3D Modelling for Disney and Marvel

Luke Whitelock is a feature film Art Director who has worked on movies for clients as diverse as Marvel, Universal, and Disney for over 14 years. With a back catalogue including huge feature films such as “Aladdin,” “Avengers: End Game and Infinity War,” “Dr Strange,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Inception” – he’s tasked with a major brief – bringing movies to life and realising the finished sets.

Luke has used SketchUp in his work for over 10 years. In the last 5 years, he made a transition from 2D board drawing to using only SketchUp and Layout – producing not only creative designs, but incredibly technical ones too. With a super hectic work schedule, we were happy Luke carved out some time to tell us about his methods and processes.

Hi Luke, how does SketchUp help with your creative process?

SketchUp really is key to my design method. I hardly ever work things out on paper anymore.

I start with massing the shapes of a set – width and height of a set is established fairly early on as we are limited to stage sizes. So I’ll start by massing the walls and the different floors if there are any. Everything just goes onto Layer 0 to start with and this enables me to work quickly and freely. Sometimes a design will come together really quickly and sometimes it takes a while. It’s like sculpture in a way; I start with these 3D blocks, gradually chip away at it and break it down into components and groups. The way I work in SketchUp will often inform the design as I go along.

How did you get started in the industry?

I always knew I wanted to work in film from a very young age. I visited Universal Studios when I was very young and I just knew that I wanted to work in film some how.

I was lucky to have a very kind and encouraging graphics teacher at school. He was one of the first people to notice my ability and helped guide me towards a more artistic route. It’s because of him and my art teachers encouragement that I decided to go to art school. I studied at Bournemouth Arts Institute- first on an arts foundation course, then onto an audio visual diploma, then finally settling on a Film degree. I learnt a lot but always knew if I wanted to do this for a living I would have to move to London.

The opportunity came soon after graduating in 2004 when a friend offered me a spare room in a house share he was setting up in South London. I moved out with no belongings apart from a stereo and some records and moved in October 2004. I knew nobody in the film industry apart from a couple of TV art directors who had done some visiting lectures at the Arts Institute. I pestered them until one relented and gave me a start on a small channel 4 show called Sugar Rush. I did a few TV jobs before getting my film features break on “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”. It was whilst on this project in 2005 that I started Drafting by hand. I knew the basics of drafting and basically learnt on the job. It was around this time I first became aware of SketchUp. I used it but never really worked out how to incorporate it into my workflow.

What was your 'Aha!' moment working in SketchUp?

A few years later, features work had dried up in the UK. The writers strike had caused all productions to either shut down or move to Prague. For about 6 months I was completely out of work. I used this time to teach myself SketchUp. When the phone rang one day and a designer asked if I was free to do a commercial and could I use SketchUp, I lied and said ‘yeah!’

It was a baptism of fire working from home and teaching myself the program along with Layout which is a fantastic drafting package but I’m really glad I did it. Although I would still draft by hand most of the time, I found as the years went by I was using SketchUp and LayOut more and more – at the point on “Thor 2: The Dark World” in 2012, I did my last hand drawing and have been exclusively using SketchUp and LayOut ever since.

What kind of projects interest of excite you the most?

I love all kinds of projects. I suppose sci-fi is most fitting with SketchUp, but I have used the program to design ancient castles, Georgian houses, rococo ballrooms – and even my own garden!

Any essential extensions or plug-ins for you?

I love so many plugins and use them all.

Off the top of my head – Round CornerHatch FaceQuadFace ToolsPower barFredo scaleSolid inspector 2 and GKWare Stair Maker.

What does your typical design workflow look like?

I’ll block everything out (massing model) in SketchUp and set up my sectional views very early on.

I’ll also set up the drawing in LayOut very early on, as the LayOut and SketchUp file are dynamically linked so setting up the viewports early means the drawing basically takes care of itself.

I’ll use a trick of exporting the sections and overlaying them on my section cuts and then I’ll maybe do a few renders using V-Ray. I’m still learning that since moving from SU Podium last year.

How to Change Measurements in SketchUp

How to Change Measurements in SketchUp

SketchUp is an incredible tool for interior designers, architects and even individuals passionate about 3D design but knowing how to use the tool efficiently and correctly are essential to get the most out of the software. Resizing in SketchUp is one of those essential skills and knowing how to use SketchUp to change measurements or edit dimensions is something that we should all know. 

To answer how to change measurements in SketchUp, we will look at the different methods you can use to make your designs even more accurate.

Setting up a SketchUp Template

You may want to start by setting up a SketchUp template. Most templates will define a model’s default settings which includes things like the unit measurements. Templates include all the settings in the Model Info dialogue box with elements such as Style settings and Shadow settings. 

If you are looking for high accuracy, you can create a template that uses more granular measurement such as millimetres which can be used for larger scale applications in interior and exterior design. 


Depending on your requirements, you can create templates and customise these as much as you need them to be.

To create a template is very simple: 

  • Create a new SketchUp file with the current template
  • Make all the modifications you want to save with the template
  • Select File > Save as Template 
  • Save your template in a location where you can easily access it
  • Give the template a name
  • Click Save

Settings in the Model Info Window

You can set up the Model Info Window in the dialogue box where the settings are made for the entire model. Here, templates which are using the settings for the template can be made here. 

If you want to access the dialogue box do so by: 

  • Select: Window > Model Info
  • This is where the units and the precision are set. I.e. Inches and 1/16”
  • Precision settings are selected from the drop down list. 
  • When using inches the highest precision setting appears to be 1/64”

How to Scale and Resize in SketchUp

Sometimes we can get carried away with our designs that we forget to scale the image correctly. Luckily there is a tool in SketchUp that makes it easy to scale and resize entire models or parts of the models without spending too much time doing so.

There are two tools you can use, depending on your requirement. One is the tape measure the other is the scale tool.

The tape measure tool allows you to scale your entire model but, when you want to scale a part of a design or even a singular surface, the scale tool is best. (Note: you can still use the measure tool for the latter.)

We will look at both of these tools and where you can use them. 

Scale an entire model with the tape measure tool

  • Select the tape measure tool
  • Click either end of line for which the measurement is required to change
  • Enter the newly defined dimension

Scale a selection proportionally

  • This can be achieved using either the tape measure tool or the scale tool
  • You can use both tools to select an area and rescale the measurement. I.e. a room maybe 15 feet wide but the rest of the floorplan can be the same as designed.
  • Select the element you want to scale > type the desired dimension in the “length” box in the bottom right corner > hit enter
    This will resize the whole model. If you don’t want to do that you need to create a group.
  • Scaling can be done as a percentage. (Note:  in the Measurements box, you see a scale of 1.00, which means your geometry is at its original size or scaled to 100%. Or you could simply input the scale you want to see the measurement at, i.e. 50% of full size.) Your Dialogue box will give you the information you need.

Scaling one or more dimensions

  • You can use the selection tool to select the specific geometry for which measurements are required to be changed
  • With the Select tool, select the geometry you want to scale
  • Click an edge or face grip on the object
  • Move the cursor to scale the entity
  • Click to set your selection’s new scale
  • The scale tool can be used to make the required changes allowing revised dimensions to also be entered

Scaling components

  • Scaling a component works like every other scaling procedure mentioned
  • The difference with scaling a component is that you can resize a single instance of the component or all component instances in your model
  • For example, you could have a house design where the front door needs to be scaled, leaving all the other dimensions the same
  • Do this by double clicking on the door
  • The object will have a dotted line around it
  • Use the measure or scale tool to scale the new measurement

    If you want to check the dimensions of your object before making any changes to the size or the scale, you can use the SketchUp Dimension tool. By selecting two points and moving away from the object, the display shows the measurement in an annotated form so you can clearly see what sizes you are working to. 

How to Mirror in Sketchup

How to Mirror in Sketchup

Mirroring and flipping objects in Sketchup is a quick way to create variation in your CAD design and make it stand out. It’s also an excellent way to check for errors in your design since any mistakes will be immediately obvious when viewed in reverse.

In this article, we’ll discuss how to mirror in SketchUp using several methods, including the Scale Tool, the Flip Along command, and various extensions. We’ll also share with you some useful tips like how to mirror geometry in SketchUp without losing its original position, how to mirror a group of objects, and more.

Using the Sketchup Scale Tool to Mirror

Unlike other 3D design programs, Sketchup does not have a dedicated “mirror” tool. However, there are several ways to mirror objects and geometry using the existing tools in Sketchup.

Out of them all, the SketchUp Scale tool is by far the most popular.

It’s easy enough for SketchUp novices to pick up yet versatile enough for designers working on more complex projects.

Here’s how to use the SketchUp Scale tool to mirror an object:

  1. First, select the object you want to mirror.
  2. Then, copy and duplicate the object (Ctrl + Move).
  3. Next, position the duplicate where you want the mirror image to appear.
  4. With the duplicate selected, click on Scale and enter a negative number (e.g., -1). This will create the mirror image.
  5. After that, press the Enter button to confirm the change and exit the Scale tool.

Repeat the process for each object you want to mirror.

Keep in mind that you can also use the Scale tool on SketchUp to resize objects, not just mirror them. To do so, simply enter a positive number to increase the size of an object or a negative number to decrease it.

Together, these techniques give you a lot of control over the look and feel of your SketchUp design.

Using the Flip Along Command to Mirror

Another way to mirror in SketchUp is to use the “Flip Along” command.

To mirror an object in SketchUp using the Flip Along command, follow these steps below:

  1. To get started, select the object you want to mirror.
  2. Next, similar to the Scale tool, create a duplicate by copying and pasting the object (Ctrl + Move).
  3. After that, select the duplicate.
  4. Then, right-click before choosing the “Flip Along” option. This will instantly mirror the object.
  5. Repeat the process for each object you want to mirror.

This method is just as simple as using the Scale tool but gives you a bit more control over the orientation of your mirror image.

For example, it also allows you to flip geometry along an axis. This technique can be especially useful when working on designs with a lot of symmetry, like furniture or buildings.

To flip your geometry, simply follow these steps:

  1. First, choose the geometry you want to flip using the Select tool ().
  2. Then, context-click the geometry you selected.
  3. From the resulting menu, choose Flip Along.
  4. Finally, in the submenu that appears, select an axis.

This will create a mirror image of the original geometry, flipped along the axis you selected. Manipulate and position the new geometry as needed.

Using a Sketchup Extension to Mirror

One of the best things about using SketchUp is the huge library of extensions and plugins available to customize your experience.

These extensions can do everything from speed up the modeling process to adding new tools and features.

There are also a number of SketchUp plugins that allow you to mirror objects, geometry, and groups of objects with just a few clicks.

Many of these extensions are free to download and use. Others are available for a small fee, but these usually come with even more powerful features and customization options. In addition, most of them work on both Mac and Windows platforms, making them accessible no matter what type of computer or operating system you’re using.

That said, here are a few of the best SketchUp plugins for mirroring objects:

TIG Mirror (FREE SketchUp Plug-in)

The TIG Mirror plug-in for SketchUp is a free extension that allows you to mirror selected objects.

To use it, simply define a plane, line, or point by picking 1/2/3 points. This will mirror the selected objects. You can then choose to keep or delete the original objects.

This plugin is compatible with all versions of SketchUp and works on both Mac and PC.

Magic Mirror (FREE SketchUp Plug-in)

The Magic Mirror plugin is another free SketchUp extension that allows you to quickly mirror objects with just one click. It’s faster and easier to use than the TIG Mirror plugin, making it a good choice if you’re looking for something that’s quick and simple.

The Magic Mirror plug-in was created by CyberAvocado and is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.

S4U Mirror 4 (PAID SketchUp Plug-in)

S4U Mirror 4 is a SketchUp plug-in that also lets you mirror objects. It’s a bit more powerful than the previous two plugins.

Aside from one-click mirroring, you can also use it to mirror and duplicate objects. On top of that, you can also set the plane by selecting 2 points and the Z-axis, 3 points, or an edge, axis, guide line, or face.

S4U Mirror 4 is an in-app purchase and costs $10. You can use it on both Windows and Mac operating systems. They offer a free trial, so you can test it out before you buy.

These are just a few of the many useful extensions you can use with SketchUp. Browse the SketchUp Extension Warehouse to find more plugins that can help you execute your CAD designs.

How to Mirror Objects in Sketchup

Aside from basic object mirroring, Sketchup also offers several ways to flip or rotate geometry. CAD designs often include a lot of symmetry, and being able to quickly mirror or rotate geometry can save a lot of time in the design process.

Additionally, SketchUp allows you to mirror a variety of objects, including group geometry and raw geometry. This functionality expands what you can do with the software even further. You also get to experiment with different variations of your design without having to start from scratch each time.

Again, the most common way to mirror geometry in SketchUp is by using the Scale tool. Here’s what you can do:

  1. First, select the raw geometry, component, or grouped geometry you want to mirror.
  2. Then, use the Copy/Paste or Duplicate function to create a copy of the object. The fastest way to do this is with the CTRL + Move shortcut.
  3. Next, position the resulting duplicate carefully. You’ll want to make sure there’s enough space to allow for negative scaling.
  4. After that, enter a negative value in the Scale dialog box. This will create a mirror image of the original raw geometry, component, or grouped geometry.
  5. Repeat this process as necessary to create additional objects.

As we touched on earlier, you can also use the Flip Along command to mirror geometry in SketchUp. The difference is the “axis” element. Flipping along an axis will result in a mirror image while flipping along a plane will simply rotate the geometry.

To use the Flip Along command, simply follow these steps below:

  • To get started, select the geometry you want to mirror. This can be grouped geometry, raw, or components.
  • Next, duplicate your chosen object.
  • With the object selected, right-click on it, then select Flip Along from the options.
  • A sub-menu will appear, from which you can select the axis along which you want to flip the object.
  • The geometry will be mirrored along the chosen axis.
  • Finally, manipulate the geometry as necessary to achieve the desired results.

Wrapping It Up

Knowing how to mirror objects in SketchUp is an essential skill for anyone who uses the software for CAD design. You can use SketchUp’s native tools like the Scale tool and the Flip Along command to quickly create mirror images of your geometry.

Additionally, there are a number of plugins that can help you mirror objects in SketchUp, including TIG Mirror, Magic Mirror, and S4U Mirror 4.

Feel free to give each one a try until you find the tool that works best for you and your workflow.

SketchUp for 3D Printing

SketchUp for 3D Printing

3D printing has become popular for businesses, hobbyists and the general public alike. What used to be something that could only be dreamed of is now a reality for many people. When it comes to easy to access, learn and use, you can’t go wrong with SketchUp as a 3D printing design tool.

We will explore more about the world of 3D printing and how you can use SketchUp to help transform your designs into a 3D model. 

What is 3D Printing Software?

3D printing is the process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. 3D printing software allows you to create designs that can be repurposed into a 3D printed model. 

In order to create a 3D printed object, the design goes through an additive process. What this means is that the object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created – this is all calculated through the design stage, and by the 3D software tool. 

Using tools like SketchUp Pro is one of the easiest and most fun ways to get started. The tool allows you to design and put together a creation that is easily transferable to a 3D modelled design.

Model Your 3D Designs Accurately

When it comes to 3D design, many think that it is a complicated business of learning software and understanding every element of the design process. Many will see the barrier to entry and having to learn complex 3D design software, this is far from the case. 

SketchUp Pro is fun and easy to learn. It’s simple layout and features make getting involved with 3D design a joy. You don’t need to learn any code, or have a complete understanding of CAD design packages to start. 

A key element of 3D printing is the need to be accurate, this is essential for the design to transfer correctly into a three dimensional model. Software like SketchUp Pro does the hard work for you with its precision and accuracy elements of the design package. You can choose how precise you want the scale of the model to a multitude of different features that enhance your accuracy throughout the design. 

Transform Shapes into 3D Structures

No matter how simple or complex your model, every model in SketchUp is really just edges and faces. The drawing tools enable you to create those edges and faces. There are differences between drawing shapes from 2D to 3D, be sure to use the SketchUp inference engine to guide you through the process. 

For example, if you wanted to create a 3D bowl design, you draw a circle on the ground plane and a profile of the bowl’s shape directly above the circle. Using the SketchUp Pro tool, you can create an outline into the bowl by having it follow the original circle on the ground plane. This is then the profile that is used to help you create your 3D design. There is a more in-depth explanation that can be found here

Using software like SketchUp Pro makes creating a 3D design to be printed, a simple and easy to use prospect. 

Find Inspiration with 3D Warehouse

3D Warehouse is where you can be inspired by other designs, feature your own creations and find a model of something you were looking to create in one location. 


There is a huge repository of 3D elements available from the warehouse which can be used to create your own personalised items to off the shelf designs that are already designed to be used for your own purposes. 

The search feature is a powerful tool that helps you find exactly what you are looking for and the opportunity to share your 3D designs via the warehouse is an added benefit of the SketchUp Pro family. 

SketchUp 3D Printing Extensions

SketchUp extensions are additional pieces of software that help you create your own designs with additional features and help. You can find the extensions here.

Accessible to Windows and Mac platforms, each 3D extension provides various capabilities that help you create your own design. Many of the extensions are free to use with some exceptions for small payments being required for the use of the extensions. 

For example, one extension – 3YOURMIND – allows you to optimise your model for 3D printing and upload the design with one click into the 3YOURMIND portal. This allows you to choose from a number of different materials and compare the prices of the best 3D printing services in real-time.

SketchUp 3D Printing Tutorials

If you wanted to learn more about SketchUp Pro, you can find a body of tutorials on all topics including 3D printing across the internet and through the elmtec tutorial section

There are also some really good tutorials available on sites like YouTube where you can go from beginner to more advanced.   

SketchUp 3D Printing FAQs

Here are some of the more common questions when it comes to using SketchUp 3D Printing tools:

How Does 3D Printing Software Work? 

3D printing software can encompass a variety of products that help the 3D printing or 3D design process including slicers, design automation, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and computer-aided design (CAD) technologies. 

Is 3D Printing Software Hard to Learn?

3D printing software is not hard to learn, like anything it takes time and practice. SketchUp Pro is the easiest 3D printing software to learn and use making 3D printing easy. 

Which Software is Best for 3D Printing?

You want a 3D software package that is easy to use, simple to learn and supported with lots of resources and used extensively within design communities. That makes SketchUp Pro the best 3D printing software to use. 

Sketchup Pro Plans and Pricing

If you want to take advantage of SketchUp Pro, you can purchase a license from here. There are three options to choose from including, one for education (schools and lecturers) and a subscription option.   

How to Ungroup in SketchUp

How to Ungroup in SketchUp

You love SketchUp? You’re not alone. It’s a brilliant visualisation tool used by millions to create projects faster, save money, bring clarity to your designs, and delight clients. If you’ve been wondering exactly how to ungroup in SketchUp, grouping and ungrouping entities in SketchUp is a fundamental capability and skill that we’ll reveal in this brief article.

Grouping in SketchUp

What is a group in SketchUp? Groups are how you keep related elements organised in your drawing area. Groups also make it easier to select and copy multiple elements at the same time. You might, for example, always want to move a text box along with its associated shape. When you make them both into a SketchUp Group all you have to do is select the group once rather than select the text box and the shape separately again and again. This saves you time as well as cutting the risk of mistakes.

How to make a group

Here’s how you create a Group. First, use the Select tool arrow to choose all the items you want to include in the Group. Next either use Select Edit > Group, which you’ll find in the menu bar, or context-click your selection and choose ‘Make Group’ from the menu that pops up. Now everything in your selection is clearly grouped together inside a box.

How to edit a group

It’s just as easy to edit a Group. Just double-click the Group using your Select tool or select it then ‘Enter’. Now everything outside the Group has faded. If you’ve created nested Groups keep double clicking to get to the Group you want to change. Once you’ve finished editing, you simply click anywhere outside the Group to save your work.

Ungrouping in SketchUp

If you no longer need a group, Ungrouping in SketchUp is easy, too. It’s basically the reverse of the grouping process.

How to ungroup

Select the group then choose Edit > Ungroup from the menu bar. You can also context-click your selection then pick Ungroup from the menu to make everything inside the group into a separate entity. There’s one important thing to remember. This SketchUp guide talks about a context menu option ‘Ungroup’ but it isn’t available. Instead you use the ‘Explode’ context menu to ungroup entities.

Did you find that nice and simple? Like everything else about SketchUp it’s designed to make your life easier. Let’s go create!

There’s lots more to learn, and we make learning a pleasure. You can find out more about how to use this popular visualisation tool using our popular tutorials, and decide whether to use the free or Pro version by checking out our comparison page. 

SketchUp for Construction

SketchUp for Construction

Have you been looking for information about SketchUp for construction? SketchUp construction design software is widely used in your sector, a respected and popular tool used to speed up design, making the entire process smoother and faster. SketchUp Pro lets you identify potential issues before they become real-world problems, figure out a fair price for a construction project, and help your clients understand the plans more clearly and easily than ever before. Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of creating top class SketchUp construction drawings. By the end of this article you’ll know exactly why it’s such a good idea to know how to build a house in SketchUp.

SketchUp 3D Construction Modelling

SketchUps 3D construction modelling capabilities provide incredibly valuable design visualisation. As someone who works in the construction sector building plans are second nature to you, but not necessarily for your less-experienced clients. SketchUp construction documents make it a whole lot easier for non-experts to understand your plans.

SketchUp Viewer lets people investigate, evaluate and explore construction design projects before they’re brought to life, something that saves money, time and hassle. It means you can carry out revisions at an early stage before actually committing to the final construction documentation. SketchUp construction plans even come with the capability to use AR/VR to evaluate the different construction design options virtually. It’s a powerful tool that’s very easy to use as well as fun. And that makes it the perfect choice for construction contractors, small and large.

SketchUp Construction Drawings

SketchUp for construction, using SketchUp Pro in conjunction with Layout, is a brilliant way to create accurate, useful, clear construction drawings directly from 3D models. It can be done in two ways, each with its own pros and cons.

Firstly, you can get the 2D information from the model itself. This means the model has to be very accurate in the first place. It’s important to add colour and texture to the interior of the elements so the sectioned model is good and clear. It also helps to apply a different colour or texture to each different kind of material. Using this method means your plans and sections are always closely related to the model. When you make a change in 2D it doesn’t take much work to make it appear in 3D. On the down-side the modelling takes longer and you need to know all about the construction of the building in detail. 

Alternatively you can generate a 2D group in SketchUp that contains all the 2D info you need, generated simply by right-clicking on the section plane. When you edit this group you can add all the fine detail you need to create accurate plans and sections. It’s handy not having to model everything in detail and being able to control the level of detail, but on the down side there’s no link between the model itself and the Layout presentation. Plus, the details of the section cut involves a 2D job, something SketchUp isn’t primarily designed for. On the other hand there are always TIG 2D Tools to rely on, and Layout itself helps a lot.

Layout lets you include essentials like dimensions, labels and text, all of which matter when you’re trying to get the details of a construction project across quickly, clearly and accurately. In exactly the same way you’d use old-school word processor tech, you type text into the drawing area. You can also import text from a file or even add Auto-Text defined on special fields inserted into the document. And the text can be formatted to your brand for great brand synergy.

Labels and dimensions are impressive. Labels come with an arrowed leader line which makes it easy to highlight individual elements. It can show Auto-Text as well as data from a SketchUp model. And dimensions display measurements either on the page or from a SketchUp model. You can share your SketchUp drawings in a variety of popular standard formats and import them into different CAD software tools. And you can print SketchUp for construction drawings easily, which is great when you prefer to work from printed diagrams rather than a screen.

Would you like to check out how to use more aspects of this great tool? Take a look at our tutorials, then figure out whether you need the free or Pro version via our handy comparison page. 

Now you know what SketchUp drawings, SketchUp dimensions and SketchUp diagrams can do for you. Will you be harnessing the amazing power of SketchUp Pro for your next construction project?

How to Copy in SketchUp

How to Copy in SketchUp

Are you wondering how to copy in SketchUp? Or how to copy and paste in SketchUp? Or how to copy scenes in SketchUp? Copying and pasting objects, scenes and components is a fundamental SketchUp skill and capability, and we’re going to show you exactly how to do it in this article. By the end of it you’ll know how to move objects whether you intend to rotate them, copy them or do something else creative with them.

How to Copy and Paste in SketchUp

The first thing to know is that the process of copying and pasting in SketchUp is much the same as it is in many other programs. The standard CTRL+C and CTRL+V keypress combinations work perfectly, which means your learning curve isn’t going to be that steep. And the select tool is an arrow, exactly as you’d expect.

The Select tool specifies the items you want to change using other SketchUp tools and commands. You’ll find it via the Getting Started toolbar, the Large Tool Set toolbar, the Principal toolbar in MS Windows / Tool Palette in macOS, and also via the Tools menu.

How to copy multiple objects in SketchUp? Using the Select tool, select an object you want to copy or select multiple objects. To change a line’s length, for example, you need to select the line. Scaling a box involves selecting the box. You can also select a group of objects to change at the same time, creating a ‘selection set’. To select more than one thing, simply hold down the Shift key and click all the items you want to select.

Choose Edit > Copy from the menu or use a shortcut – either Ctrl+C for Windows or Command+C for a Mac. Next choose Edit > Paste from the menu bar, Ctrl+V for Windows or Command+V for a Mac – and you’ll see the cursor change into a Move tool. The SketchUp components you’ve copied float around as you move the mouse. To place SketchUp objects, simply click where you want them to go.

How to select and copy multiple objects in SketchUp

You’ll probably need to select specific, multiple objects when copying in SketchUp. So how do you do it? It’s simple. You use the Shift key to select multiple objects, and the same key to remove objects from your selection set.

Double clicking faces selects the face you want along with all of the adjoining edges. In the same way, double clicking an edge selects it along with its adjoining faces. When you triple click on a face you select the entire object that it belongs to, which it forms a part of. And when you select an element it changes colour to blue making it easy to keep track of what you’re doing.

How to Copy Scenes in SketchUp

A SketchUp Scene is simply a saved image of your mode associated with a tab. Scenes are what you use to save different views of models and their properties, which you can present to colleagues or clients. It makes more sense than opening a drawing with the view you want, erasing the contents, then pasting in the new model.

Creating a Scene triggers a tab at the top of your drawing area. To view the Scene – the saved view – you click the tab to display it. You can also import and export Scenes to other models using a special plugin costing five US dollars, PageExIm.rb by Rick Wilson

While you can’t animate Scenes with SketchUp for Web yet, you can export all your video animations as image sets. As you can imagine, animations are a great way to present models from different angles and create useful shadow studies, revealing exactly where the light falls throughout the day.

Before you create an animation you need to make scenes of your model, each with different settings. Once you’re ready to animate, you can either play an animation in SketchUp, export your animation to a video file, or export the image set as a collection of image files to be animated via video software, something you can do via SketchUp Pro. It’s good to know that copies made across a variety of standard image formats can be imported into SketchUp.

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Now you know how to copy in SketchUp, what will you create? Find out more about how to use this exceptional tool via our popular tutorials, and explore the choice between the free and Pro versions of SketchUp here. 

3D Floor Plan Software

SketchUp 3D Floor Plan Software

 

As an architect, interior designer or 3D designer, 3D floor plan design is essential. A 3D floor planner lets you clearly show the rooms in a house, including vital things like how the doors open. A 3D floor plan app brings clarity to your project, showcasing the design as though it’s already been created, which saves time and money as well as helping your clients visualise the finished project clearly and accurately. And, of course, 3D floor plan rendering helps determine the costs. SketchUp Pro is a popular way to make a 3D floor plan, it’s easy to learn and use, and it’s the perfect way to create useful, simple, elegant 3D floor plans. Here’s what you need to know.

What is a 3D Floor Plan

 

A 3D floor plan is an extremely useful and detailed type of diagram. It shows you the layout of a room, domestic building or commercial premises in 3D from above, harnessing perspective to make it a lot easier for people to understand the size and layout of a space. 3D floor plan software lets designers draw an accurate, attractive and practical floor plan quickly and easily, completing the planning element faster therefore moving the project swiftly on to the design and real-world construction stage. All this ultimately means designers can work faster and complete more projects.

Including features like doors and windows, plus flooring and other fixed items as well as furniture, the scale of a space and its contents becomes wonderfully clear. No wonder 3D floor plan software is such a popular tool for creating powerful, practical, inspiring estate agency listings, home staging plans and interior design layouts, home improvement plans, new build layouts, office design, factory design, even furniture plans. So what is the easiest floor plan software? SketchUp Pro is highly ranked and respected as one of the best 3D floor plan software tools available today.

How to create a 3D floor plan using SketchUp 3D floor plan software

SketchUp Pro makes life super-simple. Creating 3D floor plans in SketchUp is fast, easy and intuitive, and it’s also a real pleasure to use.

The process starts with a 2D sketch or imported image, which you download using the file-import function, selecting the ‘use image as’ option. If you already know the scale of the plan based on your measurements, you can scale the image appropriately using the tape measure tool. If you’re sketching a doorway, for example, you simply click from one side of the doorway to the other and enter the measurement before hitting ‘enter’. At this stage you can lock the image so it doesn’t move.

Now you draw the floor of the plan. You begin with your reference point, using the line tool to mark out the floor. Enter the exact measurements if you have them, otherwise drag the line tool to the edge and round things off to the nearest foot or inch. Hold down ‘shift’ to lock the axis, then click the reference point to complete the final corner.
Overlay this floor sketch with your original 2D sketch or image.

To create a 3D floor slab, click on the floor then use the push/pull tool to take it down to the right height, usually eight inches. To draw the exterior walls you click on the floor and use control-c to copy. Leave the group then choose ‘edit’ and ‘paste in place’. You use the offset tool to offset the exterior walls.
Drawing the interior walls is just as easy using the same method. If you don’t have the exact measurements, make sure you use whole numbers not fractions. All your lines need to be closed off or joined, something that takes no time using the Edge Tools plugin to ‘find edge gaps’, which quickly reveals any corners that don’t meet.

 Use the push/pull tool to extrude all your walls upwards to the right height, usually eight feet. When you’ve done one wall you just double click on the rest to bring them to the same height.

Adding door frames is also quick and simple. The standard height is six feet eight inches. Click the base of one door frame, type 6′ 8”, draw a line to the mark and another across the width of the wall, then copy the shape and extrude it to the opposite side of the door frame. It’s easy to paste the door shape you’ve made to the remaining door frames, and you can use the eraser tool to get rid of any extra lines.

Add your windows from the parallel projection view. Because you can’t see the window openings, pull the sketch to the top and reduce the opacity. Alternatively leave your sketch under the model and change the opacity of the wall top and bottom. Select the wall top then open the ‘materials’ tab. Choose a colour from the ‘colours’ dropdown menu and paint the top and bottom of the walls. The opacity slider lowers the opacity.

Now it’s time to add all those finishing details – and the SketchUp 3D Warehouse is a truly awesome resource.

3D Warehouse Resources

The SketchUp 3D Warehouse is packed with literally millions of brilliant resources, a place where you can find any model you can imagine. The advanced search function helps you discover examples of 3D floor plans to download from the 3D warehouse, along with a huge variety of 3D components and furnishings, all available to incorporate into your 3D floor plans. It’s the perfect resource to create a realistic view of your project, and many of the products can actually be bought in real life via hundreds of supplier catalogues.
Are you ready to discover the world’s best 3D floor plan software? We’ve got all sorts of excellent tutorials for you, and you might also like to explore the differences between free SketchUp and SketchUp Pro.

About Elmtec

Elmtec have been the UK distribution partner for SketchUp since 2010, and service a network of UK and Irish resellers. We have over 22 years’ experience within the digital design community.

Contact Us

T: 01844 263 750
E: sales@elmtec.co.uk
W: www.elmtec.co.uk/sketchup