Intro to Google Sketchup
Navigation
Drag MMB = ORBIT
On camera menu = O
Drag MMB plus Shift = Pan
On camera menu = H
Spin MMB = Zoom
On camera menu = Z
Zoom extents is on the camera menu
Click with Zoom Extents to see all the model
2 bottom tools are undo and redo the view
Move tool = M
Rotate = Q
Scale = E
Rotating
Align the protractor to the object and click. This is the pivot point.
Then click once on a point on the protractor edge. Think of this as the handle.
Finally, make the actual rotation -- rotate the protractor, and the object will rotate along with it. Click to accept changes.
Tip – if you move the cursor far out, away from the protractor, it will not snap.
Tip – the ESC key lets you exit any transform.
Divide a face by drawing a line across it
Has to be from a midpoint
Erase
Right click delete
Or, run the eraser tool over the edges, or, just click on the edge
If you have a “hole” – edges with no face – then, retrace the edges with the pencil.
Up = blue X
Back = green Y
Left/right = red Z
Inference engine
Point Inferences
“Little colored squares”
Green dots = Endpoints
Red dots = On an edge
Cyan Dots = Midpoints of edges
Blue dots = On a surface.
Linear inferences
“Helper lines”
On axis draws on x, y or z
From point – very nice little tips to suggest various align options
Perpendicular – a hint will come up “perpendicular to edge”
Parallel – turns magenta to tell you, you are parallel to a nearby edge
(hover over the nearby line to “encourage” the inference
Tangent at vertex – for the ARC tool …makes the transition between 2 arcs smooth
Hold down shift to lock inference
The current inference gets “fatter” and you can only draw within that constraint
Line (Pencil) tool
Esc will immediately stop drawing
Try this
Turn off “continue line drawing” in drawing prefs
Prefs are under Window
Now you will click endpoint to endpoint
Set up Units
Window/Model Info/Units
Prefs/Template has the template measurements
VCB -- Value Control Box
With a tool active, it is in the lower right
Make a shape
Start moving on an axis like Z
Type in the desired value
You can press enter, change your mind and put in a new number then press enter again
Try a line, 2” enter, 3’ enter, etc.
Try it with rotation
Tip – Value Control Box (VCB) 6s on a circle gets a shape with 6 sides
Measure tool
Click, move, click a length, then type the measurement you want
Do you want to resize the model?
YES! If you want all the objects in your scene to resize.
Tape measure needs a PLUS by it if you want it to make a guide – hold down Control.
Windows crossing
Drag from left to right you have to enclose everything
Draw from right to left, anything you touch is selected
Move
Click, move, click, not click drag
Pick up an object by a part, for example, a POINT.
Remember to use inferences, and shift to constrain (lock in)
Move edges the same way
If Sketchup doesn’t let you move – AUTOFOLD
Use the Alt key to force the program to make the extra edges required to make your move.
The program is trying to stop you from making a “fold”
Very common – you just won’t be able to make the move you want, or the shape pulls off the face – hold down ALT.
Here is an example:
Select None = Ctrl T
With the move tool, just click on something and move it, or have a selection first
Clone with Move tool
Use the Ctrl key and drag
Make sure to drag far enough to make a separate object!
Align/Distribute
Move tool, ctrl drag a long distance, then type in a number
5/ enter makes 5 copies
That’s 5 SLASH on the num key pad
Don’t forget to also hold down the Ctrl key to make the clones
Or … make a clone by Ctrl moving a short distance, then type 5x to make 5 more copies
Guides
Use the tape measure tool
Click anywhere on an edge to make a parallel guide, then click to position the guide
Or … click on the midpoint or endpoint of an edge, then again off in space.
You need to toggle on the PLUS mode using the Ctrl key:
If you don’t see the PLUS you will NOT get a guide:
Use eraser or right click erase to delete guides
Edit/Delete guides clears all guides
View/Guides to hide them
Materials
Window/Materials
Paint bucket tool opens up the materials
Click the face with the bucket after you specify a material or color:
Try Colors
Use the edit tab to make windows more transparent. There are window materials, but here I just used a blue.
The Alt key samples (dropper) a material/color, like Photoshop.
Shift key and fill bucket, then all similar faces in model will fill same color
Ctrl fill bucket = makes entire object one material
More textures are here: