by Sketchup guide 3d PPLE3d-apple.com/Sketchup_Guide.pdf · 4 Setcup Gude Part I: he asics o...

Sketchup guideby

3d PPLE

Sketchup Guide2

3Sketchup Guide

Contents

Part I: The basics of Sketchup

1.1. Workspaceandfloatingwindows 1.2. Units 1.3. Preferences 1.4. WorkingwithLayers 1.5. WorkingwithMaterials 1.6. Groups and components

Part II: Modeling in Sketchup

2.1. Basicmodelingtechniques 2.2. Usefulplugins

Part III: Working with complex models

3.1. Organizingthemodel 3.2. Howtoavoidproblems

Part IV: Presentation of Sketchup work

4.1. Sketchupstyles 4.2. Templates 4.3. Cameras and scenes 4.4. RenderinginSketchupandoutsideSketchup

Part V: Conclusion

5.1. Goodtoknow...

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Sketchup Guide | Part I: The basics of Sketchup4

Part I: The basics of Sketchup1.1. Workspace and floating windows

Sketchupisaveryintuitiveandeasytousemodelingprogram.Allthemodelingandeditingtoolsareavailablethroughthemainmenuandthroughfloatingwindows.

BelowisascreenshotofaSketchupwindowwithsomebasictoolbarsandsomeextensions(pl-ugins)accessiblethroughicons.

Image1.1.1.

5Sketchup Guide | Part I: The basics of Sketchup

ToorganizeyourworkspaceaccordingtoyourneedsandpreferencesgotoView - Toolbarsandchoosetoolbarsyouwouldliketoseeonyourscreen.

Image1.1.2.showsthelistofdefaulttool-barsandpluginsinstalledonmycomputer.

OnceyouarrangeallthetoolbarsasyouwishtoseethemyoucansaveyourtoolbarpositionsbyclickingonSave Toolbar Positions,whichyoucanseeinthemiddleofthelist.

Ifyouprefertoseelargericons,chooseLarge Buttonsfromthebottomofthelist.

defaulttoolbars

plugins

Image1.1.2.


WhileworkinginSketchupyouwillneedtosetcertainparametersthroughfloating windows,whichareessencialpartofyourworkset.

Tochoosefloatingwindowsthatyouwishtohavehandy,gotoWindowandselectallthosethatyouwouldliketoseeonyourscreen(seeimage1.1.3.)

Whenyouchooseyourfloatingwindows,yourscreenmaylooklikethat:

Ifyouhavetwomonitors,itisusefultouseoneofyourscreensforthemainwindowandthesecondoneforyourfloatingpallets.

Image1.1.3

Image1.1.4.


Themostcommonlyusedfloatingpallettesare:

• EntityInfo

• SoftenEdges

• ShadowSettings

• Stles

• Layers

• Materials

• Components

• Scenes

• MatchPhoto

Entity Info Pallette

EntityInfopalletteisoneofthefloatingwindowswhichyouwilllookatmostfrequently.Itgivesyouvariousinformationdependingonwhetheryouclickonasurface,grouporcomponent.

Whenyouselectasurface,EntityInfowilldisplaythefollowinginformation:

Image1.1.5.

whatmaterialiscurrentlyas-signedtoeach

faceofthesurfaceyou

highlighted(atthemomenttherearenomaterialsin

ourmodel,butonceyoucre-atesome,youwillbeabletopickthemfrom

thelist)

theareaofthesurfaceinsquaremm

thelayerwhichthesurfaceisdrawnon(youcanexpandthelistofthelayer

andchangethelayerofthesurfacehere)


Whenyouclickonagroup,EntityInfowilltellyou,thatyouhavehighlighedagroup.Itwillgiveyouthevolumeofthegroupanditwillalsocountthenumberofthatgroupsplacedinyourmodelandwillshowyouthelayercontainingtheelement.YoucanexpandthelistoflayersandchangethelayerofthehighlightedgroupthroughEntityInfo,exactlyasyouwoulddoitusingtheLayersToolbar.

Whenyouclickonacomponent,EntityInfowilltellyou,thatyouhavehighlighedacomponent.Itwillgiveyouthevolumeofthecomponentanditwillalsocountthenumberofthatparticularcom-ponents inyourmodel. Itwillshowyouthe layercontainingtheelement,whichyoucanchangebyexpandingthelayerslist.Mostimportantly,itwilldisplaythedefinitionnameofthecomponent,whichyougivewhilecreatingthecomponent.Youcanrenameyourcomponenthere.Also,whenyoumakeoneofyourcomponentsunique,thenamewillbechangedautomaticallytoname#1.Youcanchangethisnamehere.

Image1.1.6.

Image1.1.7.


Whenyouclickonacircle or an archthatyouhavedrawn,EntityInfowillshowyouthelayerwhichtheyhavebeendrawnon, theradiusandalsothenumberofsegmentsformingthecircleor thearch.BydefaultSketchupwillcreateacirclewith24segmentsandanarchwith12segments.YoucanchangethenumberofsegmentsinEntityInfowindow(refertoimages1.1.8,1.1.9and1.1.10below).

Image1.1.8.Circlewith24segments.

Image1.1.9.

Image1.1.10.

type the value here


Whenyouincreasethenumberofsegments,yourcircleandarchwilllooksmoother.Thismighthelpwhenyouneedtomodellargesurfaceswitharchs/curves.

Image1.1.11.Circlewith48segments.

Image1.1.12.Archwith12segments.


Image1.1.15.Archwith36segments.

Image1.1.13.

Image1.1.14.


Thenumberofsegmentsofacircleoranarchcanmakeabigdifferenceafterextrusion:

Image1.1.17.Surfacecreatedbyextrusionof36-segmentarch.


Image1.1.18.Cylindercreatedbyextrusionof48segmentscircle.Clicktheetimestoselectallconnectedsurfacesandedges.EntityInfoshowsyouthatcurrentlyyourangleissetto20degrees.Edgesbetweensegmentsarehiddenandshownasdashedlines.Theperimeterofthecylinderisasinglesurface.

Image1.1.19.Angleforthecylinderchangedto0degrees.Edgesbetweensegmentsarevisibleandeachsegmentisnowanindividualsurface.

Soften Edges Pallette

SoftenEdgesisanotherusefulfloatingpallet,thatyouwillbeusingwhileworkingwithcurvedsur-faces,terrainmodelsororganicforms.

Itallowsyoutodeterminehowsmoothyoursurfaceisgoingtolooklikebyadjustingtheanglebe-tweensurfacesofyourobject.

Theextrudedarchseenonimages1.1.16and1.1.17isaverygoodexampleofhowSoftenEdgescanhelpwhenitcomesdeterminingthesmoothnessofthesurface.

angle set to 20 degrees

angle set to 0 degrees

individual surfaces


Image1.1.20.Angleforthecylinderchangedto80degrees.Edgesbetweensegmentsareinvisible.

Image1.1.21.Angleforthecylindersettoavalueexceeding90degrees.Alledgesarenowhidden,becausetheanglebetweenverticalsegmentsofthecylinderandtopandbottomcylindercapsis90degrees.Settingvaluebe-yond90degreesinthissituationaffectsalsotheedgesbetweenverticalandhorizontalfacesofthecylinder.

angle set to >80 degrees

angle set to more than 90 degrees


AnotherexamplewhenSoftenEdgestoolcomesusefulisterrainandfreeformmodeling.

Image1.1.22.

Image1.1.23.SoftenEdgeswithSoftenCoplanar.

soften coplanar enabled


Image1.1.24.

Image1.1.25.

Shadow Settings Pallette

ShadowSettingspalletteallowsyoutoquicklysettheexactdateandtimeforyourscene.Itispar-ticularilyusefulwhenyouneedtoillustratetheshadowcastonthesiteandsurroundingbuildingsindifferenttimesoftheyear.

InShadowSettingspalletteyoucanalsoadjustthebrightnessofyourimageandthedarknessoftheshadows.

Youcanalsodeterminewhetheryouwantshadowstobedisplayedonfaces,ongroundorcastbyindi-vidualedges.Thislastoptionisbydefaultdisabled,butitmaybeusefulsometimeswhenyouhaveameshbuiltonlywithlinesandnotwithsurfaces.


Image1.1.26.

Image1.1.27.

Casting shadows on groundmeans, that shadowswill be automatically cast onSketchup’s vir-tualground.Thismightbeuseful,butisnotdesiredwhereyouhaveelementsofyourmodelbe-lowSketchup’svirtualgroundlevel(seeimage1.1.26).Inthesecasesyoushoulddisablethe‘OnGround’option(seeimage1.1.27).

‘On ground’ option activated. Shadow cast on Sketchup’s

virtual ground

‘On ground’ option disactivated. Shadow cast only on surfaces

Workingwithshadowsoncomplexmodelsmayslowyoudown.Tryandenableshadowsonlywhenyouarereadytoexportyourviewas2Dimage.


Styles Pallette

Styleswindowallowscontrolofthicknessandstyleoflinesandsurfaces.

Therearetwowaysofplayingwithlinethickness:

• viaStyles Toolbar(image1.1.28)

• viaStyles floating pallette(image1.1.29)

styles toolbar allows to enable / disable wireframe, hidden lines, invisible lines,

plain colour and texture

styles floating palette allows customization of lines and surface styles

click here to see styles used in your model

Image1.1.28.

Image1.1.29.


Image1.1.30.

Image1.1.31.Sketchylinestyles.

click here to expand list of styles


Toeditindividualstyle,addprofilesandadjustotherproperties,clickon‘Edit’buttininStylesfloatingpallette.YoucanalsouseStyleBuilderavailableinSketchupProtobuildyourownstyles.

Workingwithastylewithmanypropertiesenabled(likeprofiles,extensions,endpointsetc.)orwithsketchyedgestyleswillslowyoudownandifyoualsohaveshadowsenabled,youmayfindnavigatingyourmodelquitedifficult.Thebestpracticeistoworkwithasimplethinlinestraightedgestyleandonlyenablecustomizedstylesandshadowsforpresetscenesforthepurposeofexportingyourviewsasimages.

Image1.1.32.Editinglinestyles.


Image1.1.33.

Image1.1.34.

Layers Pallette

Layerspalletteshowsyouthelistoflayersthatyoucreatedandlayersthatcamewiththemodelthatyouimported.Layersfloatingpalletteallowsyoudothefollowing:

• addingandremovinglayers

• renamingyourlayers

• settingyourcurrentlayer

• controllinglayersvisibility

• purgindlayers

• enabling/disabling‘ColourByLayer’mode

• adjustingcoloursofyourlayers

click on ‘+’ and ‘-’ to add or remove layer

click here to change the colour of the layer

double click on layer’s name to edit it


Image1.1.35.

Image1.1.36.

this is your active layer

this layer is switched off

purge unused layers

enable ‘Colour by Layer’ mode

Image1.1.37.


Image1.1.38. Image1.1.39.

currently there are no materials in your model

material preview

default materials

editing material

click here to display materials used in your model

Materials Pallette

Materialspalletteallowsyoutocreate,editandapplymaterialstosurfaces.

WhenyoustartSketchupwillshowyousomefolderswithdefaultmaterials(seeimage1.1.38).Byclickingonthelittlehomebutton(orbychoosing‘InModel’fromthelist)youcanswitchtoseema-terialsusedinyourmodel(refertoimage1.1.39).

FormoreinformationonhowtoworkwithmaterialspleaserefertoWorking with materialssection(part1.5).


Components Pallette

Componentsfloatingpallettedisplaysthepreviewsofcomponentsthatyouhaveeithercreatedinyourmodelorimportedtoyourmodel.

Image1.1.40. Image1.1.41.

click here to display components in your model

look for components online in 3D Warehouse

currently there are no components in your model

FormoreinformationonworkingwithcomponentspleaserefertoGroups and componentssection(part1.6.).


Scenes Pallette

Scenefloatingpalletteisalistofsavedviews(scenes)inyourmodel.

Image1.1.42.

Image1.1.43.Listofsavedsceneswiththumbnails.

Image1.1.44.Creatinganewscene.

click on ‘+’ and ‘-’ buttons to create or delete scenes

use the arrows to move scenes up and down the list

view options

hide / show details

menu

here you can determine which properties will be saved each time you update the scene

here you can determine which scenes will be included in animation, if you need to export a movie or image sequence


Youcanswitchbetweenscenes,deletescenesorrenamethemusing theeither the tabsor thesceneslist.

Ifyousaveasceneandmakechanges toyourperspectivesettings,stylepropertiesorshadowsettings,youcanupdateyourscenebyright-clickingonthetabandchoosingUpdate scene.

Image1.1.46.

Image1.1.45.

Whenyoucreateanewscene,atabwiththenameofyourscenewillappear:

Havingmanyscenesinyourmodeldisplayedonthesceneslistasthumbnailsmaytakeamomenttoupdateifyourmodeliscomplex.


Image1.1.47.

Image1.1.48.

Match Photo Pallette

Sometimesweneedtocomposeourmodelswithphotographs.ItcanbedoneinPhotoshop,butinsomecircumstancesSketchup’sMatch Phototoolcomesuseful.GotoWindow - Match Photo to displaythefloatingwindow.

click here to import a new photo


Ifyouhavemodelledsomethingthatyouwouldliketomergewithaphotograph(seeexampleimage1.1.48),youneedtoimportthisphotographtoyourmodel.

As soon as you import an image, Sketchup will create a new scene named as your importedphotograph.

Dependingon the sizeof your photograph, the imported imagemight bemuchbigger ormuchsmallerthanyouractualmodel.To adjust the size of your model click on the red horizontal line.Theyellowlineisthehorizon,moveitupordowntosetthehorizonatthecorrectlevel.

Green and red dashed lines determine the perspective.Refertoimagebelowtoseehowtoadjusttheperspectivetomatchthephotograph.

Whenyouarehappywithyourperspective,right-clickonthephotoandchooseDone.

Ifyouwould liketoedityourperspective later,right-clickonthephotoandchooseEdit Matched Photo (refertoimage1.1.50below).

Image1.1.49.

Image1.1.50.

perspective lines

drag the green box to adjustthe position of the perspective lines intersection point

drag the yellow box to move the model

horizon

Youcancarryonworkingonthemodelaftermatchingitwithphotograph.Yourmatchedviewissavedasascene,thereforeyoucanspinaroundthemodelandyourworkwon’tbelost.


Image1.2.1

Image1.2.2

1.2. Units

ThefirstthingyoushoulddowhenyoustartworkinginSketchupismakingsurewhatunitsyouaregoingtoworkwith.BydefaultSketchupstartswithatemplatesetwithinches.Youcansetpreferredunits throughthestart-upwindowthatopenswhenyouopentheprogramor laterbyclickingonWindow - Model Info:

BydefaultPreci-sionissetto0.0.Youvanincreaseit,butitdoesn’tusuallymakemuchsensetoworkwithmilime-tersuptoseveralnumbersaftercommawhilemodelingarchi-tecture.


1.3. Preferences: shortcuts and file paths

WhenworkinginSketchup,youcanexecutecommandsbyclickingoniconsorbyusingkeyboard shorcuts.BydefaultSketchuphassomeshortcutspre-assigned.Ifyouwishtopersonalizeyourshortcuts,gotoWindow - Preferences:

Image1.3.1.

Image1.3.2.

Select tool which you would like to as-sogn a new shortcut

to

Type in your shortcut here

Click OK

Click on ‘+’ to add the shortcut


BydetaultSketchupissavingallthetexturesyouuseinyourmodelandsomeotherrelatedfilesonyourCdriveinyourDocumentsfolder.Ifyouwouldliketodefinedifferentlocationforyourimages,materials,componentsandotherfiles,gotoWindow - PreferencesandclickonFiles:

Image1.3.3.


1.4. Working with Layers

UnderstandingandusingSketchuplayersystemcorrectlyisessentialfororganizingthemodelinanefficientwayandforavoidingproblemsinthefuture,whenthemodelgetscomplex.

In order toworkwith Layers inSketchup you need to display theLayers Toolbar and Layers floating pallette (seeimagesbelow).

Forbasicinformationonadding,removingandrenaminglayersrefertosection1(pages21-22,Layers floating pallette).

Image1.4.1.Layerstoolbar

Image1.4.2.Layersfloatingpallette

click here to expand the list of layers used

in your model

click here to show and hide layers

floating pallet

BydefaultSketchupstartswith‘Layer0’setascurrentlayer.Layer0isadefaultlayer.Youcanchangeitscolour,youcanswitchitoff,butyoucannotdeleteitorrenameit.


OneofthemostcommonproblemsthatSketchupusersexperiencewithSketchup’slayersystemis managing layers of Sketchupmodel, which contains a lot of components imported from 3DWarehouseorCADdrawingswiththeirownlayersystem.

UsuallyweimportadwgplansandsectionsrightattheverybegginingofourworkwithSketchup.Ifwebringmanylayersandifwedon’torganizethem,wewillendupscrollingthroughtensoflayersandwewillworkalotslowerrightfromtheverybeginning.

UsuallymanyofthelayersthatcomewithdwgdrawingsarenotusefulforusinSketchup.

Thelayerswewillneedwilldependonthetypeofmodelthatweneedtoproduce.

Ifweneedtobuildageneralmasterplan/blockmodel,wewillprobablyneedlayerssuchasExistingBuildings,ProposedBuildings,Trees,People,Landscape,Carsetc..

Tomoveobjectsbetweenlayers,youneedtousethelayertoolbar(seeimage1.4.3)orEntityInfofloatingpallette(seeimage1.4.4).

Image1.4.3.

Image1.4.4.

Youcanquicklychangethelayerofanobjectbyhighlightinganobject,thenexpandingthelistoflayersandtypinginthefirstletterofthelayerthatyouwishyourobjecttobemovedto.Forexampletype pifyouwanttomoveanobjecttolayercalledPeople or hit p twiceifyouwouldliketheobjecttobemovedtoanotherlayerstartingwithp,forexampleProposed Buildings.


InsuchsituationMicrostationlayerssuchasAG25-G-Wall, AG32-G-Opng, AG5-G-Serv, AG59-G-ServOthr, AZ090-D-Dims, AZ442-H-HtchBldg, AZ900G-NPltmightnotbeneededinourmodelandwillsimplyconfuseus.

Image1.4.5.


Image1.4.5.showsanexampleofanemptySketchupmodeljustafterimportingadwgsiteplanfromMicrostation.

Itisgoodpracticetoalwaysimport CAD drawing to an empty Sketchup model first.AfterimportingyourCADdrawingcreatealayerwhichtellsussomethingaboutthisparticularimporteddrawing,forexampledwg_L0 or dwg_L1 or dwg_sectionA-A, dwg_sectionB-Bandthenhighlightallthelayersandmovethemtoyournewlycreatedlayer(refertoimage1.4.6.below).

Image1.4.6.

Image1.4.7.

1. Create a new layer and rename it.

2. Make your new layer a current layer.

3. Select all layers that you would like to be merged with that layer.

4. Click on the ‘-’ button.

5. A dialog box will appear (see image 1.4.7). Choose Move contents to Current Layer and click OK.

click here to make the newly created layer your current layer

By choosing the option Move conents to Default Layer you would move all thecontentstoLayer0.


Nowyouendedupwithacleanlayerpalletteandyoucanstartcreatingyourownlayers,accordingtoyourmodelrequirements.

ItisgoodtoalwaysimportCADfiles(andalsoothermodels,suchasmodelsfrom3DWarehouseormodelscreatedinother3Dapplications)toanemptySketchupmodel,becauseitiseasiertocleanthemodelfromredundantlayers,materials,componentsorscenes.

ItalsogivesanopportunitytosaveallplansinaseparatefolderandupdatethemviaComponentsfloatingpalleteoncetheygetdevelopped.

YouwillfindmoreinformationonworkingwithcomponentsinPart1.6.Groups and components.

Image1.4.8.Cleanedlayers

Image1.4.9.Newlycreatedproject-specificlayers.


Clickonthecoloursnexttothelayerstoadjustthecolour,opacityortoassigntextureimage.

Note,thatyouwillstillseeallyoursurfacesdisplayedaswhiteandgrey-ish,evenifyoumoveyourobjectstodifferentlayersthathavedifferentcoloursassigned.ThisisbecausebydefaultSketchupworksinColour by Material mode.InordertoseeyourobectsincoloursassignedtovariouslayersthattheybelongtoyouneedtoenableColur by Layer mode.TodothatclickonthemenubuttononthetoprightcorneroftheLayersfloatingpallette(refertoimage1.4.10.above).

Sometimesitmayhappenthatyouendupwithvariouslayersthatdon’thaveanycontentonthem.Insteadofdelitingthemoneafteranother,youcanselectPurgeoptionfromthesamemenuandallyouremptylayerswillbedeleted.

Image1.4.10.


1.5. Working with Materials

ToworkwithmaterialinSketchupyouneedtohavetheMaterialsfloatingpaletteopen(refertoPart1.1. Materials floating palette).

Asmentionedearlier,whenyoustartanewmodel, therewillbenomaterials inyourmodelandMaterialspalettewillshowsomefolderswithpre-setdefaultSketchupmaterials.Youcanusethemastheyare,editthemormostlikelyyouwillbecreatingyourownmaterialsusingtextureimages.

Image1.5.1.


InSketchupeachsurfacehastwofaces.ToemphasizethatSketchupisshowingtheminwhiteorgrey-ishcolour.Youcanapplyonematerialtoonefaceofthesurfaceandanothermaterialtotheotherfaceofthesurface.

Image1.5.2.

Image1.5.3.

used materials (materials in your model, that have been applied to some objects)

unused materials

click here to edit material

click here to materials menu and to purge unused materials

click here to match material

click here to create new material

click here to show or hide details

indication of two faces of one surface


Itisgoodtohaveahabitofapplyingmaterialstobothfacesofthesurfacewhereyoucan,especiallywhenitcomestotransparentmaterials,suchasglass.Ifyouareplanningtorenderyour imagewith oneof the render engines, for examplewithVray, transparentmaterialsappliedonlytoonefaceofthesurfacemaynotrendercorrectly.

InSketchupeachsurfacehastwosides/twofaces.ToemphasizethatSketchupisshowingthemintwodifferentcolours:whiteorgrey-ish.Youcanapplyonematerialtoonefaceofthesurfaceandanothermaterialtotheotherfaceofthesamesurface.

Image1.5.4.Nomaterialsappliedtoanyofthefaces.


TherearetwowaysofassigningmaterialtosurfaceinSketchup:

• youcanselectasurface,clickoneachfaceinEntityInfofloatingwindowandchooseamaterialfromthelist(seeimage1.1.6.)

• itisprobablyeasierandquickedtochooseamaterialinMaterialsfloatingwindowandthen‘drop’itonsurfacesusingthepaintbuckettool(seeimage1.1.7.)

Image1.5.6.Applyingmaterialsthrough

EntityInfowindow

Image1.5.7.ApplyingmaterialsthroughMaterialsfloatingwindowandpaintbucket


Thesizeofyourbricksorfloortilesdependsontheactualsizeofthetextureitself.Itmightthereforebetoobigortoosmallandsometimesyoumaywanttoadjustthescaleofyourmaterial.

Therearetwowaysofadjustingthescaleofthematerial:

• byeditingmaterialpropertiesinMaterialsfloatingwindow(seeimage1.5.8.)

• byscalingmaterialmanually(seeimages1.5.9to1.5.12.)

Anotherwayofadjustingthescaleofthetextureismanualadjustment.Tore-size,stretchorrotatetexturemanually,right-clickonthesurfaceandselectTexture - Position (refertoimage1.5.9).Fourhandleswillappear(refertoimage1.5.10).Draggingdifferenthandleswillallowyoutotransformthetextureindifferentway.Ifyouwanttoresizeorrotatethetexture,usethegreenhandleandstretchtheimage(refertoimage1.5.11).Whenyouarehappywiththeresult,rightclickandchooseDone (refertoimage1.5.12).

Image1.5.8.EditingmaterialsthroughMaterialsfloatingwindow.

click here to browse for texture imagesclick here to adjust the scale of the texture


Image1.5.9.

Image1.5.10.

right-click and select Texture - Position

drag green handle to resize or rotate texture


Image1.5.11.Scaling/rotatingtexture.Notice,thatSketchupisshowingyouthetexturetiles(highlightedinredontheaboveillustration).

Image1.5.12.

right-click and choose Done when you finish editing


Image1.5.13.

Nowwhenyouhaveadjustedthesizeandpositionofthetexture,youmaywantothersurfacestohaveexactlythesametexturesize.Insteadofadjustingsurfacebysurfaceindividually, justusetheMatch AttributestoolandPaint Bucket.Theexactscaleandpositionofyourtexturewillbematched.Youcanapplythepropertiestomultiplesurfacesatonce.

AllthetexturesthatyouusetobuildyourmaterialsinSketchupwillbeautomaticallystoredinprogram’sdefaultlocationonyourCdrive.Tochangethislocationgotopreferencesandselectdifferentfolder(refertoPart1.3.Preferences: shortcuts and file paths).


1.6. Groups and components

Ifyouareusedtoworkinginanother3dmodelingapplication,suchas3d studio max or Cinema 4d, youmightbesurprisedthatinSketchupthereisnoparametricprimitives.

OnlyrecentversionsofSketchupandsomepluginsallowtoworkwithprimitivesabitlikeinother3dmodelingsoftware.

ItiskeytolearnhowtoworkwithgroupswherepossibleandwithcomponentswhererequiredtomakethemostofSketchupandtoallowyourselfgreaterflexibilityforfutureamendments.

Thedifferencebetweengroupsandcomponentsisthefact,thatcomponents are parametric and therefore updating one component will automatically update all of them.

Also,components can be stored outside your model.Forexample,yourindividualbuildingsorfloorplanscanbestoredascomponentsoutsideyourmodel.Thismaybedesired incircumstances,whenyourmodelisverycomplexandwhenmakingchangestosmalldetailofoneofyourbuildingscouldbedifficultbecauseofthesizeandcomplexityofyourmodel.

Groupsonlykeepthegeometrytogether.Changesappliedtoagrouparenotautomaticallyreflectedinotherinstancesofthisgroup.Tocreateagroup,selectthegeometrythatyouwishtogroup,thenrightclickandselectMake a Group(refertoimage1.6.3).

Image1.6.1.


Image1.6.1.showsanexample,whereagrouphasbeencreatedandadditional4copiesofthisgrouphasbeenplacedinthemodel.Whenwehighlightoneofthegroups,Entity Infoshowsusthatwehavehighlightedagroupandthatwehave5oftheminthemodel.

Ifwestartediting the group(toeditthegroup,doubleclickonthegrouporright-clickandchooseEdit Group),onlythisgroupisbeingamended,otherinstancesremainunchanged(refertoimage1.6.2.below).

Itisthereforeusefultocreategroupswhenweneedsomegeometrytobekepttogether(andeasytomovearoundormodify),butourgrouppedobjectisuniqueandtherewillnotbeanymoreobjectslikethatinourmodel.Forexample,wecouldgroupaterrainoranexistingbuildingadjacenttooursite.

For repetitive objects (like buildings, building elements, furniture, trees etc.) it is best to usecomponents,whichwillallowustoapplychangestothemquicklyatlaterstage,becauseallofthemwillupdateautomatically,similarilytoMicrostationcellsorAutoCADblocks.Tocreateacomponent,selectgeometry,thenright-clickandchooseMake Component(orusekeyboardshortcutthatyouhaveassignedtothisactionthroughPreferences).Adialogwindowwillappear,whereyoucantypeincomponent’snameandotherproperties(refertoimage1.6.4).

Image1.6.3.

Image1.6.2.Editingagroup.

right-click and choose Make Component to create a component or Make Group

when you want to create a group


Image1.6.5.

type in the name of your component here (each component has to have a

unique name)

provide description if required (you can leave this field blank)

set component’s axis (you can leave default axis location)

you may want to set which surface the components will ‘glue’ to (for example

vertical, horizontal or sloped)

select this option if you are creating 2D component that you would like to

always face the camera

Image1.6.4.Creatingacomponent.


Image1.6.7.

Image1.6.6.

Whenyouhighlightacomponent, Entity Infowilltellyou,thatitisacomponentandwilltellyouhowmanyofthosecomponentstherearecurrentlyinyourmodel(refertoimage1.6.5).

Makingchangestoanyinstanceofacomponentwillbereflectedinallofthem(seeimagebelow).

Sometimesyoumaywanttomakeoneormoreofyourcomponentsdifferentfromothers.Tomakesure that your changes will not affect all instances, right-click and chooseMake Unique. Yourcomponentwill be automatically renamed toComponent Name#1. Use Entity Info to rename itaccordingtoyourpreferences.Ifyounolongerneedittobeacomponent,youcanchooseExplode.


Itispossible(andoftenrequired)tocreatecomponentswithincomponentsorgroupswithingroupsorgroupswithincomponentsorcomponentswithingroups.Ifitimportantthough,thatthenumberofgroupsandcomponentsdoesnotgrowtoohigh.Unfortunately,groupsandcomponentsusedirresponsibly and in large numbersmay slowdown yourmodel significantly andmakeapplyingchangesandevennavigatingitverydifficult.Thishappensveryoftenespeciallywhenusingmodelsimported directly from 3D Warehouse. Sometimes importing just few very high-poly trees anddetailedcars,multipliedby20,maymakeworkingwiththemodelveryhard.

Therefore it is crucial to understand when to use groups, when to use components and when it is best to just work with live geometry.

Image1.6.8.Makingchangestoacomponentthathasbeenmadeuniquewillnotaffectotherinstancesofthiscomponent.

Image1.6.9.

all the component that you create or import to your model will appear in

Components Floating Palette


WhenyouimportanotherSketchupmodel,amodelcreatedinanother3DmodelingprogramoraCADdrawingcreatedwithsoftwarelikeAutoCADorMicrostation,youwillbringthismodeltoyourSketchupmodelalongwithallitscomponents.AllMicrostationcellswillappearbebroughttoyourSketchupmodelsasindividualcomponents.WhenyouimportacomplexCADplans,sectionsorelevations,itmightbe,thatyouwillendupwithhundredsofcomponentsthatyoudonotneedtohave inyourmodel (suchaswashbasins, toiletsorotherelements).Theseobjectwill notonlyconfuseyou,butwillalsoslowyoudownalot,especiallyifdrawnwithcurvesandarches.

Below isanexampleofanemptySketchupfile,whereCADplanwas imported (refer to image1.6.10).

Image1.6.10.

Image1.6.11.

trees (Microstation cells)


Image1.6.11showstheComponents Floating Windowandthelistofallcomponentscurrentlyusedinyourmodel.Youhaven’tcreatedanycomponentsyet,butasyoucansee,allthetreesandotherMicrostationgroupsandcellswereimportedtothemodelascomponents.Thiscouldhavebeenavoided if theoriginalCADfilewaseditedbeforehand (someobjects couldhavebeendeleted,somegroupsandcellscouldhavebeenexploded).Itisnowstillpossibletocleanitup,becausethedrawinghasbeenimportedtoanemptySketchupmodel.Individualcomponentscanbedeletedbyright-clickingonthecomponentinComponents Floating WindowandchoosingDelete Component. Itismuchbetterthoughtodotheclean-upbeforeimportingthedrawingtoSketchup.

Components can be saved externally, outside your main Sketchup model. When working withcomplexmodels,youmayprefertocreatethemainSketchupmodel,whichwillbeyourmastermodelaswellasseriousofcomponents,savedasindividualSketchupfiles.Youcanthenimportthesecomponentsintoyourmainmastermodelandworkindividuallyoneachofthecomponents.Whenyouapplychangestoyourindividualcomponents,youcanreloadthemthroughtheComponentsFloatingWindow.

Thisway of workingmight be desiredwhenworkingwith very complexmodels, wheremakingamendmentstosmalldetailsofalargeprojectcanbedifficult.ThisalsoallowsmoreteammemberstoworkononeSketchupmodel.

Image 1.6.12. below shows an example,where individual buildings can be saved externally asSketchupmodelsandthenimportedtothemastermodel.

Itisagoodhabittoprepareasetoftidied-upCADdrawingsandalwaysimportDWGsandmodelsdownloadedfrom3DWarehousetoanempty Sketchup modeltocheckthem,cleanuptheirlayers,materialsandcomponentsstructure,simplifythemifrequiredandthenimporttothemainSketchupmodel.Modelswithverylargenumberofcomponentsworkslower.

Image1.6.12.

Block A Block C Block E Block HBlock FBlock B Block G


Image1.6.14.ResidentialblockssavedasindividualSketchupmodelsoutsidemainSketchupmodel.

Image1.6.13.ImportingcomponentsstoredoutsideSketchupmastermodel.


Image1.6.15. List of imported componentsinSketchup’sComponents Floating Window.

Image 1.6.16. Updating externally savedcomponentsafterapplyingchanges.


Image1.6.18.BlockAbeforeamendments.

Image1.6.17.EachbuildingofthemasterplanimportedtomainSketchupmodelandplacedinthecorrectlocation.


Image1.6.20.BlockAcomponentreloadedinmastermodel.

Image1.6.19.AmendedresidentialblockinBlockA.skpfile.

57Sketchup Guide | Part II: Modeling in SketchupImage2.1.1.

Part II: Modeling in Sketchup2.1. Basic modeling techniques

Sketchupisaveryeasytouse3dmodelingprogram.Perhapsbecauseitissoeasytolearn,itisthoughttobeverylimited.InfactitcanhandlecomplexgeometryandverydetailedmodelscanbecreatedinSketchup,ifonlythemodelissetupcarefully(refertoprevioussectionsaboutLayersandComponents).

WhenyoustartusingSketchup,youmayfinditusefultodisplaytheLarge Tool Set(View - Toolbars - Large Tool Set).

Make ComponentSelect

EraserPaint Bucket

LineRectangle

ArcCircle

FreehandPolygon

Push & PullMove

Follow MeRotate

OffsetScale

DimensionTape Measure

LabelProtractor

3D TextAxes

PanOrbit

Zoom ExtentsZoom

Redo ViewUndo View

Look AroundPosition Camera

Section PlaneWalk

Sketchup Guide | Part II: Modeling in Sketchup58

Select

Selectiontoolisoneofthemostfrequentlyusedtools,thereforeitisgoodtoassignashortcuttoit(Window - Preferences - Shortcuts).

Itisprettyobviouswhatthistooldoes,butitisprobablygoodtomention,that:

• single clickselectssinglesurface,edge,grouporcomponent(pressCtrltoselectmultipleandShifttoaddorremoveobjectsfromselection);refertoimages1.6.22.and1.6.23.

• double clickselectssurfaceanditsperimiteredges;refertoimage1.6.24.

• tripple clickselectsallconnectedgeometry;refertoimage1.6.25.

Byright-clickingandgoingtoSelect(refertoimage1.6.26.)givesyouthefollowingoptions:

• boundingedges

• connectededges

• allconnected

• allonsamelayer

• allwithsamematerial

Image2.1.2.Selectsurface.

Image2.1.3.Selectedges.

59Sketchup Guide | Part II: Modeling in Sketchup

Image2.1.4.Selectsurfaceandboundingedges(doubleclick).

Image2.1.6.Selectionoptions.

Image2.1.5.Selectallconnectedsurfacesandedges.


Ifyousetupyourmodelinaway,thatdifferentwallmaterialsaredifferentlayers,youcaneasilyassignrelevantmaterialstoallsurfacesoncertainlayers.Forexample,ifinsteadofhavingjustonelayer:Wallsyoucreatelayers:Brick, Render, Metal Cladding,youcanselectallsurfacesonthesamelayerandassignamaterialtoallofthematonce(forexamplebrickmaterialtoallsurfacesonlayerBrick).

Image2.1.7.Exampleoflayerspreset.


Selectingmultipleobjects:

• left to right selection(refertoimage1.6.28and1.6.29)willonlyselectobjectsentirelywithintherectangularselectionmarkedbycontinuousline

• right to left selection(refertoimages1.6.30and1.6.31)willselectallobjects‘touched’bytherectangularselectionmarkedbydashedline

Image2.1.8.Lefttorightselection.

Image2.1.10.Righttoleftselection.

Image2.1.9.Lefttorightselection.

Image2.1.12.Righttoleftselection.


Make Component

Youcancreateacomponentbyclickonthisiconorbyright-clickingandchoosingMake Component (refertosection 1.6. Groups and components).

Paint Bucket

ClickonPaint Bucketicontoassignmaterialtoasurface.YoucanassignmaterialsalsothroughMaterials Floating Palette(refertosection 1.5. Working with materials).Note,thatifyouworkinCol-our By Layermode,clickingonPaint BucketiconwillautomaticallyenableColour By Material mode.

Eraser

UsingEraserisprobablytheeasiestwayofdeletinggeometry,groupsandcomponents,butitmaybequickerinsomecasestojustselectunwantedgeometryandpressDelete.

Line

Line tool isthetoolthatyouwillusemostoften.BecauseSketchupdoesnothaveparametricprimi-tives,allgeometryneedstobeconstructedbydrawingashapein2Dandextrudingit.Toplacealine,clickonthepenciliconortypeL,definestartingpointandfurthervertexes.Ifyouneedtodrawalineofcertainlength,definestartingpoint,thenshowdirection,thentypeinthelengthandpressEnter.Thelengthisshownatbottomrightcornerofyourscreen(refertoimage1.6.32.below).

In some situations you may want to draw a line until certain point, but you don’t know the distance. In this situation locking axes will help. To lock axis press:

• right arrow to lock red axis (axis X)

• left arrow to lock green axis (axis Y)

• up or down arrow to lock blue axis (Axis Z)

Image1.6.32.

Image2.1.13. Image2.1.14.X

Y

Z

Lock X axis

Lock Z axisLock Z axis


Arc

Arc tool workssimilartolinetool.Todrawarcyouhavetospecify:start,endandmidpoint.Youcanalsospecifyradius.Radiuslengthisdisplayedatrightbottomofyourscreen(seeimage1.6.35).Sketchupwillshow‘HalfCircle’signwhenyourradiusis50%ofthedistancebetweenthestartandandpointsthatyouspecified(seeimage1.6.36).

Start

Mid

End

Image2.1.15.

Image2.1.16.

r r


Rectangle

Rectangle tool isanotheressentialtoolthatisusedveryfreequently.Youcandrawarectanglebyspecifyingtwooppositevertexes.Dimensionsofyourrectanglearedisplayedattherightbottomcorner(refertoimage1.6.35.below).

Image2.1.18.

Start

End

Freehand

Freehand tool allowsyoutosketchlineworkasyouwoulddowithabrushinPhotoshop.Thistoolisnotusedveryoften thoughas it isnotveryaccurate.BezierCurvesplugingivesmuchmoreflexibility(refertosection 2.2. Useful Plugins).

Youcanincrease(ordecrease)thenumberoffacettesviaEntity Info(refertosection1.1.whereyoufindmoredetailsaboutEntity Infofloatingpalette).

Image2.1.17.

type in the number of segments here


Polygon

Polygon tool worksexactly likeCircletool.Todrawapolygonyouneedtospecifystartingpoint,thenendpointsoryoucangiveradiusandhitEnter.Beforeyoustartyoucangivethenumberofsegments(sides).BydetaultSketchupdrawsapolygoncontainingof6segments.Ifyouwouldliketodrawapolygoncontainingofdifferentnumberofsegments,youhavetospecifythenumberofsegmentsbeforestartingtodraw(refertoimage1.6.37.below).Thenumberofsegmentsisshownattherightbottomcornerofyourscreen.YoucanchangeradiusandnumberofsegmentslaterviaEntity Info(refertoimage1.6.40).

Circle

Circle tool isexecutedsimilarilytoarctool.Todrawacircleyouneedtospecifythecenterandanendpointwhichwillgivetheradius.AlternativelyyoucantypeintheradiusandpressEnter.Theradiusisshownattherightbottomcornerofyourscreen.

Image2.1.19.

Image2.1.20.

Start End click or type in the value and

press Enter


Start

Start

End

Image2.1.21.

Image2.1.22.

r


Image2.1.23.

r

adjust radius and number of segments

Move

Use Move tool torelocateindividualormultiplevertexes,edges,surfaces,groupsandcomponents.

ChooseMoveandholdCtrltocreateacopy.

If youwould like tomovean object of a certain distance, select the object, click and show thedirectioninwhichyouwouldliketheobjecttobemoved(forexamplealongredaxisoralonganedge)andthentypeinathevalueandpressEnter.

Ifyouwouldliketoalignanobjectwithanotheroneandyoudon’tknowthedistance,youcanlock axes(refertoimages1.6.33and1.6.34atpage62).

Tocreatemultiplecopies, just type in thenumberofcopies thatyouwould like tocreatefollowedbyx,forexample8x and press Enter.


Rotate

To Rotate anobjectormultipleobjects(edges,surfaces,groups,components)selectanobjectandspecify rotationcenterpoint.Aprotractorwillappear,ason image1.6.41.below.Youcaneitherspecifyapointbyleft-clickingifyouwouldliketorotateofrandomeangleortypeintheangleandpress Enter.

Thecolouroftheprotractorchangesdependingonthesurfaceparalleltowhichyourotate.

Blue Protractor-appearswhenyoursurfaceofrotationisperpendiculartoblueaxis(Z).

Red Protractor -appearswhenyoursurfaceofrotationisperpendiculartoredaxis(X).

Green Protractor -appearswhenyoursurfaceofrotationisperpendiculartogreenaxis(Y).

BlackProtractor-appearswhenyoursurfaceofrotationisnotperpendiculartoanyoftheaxis.

Images2.1.24.and2.1.25.Rotatingonsurfaceperpendiculartoblueaxis.


Images2.1.26.and2.1.27.Rotatingonsurfaceperpendiculartoredaxis.

Images2.1.28.and2.1.29.Rotatingonsurfaceperpendiculartogreenaxis.


Tocreateacopyoftherotatingelement,pressCtrl.

Image2.1.30.Rotateandcopy.

Image2.1.31.Rotateandcopy.


Image2.1.32.Rotateandcopy-step1:showthedirectionofrotation.

Image2.1.33.Rotateandcopy-step2:typeintherotationangleandpressEnter.


Image2.1.34.Rotateandcopy-step3:typeinthe number of copies followed by x and press Enter, inexample5x.

Image2.1.35.Rotateandcopyresult.


Insomecircumstancesyoumaywanttorotateanobjectparalleltoasurfacethatisoutsideofyourobject.YoucanlocktheprotractorbyholdingShift andthenpickarotationpointatanyplaceofyourmodel.

Image2.1.36.Lockingtheprotractor-step1.

Image2.1.37.Lockingtheprotractor-step2.


Follow Me

Follow Meallowstoextrudeasurfacealongthepath.Toexecutethetoolselectthepath (serious of connected lines and curves)andthenpickthesurface (profile)thatyouwouldliketobeextrudedalongthispath.Theprofilewillbeextrudedalongalltheconnectedlinesthatyouselected.

Alternativelyyoucanclickonthesurfacefirstandfollowthepathuntilthepointwhereyouwillwanttostoptheextrusion.

Image2.1.38.Followme-selectthepath.

Image2.1.39.Pickthesurfaceandyourprofilewillbeextrudedalongtheselectedpath.


Image2.1.40.Followme-alongpre-existingpath.

Image2.1.41.Followme-alongpre-existingpath.

Youcanobviouslyuseapre-existingpath,likeontheexamplebelow:


Scale

Scaletoolworkssimilarilytoothertools.Youcanscalemanually,bydraggingtheskalinghandlesoryoucantypeintheexactvalueandhitEnter.

ScalingtoolinSketchupallowsnotonlytoscale butalsoto mirror objects.AsSketchupdoesnothaveamirrortool,elementscanbemirrorededusingtheScaletoolbytypiginnegativevaluesorbydraggingthescalinghandlesmanually,asshownontheexamplesbelow.

Image2.1.42.

Image2.1.43.

Image2.1.44.


Itispossibletoscaleentiremodelmodelledinincorrectunitsorimportednottoscale.

Toscaleentiremodelortogiveafixeddimensiontoanedgeofincorrectdimensioncreateagroup,measureadiscancebetweentwopointsinyourmodelandtypeinthevaluethatthisdistanceshouldmatchandyourmodelwillbescaled.

Image2.1.45.Scalingvalue‘-1’(mirroredobject).

Image2.1.46.Scalingbyspecifyingafixedvalue.Specifydiscancebetween2points.

Image2.1.47.Scalingbyspecifyingafixedvalue.TypeinthevalueandpressEnter.


Image2.1.48.Scalingbyspecifyingafixedvalue.Youwill beaskedwhetheryouwant toresizethemodel.

Image2.1.49.Scalingbyspecifyingafixedvalue.Nowthedistancebetween the2pointsthatyouspecifiedis2,000mm.

Image2.1.50.

Offset

OffsettoolisanequivalenttoMicrostation’scopy paralleltool.Itworksforflatsurfacesandcurves.Tooffsetacurvedsurfaceyouneedtouseaplugin(refertochapter2.2.UsefulPlugins).Images1.6.65.to1.6.69.showsurfaceoffset.Images1.6.70.to1.6.72.showcurveoffset.


Image2.1.51.

Image2.1.52.

Image2.1.53.


Image2.1.54.

Image2.1.55.

Image2.1.56.

Image2.1.57.


Image2.1.58.

Image2.1.59.

Tape Measure

Tape Measuretoolallowsyoutomeasuredistancebetweenpointsandobjects.ToplacedimensiononyourmodeluseDimension Tool.

Dimension

Dimension toolallowsyou toplacedimensionson themodel.Tosetprecissiongo toWindow -ModelInfo-Units.

Protractor

ProtractortoolallowsyoutoplacePhotoshop-likeguidesonyourmodel,whichyoucansnaptoanduseasagridforyourmodelingwork.Guidescanbeplacedonalayerandswitchedofforlocked.


Axes

Axestoolallowsyoutomoveandrotateaxes.ItisagoodideatosetashortcutforAxesasyouwillbeusingitalotduringmodelingprocess.

Label

Labeltoolallowsyoutoplacesomenotesonyuormodelormarkareas.

Image2.1.60.

Image2.1.61.Movingaxes.


3D Text

With3D Text toolyoucancreate3Dsignage.Thetextisplacedasacomponentanditis‘glued’toasurface.Unfortunatelyitisnotpossibletoeditthewordsafteryouhaveplacedthetext.

Image2.1.63.Placing3Dtext.

Image2.1.64.

Image2.1.62.Movingaxes.


Zoom

Zoom tool(aswellasthescroll)allowsyoutozoominandoutthemodel.

ZoomingwiththeShiftkeywillchangethefieldofview.

Zoom Extents

Zoom Extents toolframestheentiremodelonyourscreen.Itisagood‘wayout’whenyouzoomintoocloseor‘getlost’onabigmodel.

Position Camera

Position camera toolpositionsacameraateye-levelheight.

Look Around

Look Around toolpivotscameraaroundastationarypointandallowsyoutolookaroundthemodelwithouttheneedofpanningorspinningaroundwiththeorbit.

Walk

Walk toolallowstowalkwiththecamera(withouttheuseofpantoolororbittool).

Undo Zoom and Redo Zoom

Undo Zoom and Redo Zoom buttonsallowtoundoandredoonlythezoom(usefulifyouacciden-tallychangeaview).

Orbit

Orbit toolallowsyoutospinaroundthemodel(whichyoucanalsodobypressingthescroll).

Pan

Pan toolallowsyoutopantheview.YoucanassignakayboardshortcuttoPantoolthatwillbemoreintuitivethanthedefaultone.


Section

Section toolcutsaflatsectionofyour3dmodel.

Youcancutasectionwhereveryoulikeandproduceverticalsectionorhorizontalsection.

TocontrolvisibilityofSectionplaneorcutlinesusetheSectiontoolbarorthroughViewmenu:

Image2.1.65.SectionToolbar

Image2.1.66.ControlingsectionedgesthroughViewmenu.

cut section

show section plane

show section cut lines


Whencuttingasection,thesectionplanewillautomaticallyalignwithasurfacethatyoupick:

BydefaultSketchupwillcutasectionatthesurfacewhichyoupickandyouwillneedtomovethesectioncuttingplaneusingMovetooltothedesiredposition.

Images2.1.67and2.1.68.Creatingasectioncut

Image2.1.69.Sectioncutswithsectionsplanesvisible.


BydefaultSketchupwillleavethecuttingplanevisible.UsetheSectiontoolbar(Image1.6.80)orViewmenu(Image1.6.81)tohideit.

Sometimesyoumaywanttoexporta2Dsectionasapng,jpgordwgandyoumaywanttomakethecamerafacingthecuttingplane.Youcaneitherusetheviewstosettheview:

orbyright-clickingonthesectioncuttingplaneandchoosingAlign View.Theviewwillthenbealignedtothecuttingplane.

Image2.1.70.Sectioncutwithsectionsplaneinvisible.

Image2.1.71.

Image2.1.72.


Image2.1.73.Viewalignedtosectioncuttingplane.Camerasettoperspective.

Image2.1.75.Viewalignedtosectioncuttingplane.Camerasettoparallelprojection.

Image2.1.74.Changingcameratoparallelprojection.


Image2.2.1.Warehousetoolbar.

Image2.2.2.ExtensionWarehouse.

TheseareprettymuchallthebasicSketchuptools,brieflyexplained.Youwillprobablybeabletomodelmostofyourarchitecturalprojectsusing just thesetools,butsometimesusingextensionsinSketchupmayspeedupyourworkflowandallowyoutomodelquickerorcreatemorecomplexgeometrythatwouldn’tbeeasytobuildusingjustthebasicfeaturesofSketchup.

2.2. Useful plugins.

SomeSketchupusersclaim, thatcertainextensionsmakeSketchupadifferentprogram -morepowerfulandmorefuntouse.

Wherecanextensionsbefoundandhowtheycanbeinstalled?

Sketchup extensions sources

ProbablythemostpopularsiteswithSketchuppluginsare:sketchucation.com and smustard.com,

butthereareplentyotherwebsitesandforumswhereyoucanfindsomeusefulSketchupplugins,usuallydevelopedbySketchupenthusiastsandsharedforfreeorforasmalldonation.

Installation

InolderversionsofSketchupprobablytheeasiestwaytoinstallanextensionwastojustcopytheplugintopluginsfolder.NewerversionsofSketchupmakestheprocessmucheasier.

ThelasticonontheWarehousetoolbargetsyoutoExtentionWarehouse,whereyoucansearchforplugins.YoucaninstallanextensiondirectlyfromtheWarehouse.

Extension Warehouse


TofindandinstallanextensioninSketchupjusttypeinapluginthatyouarelookingfor.Usuallyalistoffewpluginsappears.Beforeinstallingreadthedescriptiontomakesurethatthisissomethingyouwereactuallylookingforandclick‘Install’buttononthetop.

Whenyouclick‘Install’,youwillbeaskedtoconfirmwhetheryouwouldliketoinstallthisextension:

Image2.2.3.ExtensionWarehouse-plugindetails.

Image2.2.4.Installinganextension.


Whenthepluginisinstalledyouwillbenotifiedthatitisreadytouse.

Image2.2.6.Exportingsavedscenes.

Image2.2.5.Extensioninstalled.

Here is a list of some useful plugins that you may wish to try.

Page ExIm (Page Export - Import)

Ifyouhaveeverthoughtthatitwouldbenicetobeabletoexportthescenesthatyouhavesavedinyourmodelintoadifferentfile-youwillbepleasedtoknowthatitisactuallypossiblewithPage ExImpugin.

Thisextensioncanbepurchasedthroughsmustard.com.

PageExImwillexportandimportpages(scenes)betweenmodels.Cameraandshadowsettingswillberetained.Hiddenentitiesandhiddenlayerscannotberetainedduetothedifferencesbetweenmodels.Whetherapage(scene)isincludedinaslideshowcanbesaved,butcannotbechangedbyruby.Displaysettingsarenotyetretained(seenotebelow).

InthemodelthatcontaisyoursavedscenesgotoView - Pages andchooseExport.


Youwillbenotifiedthatyoursceneshavebeenexported.

Theexportedscenesaresavedasan.sup(SketcuhpPage)fileinthesamelocationwhereyourmodelis.ThefilenamewillbethesameasthenameoftheSketchupmodelthatyouhaveexportedthescenesfrom.

NowyoucangototheSketchupmodelwhereyouwouldliketoimportthescenesandimportthemthroughtheViewmenubychoosingPages - Import.

Image2.2.7.

Image2.2.8.SketchupPage(.sup)filecontainingexportedscenes.

Image2.2.9.Importingsavedscenes.

Image2.2.10.Importingscenestoanewfile.


Youwillbeaskedwhetheryouwouldliketousethenamesthatyouhaveusedforthescenesinyourpreviousmodel.

Youwillbenotifiedwhentheimportiscomplete.

Andyoursceneswillappearinyournewmodel.

Image2.2.11.Importingsavedscenes.Retainingthenames.

Image2.2.12.Importingsavedscenes.

Image2.2.13.Imported scenes.

This isquiteausefulplugin thatmaysavea lofof time.However, it is important tonotethat the sceneswill always correspondwith the origin of themodel. If you have createdfewoptionsofaprojectandlatermovedyourmodelinsomefiles,butnotintheoldoneswhereyou’vecreatedyourscenes,thenyourscenesimportedfromonemodertoanotherwillobviouslynotlookthesame!


Joint Push Pull

Sketchupdoesnowallowtoextrudenon-flatsurfaces.Therearefewwaysaroundthislimitation,butprobablythequickestoneisaplugincalledJoint Push Pull.TheextensioncanbefoundontheSketchucationwebsiteandinstalledthroughextensionmanager.

Image2.2.14.JointPushPullplugintoolbar.

Images2.2.15and2.2.16.UsingJointPushPullplugin.

Thepluginisveryeasytouse.Justselectasurfaceorfewsurfacesandextrude.YoucantypeinavalueandpressEnterifyouwishtoextrudeofacertainvalue.


Tools on Surface

Tools on SurfaceisasetoftoolsthatdealwithasimilarSketchuplimitation-offsettinganddrawingonnon-flatsurfaces.

Image2.2.18.ToolsonSurfacetoolbar.

Image2.2.19.UsingOffsetToolfromToolsonSurfaceset.

Image2.2.17.Extrudingmultiplefaces.

Youcanalsoeitherkeeptheoriginalsurfaceordeleteit.

An offset tool allowsto offset contours ofanon-flatsurface:


Image2.2.20.Usingoffsetpush/pulltooloncurvedsurface.



Curviloft

Curviloftisascriptdedicatedtoloftandskinning/generationofsurfacesfromcontours.

Image2.2.25.Loft by Spline-joinsseparatecontours,openorclosed,bysmoothsplines.

Image2.2.24.Curvilofttoolbar.

Image2.2.26.Loft along Path-joinscontoursalongagivenrailcurve.

Image2.2.27.Skinning-createssurfacesboundedby3or4contours.


Curvizard

Curvizardisasuiteofinteractivetoolsoperatingonsequencesofedges(contours)andSketchupcurves.

Make Curves (weld)joinscurvesandcreateasinglecurve.

Make Curves (weld)explodescurvestosegments.

Tolls:Cleanup / Simplify / Smooth Contours giveyoumoreoptions throughanadditionalmenu:

Image2.2.28.Curvizardtoolbar.

Image2.2.29.Curvizardlauncher.

Image2.2.30.Curvizardoptions.


Round Corner

Round Corner isoneoftheseextentionsthatreallyshouldbeabuilt-intoolwithinSketchup.Forsomereasonitdoesnotcomewiththebasicversionoftheprogram,butfortunatelycanbefoundonSketchucationwebsiteandeasilyinstalled.

Theextensionperformstheroundingoftheedgesandcornersof3Dshapesalonga2Dprofile,in3modes:Roundcorners,SharpcornersandBevel.Round Corneralsosupportsconcavecorners(alwaysrenderedasRound)andnon-orthogonaledgefaces.Cornerscanhave2,3,ormoreedges.

Image2.2.31.RoundCornertoolbar.

Image2.2.32.Roundingcorners.

Image2.2.33.Roundedcorners.


Image2.2.34.Sharpingcorners.

Image2.2.35.Sharpcorners.


Image2.2.36.Bevellingcorners.

Image2.2.37.Bevelledcorners.

WhenusingRound Cornersextensionyoucancontrolnotonlytheroundingradiusbutalsothenumberoffacetes.


Currentlythetooldoesnotworkfor2Dcomponents.

Edge Tools

Edge toolsisasuiteoftoolsforworkingwithedges.

Itsimplifiescurves-reducingthenumberofsegments.Veryusefulwhengeneratingterrainfromimportedsiteplans.TheEpsilonvalueaskedforishowmuchthesimplifiedcurveisallowedtodevi-atefromtheoriginal.

Italsoclosessmallgaps-usefulforimportingDWGdrawingswhereedgesdoesn’tquitelineup.Givesyouavisualmapofwherethereareedgeswithopenendsandoffersolutionsforclosingthemwithoneclick.

TheDivideEdgestoolletyouoffsetedgesthatfitextendstotheboundaryofthefaceitself.

Component Replacer

Component Replacer replaces selected groupsorcomponentswhilepreservingpositionandscale.Thereplacementwillensuretheboundingboxof the instanceremainsthesame-regardlessofscaleororigin.

Justmake a selection containing groups and components. (Doesn’tmatter if it containsmore,it’llbeignored.),activatethetoolandpickanothergrouporcomponentinstancetoreplacetheonesinyourselection.

Image2.2.38.EdgeToolstoolbar.

Image 2.2.39. Replacing groups and componentsusingcomponentreplacementplugin.


Layer Tools

Asmallutilitytoquicklyhidelayersbyclickonfaces/edges.VeryusefulpluginwhenworkingwithcomplexmodelsorimportedCADinformationwithmanylayers.

Theextension canbedownloaded fromSketchucationandafter installation it canbeaccessedthroughTools - Hide Layer by Pick.

3D Text Editor

Youwereprobablythinkingmanytimeshowtoeditthe3Dtext.3D Text Editor isapluginthatallowstodothat.ThetoolcanbaaccessedthroughDraw-Editable3dTextandContextMenu-EditText.

TheplugincanbeinstalledthroughExtensionWarehouse.

Image2.2.40.AccessingLayerTools.

Image2.2.41.AccessingEditable3DTextplugin.


Bezier Curve Tool

AtooltocreateBéziercurves.Theextensionisusedtomodelsmoothcurvesthatcanbescaledindefinitelyandaren’tconfinedtothelimitationsoftheArctool,allowingformorenaturalandintricateshapes.

CurrentlythisextensiondoesnotworkaswellunderOSXasitdoesunderWindows.Theplugindeveloperislookingintotheissue.

Image2.2.42.Editing3Dtext.

Image2.2.43.Beziertoolbar.

Image2.2.44.Usingtheplugin.


Bezier Surface

Createsbeziersurfacesfrombezierpatches.

Image2.2.45.Pluginoverview.

Thepluginisstillbeingdevelpedandwasreleasedforfreesouserscantestitandfivecommentsbacktothedeveloper.


Slicer

Ausefultooltosliceamass(agrouporcomponent).Youcanspecifythethicknessoftheslicesandthegapbetweenthemaswellasanofsetfromthestartingpoint.

TheplugincanbeaccessedthroughPlugins - Slicer5.

Toexecutethetoolyoufirstneedtocreateagrouporcomponent.Selectitandactivatetheplugin.Awindowwillappearandyouwillbeabletoadjustthevalues,suchasslicethicknessorspacing.

Image2.2.46.AccessingSlicerextension.

Image2.2.47.Adjustingparameters.


Image2.2.48.Massbeforeslicing.

Image2.2.49.Massafterslicing.

Youcanalsochoosetohaveallsliceslaiddownflatandnumbered.Thismightbeusefulifyouwanttousetheslicestobuildaphysicalmodel(youcanexportatopviewto2DCADandprintouttoscale).


Image2.2.50.Individualsliceslaidflatandnumbered.

Image2.2.51.Source:http://www.thomthom.net/software/vertex_tools/features

Vertex Tools

VertexToolsisasetoftoolstomodifycomplexshapes.

Herearesomeofthefeaturesofthisplugin:

Extrude edges -youcanquicklyextrudeedgesfromaselectionusingthegizmo:


Soft selection - type inaLength in theVCBwhilea selection tool isactive.Verticeswithin thisdistancefromtheselectedverticesarealsoaffectedbytoolsthatmodifythegeometry.Thefurtherawayfromtheselection,thelesstheyareaffected.Thisisillustratedbycolour-codingtheverticesfromRed,Orange,Yellow,GreenandBlue–whereRedis100%andBlueis0%.

Therearetwotypesoffall-offforthesoft-selctionradius:linearfall-offandcosinerfall-off:


Image2.2.53.Linearfall-off.Source:http://www.thomthom.net/software/vertex_tools/features

Image2.2.54.Cosinerfall-off.Source:http://www.thomthom.net/software/vertex_tools/features


ThisYouTubevideoshowshowtomodelacharacterusingVertexTools:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfM02PleFMg

Lock UV mapping -preserveUVmappingwhenyoumanipulatethemodel’sgeometry.

Auto-Smooth -Whena face isdeformed insuchaway that itsverticesareno longercoplanar,SketchupAutofoldsthefacebyaddingnewedges.




Proxy functions


VertexToolscanbepurchasedfrom https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=vertex+tools+plugin+for+sketchup


Image2.2.58.Architecttoolsmenu.

Features:

Super Section

Placesanexistingsectioncutonitsownlayerandit’sownscene,andalignstheview.

TheSuperSectionpluginisusedtocreate2Dslicesthroughyourmodel.(TimberFramers:thinkbentsectionsandwallsections).

Makeasectioncutinyourmodel,thenright-clickontheresultingsectionplane.Anewmenuop-tion,supersectionwillbeavailable.Clickthat,provideaname,andthepluginwillrun.

Itwillplacethesectioncutonitsownlayerwithitsownscene.Thenewlayerwillbevisibleonlyonthatscene-notinanyexistingscenes,orfuturescenesthatyouadd.Italsoswitchesthecamerafromperspectivetoparallelprojection,andalignstheviewwiththesectionplaneforthatscene.

Thenewlayerwillbetheactivelayerwhenthepluginfinishes.Anythingyouaddtothislayer,likelabelsanddimensions,willonlybevisibleinthisscene.Createasmanysupersectionsasyoulike.Nothingyouaddwillbevisibleonanyotherscenes.

Source: https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/super-section

Architect Tools

Suiteoftoolsforworkingwithimportedmapdatatogeneratebuildingsandsteppedterrains.

• GenerateBuildings

• MergeSolidBuildings

• FillSolidHoles

• SelectNon-Solids

• Make2:1RoadProfile

• MovetoZ

• ContourTool(Forclosingcontourlineswithopenends)

• ExtrudeUp(Forgeneratingsteppedterrain)

• ProjectDownTool

• MagnetTool

• MovetoPlane

• FlattenSelection

• CropSelectiontoBoundary

• PutGeometryonLayer0

• GridDivide

Source: https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/architect-tools


Image2.2.59.Extrusiontoolsmenu.

Image2.2.60.Extrudingedgesbyvector.


ExtrusionTools

Setoftoolsallowingtoextrudeedgesindifferentways.

Youhaveprobablywonderedmanytimeshowtoextrudeedgesonlyandnotsolidsorhowtoex-trudebyvector.Thistooldoesexactlythat(andmore).

ProbablythemostfrequentlyusedisExtrudeedgesbyvector:

Let’ssayyou’vegotachainofarchsandedgesthatyouwouldliketoextrudeofdistanceA,soitisthesameheightastheboxopposite.Youjustneedtoselecttheedgesandspecifytwopointsofthevector.

A




1

2

A

A

specify vector

edges are extruded by vector


Youwillnowbeaskedwhetheryouwouldliketoreverseextrusion’sfacesandwhetheryouwouldliketoexpodetheextrusion’sgroup:

Youcanobviouslyextrudeinanydirection:




A

A


Itisalsopossibletoextrudemultiplechainsofedgesandcurveswithoneclick:


Image2.2.68.Extrudingmultiplechaisofedges.


Simple Plugin Installer

SketchUp’s“InstallExtension”buttononlyallows.RBZfiles,andyouhavetonavigatethroughseveralclickstogettothebutton.

SimplePluginInstallerisasimpleutilitytomakeiteasiertoinstall.RBZ,.ZIPpackages.Italsoletsyoupick.RBfileswhichwillbecopiedtothePluginsfolder.

Formoreinformationoninstallingplugins:http://www.thomthom.net/thoughts/2012/01/installing-plugins-for-google-sketchup/

Features:

• ZIPPackage-allowsforinstallationof.ZIPfilesasiftheywhere.RBZfiles.

• RBZPackage-doesthesameasSketchUp’s“InstallExtension”button.

• RBFile-copiesselected.rbfiletothePluginsfolder.

• RBSFile-copiesselected.rbsfiletothePluginsfolder.

• OpenExtensionManager-simplyopenstheExtensionpageunderSketchUp’sPreferenceswindow.

Sketchup Guide | Part III: Working with complex models120

Part III: Working with complex models3.1. Organising the model

Someofthetipsinthischapteryoumayfindveryobvious,butperhapstheycanbeusefultonewusersofSketchup.

Inchapteronethereissomeexplenationonorganisinglayers,materials,viewsandkeepingthemodeltidy.

Generallyitisagoodpracticetokeepthelayersystemtidyandlogicallyorganized,withclearandconsistentnamingconvention.Thishelpsa lotwhen themodelgetsbiggerandmoreandmorecomplex.

Thesameiswiththematerials.Avoidingmaterialscalled‘Material1’,‘Colour029’etc.andgivinglogicalnameshelps,especiallywhenyoulaterwanttorenderyourscenewithVray(orotherrenderengine)andeditmaterialfeatures.

Betteryouorganiseyourmodelrightatthebeginning,smootheryourworkflowwillbeinthefuture.

Files withmany layers, materials and components (even unused components) quickly becomeextremelyheavyandworkingwiththemisaslowprocess.

Thereforebeforeyoustart,itisgoodideatothinkwhatsortofmodelyouneedtocreateandwhatlayersyoumayneed.Forexample fora largemasterplanmodelyoumaywant tocreate layerslike:existingbuildings,proposedbuildings,trees,terrain,people,carsetc..Whilewhencreatingadetailedmodelofaninterior,youwillprobablyneedlayerslike:furniture,wallfinishes,floorfinishesetc.Thisisonlyanexampleanditisentirelyuptoyouhowyouwillorganizeyourlayers,butitisjustgoodideatoorganizethemsomehowandkeepthenamingconsistent.

Ifyouhappentoworkwithamodelthathasbeencreatedbysomebodyelse,itisalsoagoodideatofollowtheirlayer/material/scenenamingconventionsoyoudon’tendupwithlayersormaterialscalled‘Windows’and‘Windows-type1’or‘Brickwalls’and‘Walls_brick’etc.

Thesameiswithcomponents.Componentsarelistedinalphabeticalorderanditismucheasiertobrowsethemandplacetheminyourmodelwhenyouhavethemnamedcorrectly,soforexample:‘WindowType01’,WindowType02’, ‘WindowType03’andnot: ‘WindowType01’,Window_2’,LargeWindowgroundfloor’.

Theaboveexamplesseemobviousbutunfortunatelythesemistakesappeartohappenveryofteninmodelseditedbydifferentpeopleintheteam.

121Sketchup Guide | Part III: Working with complex models

3.1. How to avoid problems

MakingthemostofSketchupmeansunderstandingitslimitations.

Sketchupcanhandlecomplexgeometryandlargeprojects,aslongasthemodelsarekeptorganizedandtidy.Herearefewtipsthatyoumayfindhelpful:

Layers:

Nameyourlayersinalogicalwayandkeepthenamingconsistent.

Working with imported geometry (.dwgs etc):

Always importadwgdrawing toanewemptySketchupmodelandnotdirectly toyourworkingfile.Afterimporting,selectallthelayersandmovetoLayer0oranotherlayerthatyoucreate,forexampleL0 plan or Section A-A.CADlayersareusuallyuselessinyourSketchupmodelandhavingawholelistoflayerscalledAF3--G-Circ, AG1--G-SitePrepetc.justdoesn’thelp.

Whenyourdwgdrawing is tidy,whenyoudeleteunwanted layersandpurgeunusedoruselessmaterialsorcomponents,thensaveyourfileinasubfolderandthengobackyouyourworkingfileandimportyourL0planorSectionA-Aandputitonalayerwiththesamename.Thiswillallowyuotoavoidhavinghundredsofmeanlesslayersandyouwillbeabletoquicklyswichonandoffvariousdwgplans,sectionsandelevationsthatyouimport.

Image3.1.1.onthenextpageshowsalistoflayersinafilewithimporteddwgplandrawing.Theycanallbemovedtoasinglelayer.

Working with 3D Warehouse models

3DWarehouseisagreatresourceandyoucanfindmanygoodmodelsthere.Itistemptingtojustputalotofnicedetailed3Dcars,treesorfurniture.Unfortunatelyamodeloverloadedwiththesemodelscanquicklybecomeanightmaretoworkon.

Thebesthabitisthereforefirstofallalwaysimport3Dwarehousemodelstoanemptyfile,similarlytoworkingwithdwgdescribedabove.Thenyoucancheckwhetheryourcarhastoomuchdetail(maybeithastoomuchgeometryinside,thatyoudon’tneedforyourmasterplanviews).Youcancleanupyourmodelfromunwantedgeometry,re-nameorremoveunwantedlayers,materialsandscenesandthenyourmodelwillbereadytoimporttoyourworkingfile.

Thesameiswithany3Dmodelsthatyoumayreceivefromanotherarchitectworkingonthesameprojectorimportedfrom3dstudiomaxorother3dsoftware.

2D camera facing components

ThesearethemostSketchup-friendlycomponentsastheyaresimpleflatshapesandhavingalotoftheminthemodelwillnotslowyoudown.Itisgoodideatouse2Dcomponentswhenevertheycanreplaceheavy3Dmodels.

Unused components

Unusedcomponents,eveniftheyonlyappearonyourlistofcomponentsinthefloatingwindowandarenotplacedinyourmodelcansignificantlyincreasethefilesize.Purgningcomponentsregularlyisagoodhabit.

OnmanyoccasionsIhaveseensimplemodelssize80MB,whichhavebeenverydifficulttoworkwith.Aftertidyinguptheirsizecamedowntoaroung15MB.

Sketchup Guide | Part III: Working with complex models122

Image3.1.1.Layersofimporteddwgfile.

123Sketchup Guide | Part III: Working with complex models

Scenes:

Saved views (Scenes) with clear naming convention help navigating the model. Sometimes,especiallywhenthemodelhasalotofsavedviews,namingscenesnotonlyas:View 1, View 2, View 3,butprovidingabitmoredescription,like:View 1_Main entrance, View 2_Reception, View 3_Car Parketc.maybehelpfulespeciallytopeoplenotfamiliarwiththemodelandwhohavebeenaskedtoapplysomechangestoyourfile.

Styles:

Youhaveprobablynoticedthatworkingwithshadows,extentionsorendpointsonslowsyoudownalot.Itisbettertoworkinthesimplestpossiblemodeandonlyhavesomescenessetupwithsuchfeaturesifneeded.

Sketchup Guide | Part IV: Presentation of Sketchup work124

Part IV: Presentation of Sketchup work4.1. Sketchup Styles

Sketchupallowstopresentthescenesinavarietyofdifferentline/colourstyles.ThelatestversionsofSketchupincludeaStyle builderwhichallowstocreateandsaveapersonalisedstyle.

InordertogetSketchupworkingfastandsmoothyoushouldworkusingthemostsimplestyle(noendpoints,noextensions,noshadows,noprofiles,ifpossiblewithplaincoloursratherthantexturesandjustwithstraightlines).Butifyoudoneedtomakeyourimagelooklikeasketchorifyouwouldliketohaveextendedlinesetc.thenitisbesttosavesuchpersonalizedviewasascene,butstillworkina‘workingscene’withbasicsetup.

BelowaresomeexamplesofSketchupdefaultstyles.YoucanstilltweakeachstylebyclickingonEditlabelandadjustinglinethicknessesandotherproperties.

Image4.1.1.Basicstyles. Image4.1.2.Sketchyedges.

125Sketchup Guide | Part IV: Presentation of Sketchup work

Image4.1.3.Straightlines. Image4.1.4.Colorsets.

YouwouldthinkthatSketchupstylescouldbeagreatandquicksolutionwhenyouneedtoshowanimagethatlookslikeafreehandsketch.UnfortunatelySketchupisabit‘dummy’in this caseanddoesnot recognise theperspective verywell. Itwill traceovereverysinglelineandmaymakeyourviewslookingabitheavy.Thesketchylinestylesorotherpersonalisedstylesusuallyworkbestwithsimplemodels,diagramaticmassingdiagrams,simplemasterplanningmodelsetc., butdon’t givegreatoutcomewhenexported fromverydetailedmodelsofcomplexprojects.


Image4.1.5.ImageexportedfromSketchupandcolouredupinPhotoshop.

Image4.1.6.ImageexportedfromSketchupandrenderedusinganothersoftware.

Sometimesexportingaviewasasimple thin lineblackandwhitepictureandcolouring itup inPhotoshopgivesbetterresultsthananexportwithSketchupdefaultcolours.


Image4.2.1.Savingtemplates.

4.2. Templates

Ifyoupersonalizeyourworkingscene,edityourlinestyles,adjustproperties,purgecomponents,removeunusedmaterialsandwouldliketosavesuchstyleasatemplatesoitactivateswhenyoustartSketchup,youcandosobychoosingFile - Save as template.

Image4.2.2.Savingtemplates.

MakesurethatSet as detault templateistickedifyouwouldlikeyourpersonalisedstyletobeusedbySketchupeachtimeitstarts.


Image4.3.1.Camerasettings.

4.3. Cameras and scenes

Itiseasytocreate,modifyscenesandnavigatebetweenthemthroughtheScenesfloatingwindow(refertoPartI,page25).Itisalsopossibletoadjustcamerasettingsandsave.

Sketchupgives3basicoptions:

• ParallelProjection

• Perspective

• Two-PointPerspective

YouwillprobablyworkmostofteninPerspectivemode.YoumaywanttoexportyourscenesasTwo-PointPerspectiveandyour2DelevationsorsectionsasParallelProjection.

ButyoumayalsowanttoadjusttheFieldofView.Todothat,clickonFile-FieldofVieworonZoomicon.Theanglewillbedisplayedattherightbottomcornerofyourscreen.Justtypethevalueandpress Enter.


Image4.3.2.Adjustingfieldofview.

YoucanalsoadjustthefieldofviewbyusingtheZoomtoolwhileholdingShiftkey.


4.4. Rendering in Sketchup and outside Sketchup

Sketchupdoesnothaveabuiltinrenderengine,buttherearemanypluginsthatallowrenderingwithingSketchup.Notallofthemgivethesamequalityandnotallofthemworkinthesameway,buttherearequiteafewoptionstochosefrom.

ProbablythemostpopularonesareVrayandMaxwellRender.Theyworkinaverydifferentwayandprovidedifferentresults,buttheybothallowtosetupandrenderSketchupscenesrelativelyquickly.Vrayisperhapsabitfaster,butitalldependsonthescenesetupandcomplexityofthemodel.LatestversionofVrayforSketchuphasproxiesandsomeotherfeaturesthatSketchupwasmissinguntilrecently.

ThebenefitofrenderingwithinSketchupisobvious-youmodelandrenderwithinthesamesoftware,soitiseasytoapplychangesandre-render.ThedownsideofrenderingwithinSketchupisthefactthatSketchupitselfisquitelimitedanddoesnothandlelargemodelsverywell,especiallywithlargeamountofartifficiallighting.

ThebestsourcetolearnVrayforSketchupistheofficialVisualDynamicswebsite,whereyouwillfindVrayforSketchupManual:

http://www.vray.com/vray_for_sketchup/manual/

Image4.4.1.VrayforSketchuponlinemanual


OnMaxwellRenderwebsitetherearesomeusefulandeasytofollowvideotutorialsthathelpwithlearningtheprogramandunderstandinghowthisrenderengineworks:

http://www.maxwellrender.com/index.php/products/maxwell_for_sketchup/tutorials

Themanualiswritteninawaythatifyoufollowitstepbystep,youwillquicklylearnhowtousetheprogram.

Image4.4.2.MaxwellRenderonlinevideotutorials

Alternative solution is exporting Sketchup model and rendering it using another 3d renderingsoftware.This is sometimes thebest option, especiallywhen youneed to create a highqualityphotorealisticrenderoranimation.

Inthissituationhoweverithelpsalotwhenthemodelissetupinacertainway,sotheamountofworkrequiredafterimportingyourmodelintoanotherprogramisminimized.Thatcouldmeanforexamplenamingthematerialsclearlyandconsistentlyoralternativelysettingupentiremodelwithnomaterials,butonlyinColour by Layermode,whereeachlayerrepresentsdifferentmaterial.


BelowisanexampleofaSketchupmodelsetupincolourbymaterialmode,exportedandrederedinCinema4D:

Image4.4.3.Sketchupmodelscreenshot

Image4.4.4.SketchupmodelpreparedforMaterial by layerexportmethod.


Image4.4.5.ThesameSketchupmodelimportedtoCinema4D.MaterialsareasSketchuplayers.

Image4.4.6.ModelrenderedwithVrayforCinema4D.

materials as Sketchup layers


IfyouhavesetupyourmodelinColour by layermodeandwishtoexporttoa3dsformatpreservinglayersasmaterials,thenbelowarethesettingsyoushoulduse:

ThemajordisadvantageofexportingSketchupmodelstootherprogramsisthedifficultyofapplyingfurtheramendments(unlessyouareabletomodelintheothersoftwarewiththesameefficiencyandunlessyour team-matesarealsoable tousethissoftwareandcanapply furtherchanges ifrequired).

Themainbenefitfromdoingthatistheopportunitytopopulatethescenewithhigh-poly3dobjects,lightsandhigherresolutiontextureswithoutthefearofmakingthesoftwarecrash!

select ‘By layer’

untick these boxes

tick this box if you want to convert your Sketchup scenes to cameras in your chosen rendering program

set units for your 3ds file

Image4.4.7.Exportingto3dsfromColour by layer mode.

135Sketchup Guide | Part V: Conclusion

Part V: Conclusion5.1. Good to know...

Sketchupisdefinitelyausefulandintuitivemodelingtool,thatcanhandlecomplexmodelswithabitofhelpofpluginsandothersoftwarecanproducegoodqualityimagesandmostimportantly,canbeagreatdesigntoolthankstotheeasinesstolernanduseit.

Itisgoodtoknowhoweveraboutitslimitationsinordertomakethemostofthisprogramandavoidfrustrationanddisappointmentwhentryingtopushittoofarortryingtousethisprogrambeyondwhatithasbeendesignedfor.

Therearemanyusefulpluginsandstand-alongprogramsthatcanexpandSketchup’sabilities,suchasParacloudandothergreatandpowerfultoolsthatworkverywellwithSketchupandallowtotakeyourSketchupmodelastepfurther.

Image4.5.1.SketchupmodelsdevelopedinParacloudGEM

Sketchup Guide | Part V: Conclusion136

Ihopeyoufoundthisguideuseful.

Lookingforwardtoreceivingyourcomments.

Kasia

[email protected]

3d PPLE3D modeling, visualisation& graphic design services

64 Addy HouseRotherhithe New RoadLondon SE16 2PD

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