-click options: this takes time and practice to get right!
Selection Boxes
Creating Selection Boxes in SketchUp is an excellent way to select multiple Objects or Geometry at once!
To create a Selection Box, simply left-click anywhere in the Drawing Area and drag while holding the mouse button to create a rectangular Selection Box. There are two directions in which you can drag a Selection Box – right to left or left to right. Both are done using a left-click and holding the mouse button.
A left-to-right window will make a Window Selection. This Selection Box is represented by a solid outline and will only select objects that are fully encased in the Window Selection. You can see in the following figure that some Edges and Faces are partially inside of the Window Selection, and they are not highlighted. Only the Edges and Faces that are fully inside the left-to-right Window Selection are selected:
Figure 2.7: Window Selection using the Select Tool
A right-to-left window will make a Crossing Selection. This Selection Box is represented by a dashed outline and will select all objects that cross the window or are fully enclosed. You can see in the following figure that all Edges and Faces that are crossed or that are inside the Crossing Selection are selected:
Figure 2.8: Crossing Selection using the Select Tool
Be careful! When using Selection Boxes with the Selection Tool, you will select anything that is in the window. This includes Geometry behind other geometry. You can see in the following figure that it looks like one Face and the surrounding edges have been selected, but when the model is orbited, it is clear that some Edges and Faces from the back of this model were also selected.
Figure 2.9: Window Selection (Left), Intentionally Selected Geometry (Middle), and Unintentionally Selected Geometry (Right)
Some more practice will be very helpful with Selection Boxes as well! It is beneficial to understand which type of Selection Box is created with the left-to-right motion (Window Selection) and right-to-left motion (Crossing Selection).
Keyboard Shortcuts
There are a couple of keyboard shortcuts that may be helpful when working with the Select Tool. These shortcuts are as follows:
Select All: Ctrl + AInvert Selection: Ctrl + Shift + IBoth of these shortcuts will also be found under the Edit dropdown in the Menu Bar and in the right-click menu when using the Select Tool. Select All will select all the geometry or Objects in the active Drawing Area, and Invert Selection will deselect the current selection and select everything else.
If and when these keyboard shortcuts are helpful will depend on your SketchUp model and workflow. If you understand these shortcuts, they can help you make fast and accurate selections.
Note
Remember, the keyboard shortcut for activating the Select Tool is the Spacebar!
Modifier Keys
The Select tool has two modifier keys that change how objects are added or removed from the selection set. These keys are Ctrl and Shift. There are three possible combinations of these keys, and each combination changes how objects are added and removed.
Note
Any combination of modifier keys can be used for clicking or creating Selection Boxes.
Shift
Holding Shift is the most common use of modifier keys for the Select Tool. Holding Shift adds a plus and a minus sign next to the cursor:
Figure 2.10: Cursor with the Shift modifier key
Now, when the Select Tool is used, the previous selection set is maintained, and either of the following happens to the selected objects:
If the geometry is currently in the selection set, it is removed from the selection set (deselected)If the geometry is not currently selected, it is added to the selection set (selected)To put it more simply, you can select more than one object with different selection workflows or remove objects from your current selection with more precision!
Ctrl
Holding Ctrl activates only one of the options that is activated while using Shift. Ctrl will show a plus sign next to the cursor and will only be able to add geometry to the selection set:
Figure 2.11: Cursor with the Ctrl modifier key
Ctrl + Shift
Holding Ctrl and Shift at the same time will activate the other option, which is the opposite of the Ctrl key. Ctrl and Shift will show a minus sign next to the cursor and will only remove geometry from the selection set:
Figure 2.12: Cursor with Ctrl and Shift modifier keys
This option is often activated when Geometry is accidentally added to the selection when using the Ctrl modifier key. By also holding the Shift key momentarily, the accidentally selected Geometry can be quickly removed from the selection, and the Shift key can then be released to continue adding Geometry with the Ctrlmodifier key.
Remember
