SketchUp allows you to easily create 3D models of your architectural designs, and is packed with helpful features and easy usability.
One such tool is the Select Tool, located on the toolbar as a black mouse cursor and used to select individual objects for movement, scaling or rotation in your model.
Objects
SketchUp provides many tools for manipulating shapes, edges, and faces in your models. In addition, there is a range of styles to add color, texture and other details. Modifying objects quickly and efficiently when using proper techniques.
Create groups and components from scratch or import them. To import components into your model, open the file you’d like to insert it in, select SketchUp file type from Files of type drop-down list in File-Open dialog box and click Open; after which, the component appears in Components panel along with Move cursor for easy placement in model.
Components are designed to be reused, meaning any modifications made to one instance apply across all instances of that component. This saves both time and effort when designing complex structures involving numerous repeatable elements.
The 3D Warehouse is an immense online library of pre-made models compatible with SketchUp that are searchable and searchable, providing inspiration or resources to those expanding their modeling abilities. You can share your own creations or download someone else’s models – making the 3D Warehouse an incredible way to share your work with the world!
Textures
SketchUp allows you to import not only 3D objects, but also surface treatments such as paint, carpet, tile or shingles into your model using images as materials – these surface treatments include paint, carpet, tile or shingles and can be applied using the Paint Bucket tool (B). Each material comes equipped with its own color and optional texture – you can edit both individually for optimal results!
As soon as you change a material, any faces painted with it are automatically updated with its new properties – such as color or opacity changes. Each face also has an associated material so you can also move, scale, rotate, shear and distort images containing textured surfaces.
To create custom textures, you have two main options for doing it – taking pictures of real surfaces or objects or using an online resource like mtextur. A mtextur material consists of collections such as Brick and Cladding, Fencing, Roofing, Translucent or Wood that you can add directly into your model by clicking using Paint Bucket tool.
Import a texture by checking the Import as Texture or Matched Photo radio button of the Import dialog box and choosing your file. SketchUp then places one corner of an imported image onto each surface corresponding to where the Paint Bucket tool (B) clicks; to deconstrict its proportions while placing, simply hold down Shift key while doing this process.
Rotate Tool
SketchUp makes this task straightforward with its rotate tool, providing an efficient means of aligning shapes correctly in 3D modeling. To access it, hover your cursor over any 2D shape until it becomes blue-hued; click and hold down on your right mouse button while moving your cursor up or down for immediate rotation in either direction.
As soon as you select the rotation tool, a small protractor will appear on your cursor indicating in which plane you want to rotate an object. When hovering over faces, SketchUp will infer an axis of rotation by looking at which direction your cursor points – this axis may be labeled red, green, or blue depending on what angle of face is under consideration.
As an example, when hovering over the base of a telescope, its rotation will occur around its vertical axis; whereas, when rotating it to face towards the sky, its horizontal axis becomes its axis of rotation. To make this task simpler, press Shift while clicking to specify alignment points on your model to lock its axis of rotation – this will ensure it aligns correctly on all three axes.
Rendering
For clients to understand your project when completed, an effective rendering program or plugin will be essential. Thankfully, SketchUp can accommodate a wide variety of rendering software which enables photorealistic images or animations which will impress any Rhino bullies on the block.
V-Ray is one of the most sought-after rendering programs for SketchUp. Used by both professionals and enthusiasts, this program provides an array of rendering features such as global illumination, light mixing, adaptive lights and more. Furthermore, there is also an expansive library of assets, free technical support services and an active community for V-Ray users.
Enscape is another great solution for rendering in SketchUp: it was developed specifically with architects and designers in mind and boasts simple user navigation with high-quality results. Offering access to a library of assets, realistic lighting options, material editor features, it offers great versatility when rendering.
SketchUp Go app for Apple devices offers those looking to add some flair to their models an extra edge, enabling you to model and mark up three dimensional designs using an iPad and Apple Pencil. Ideal for design and construction professionals on the move or even job sites collaborating in real time, the SketchUp Go app is easy and effective at communicating design ideas effectively.