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Author: Charlotte Lee

Renovation & Rendering With Mackenzie Paige Interiors

Posted on by Charlotte Lee

Hi Mackenzie, thanks for joining us!

Hello! My name is Mackenzie, and I have my own Interior Design business Mackenzie Paige Interiors.  My business started in 2020 and I’m thrilled to say that it has gone from success to success – through lots of hard work! Creating a business in lockdown was a great experience for me.  I offer a variety of Interior Design services to clients, from hourly advice to complete re-designs, and SketchUp plays a large part in the majority of my work. Being able to create 3D designs are models for clients has made a huge difference to the customer experience and my ability to create great concepts for them.

Being able to use Enscape and SketchUp to create ultra-realistic designs helps bring my clients ideas to life before work begins.

So, when did you start using SketchUp?

I started getting to grips with SketchUp after completing my degree in Interior Design.  I feel that SketchUp is the perfect tool to help me convey my design ideas to my clients and it was simple to start using and pick up skills as I went along!

Once you get to grips with the system and how to use it, it is a straight forward and quick way to create designs without the faff and complexities of other more intricate software’s.  Using Sketch Up alongside the rendering software I am able to create stunning, realistic visuals.  It also helps me to map out and ensure all measurements of items that I want to include work within a space – before I even start to make the models look pretty!

Taking before photos allows me clients to really see the transformation at the end of a project. It gives me such fulfillment when I can look at the before and after.

Creating interior design concepts is so simple in SketchUp and Enscape. I love it!

I use a couple of extra extensions with SketchUp.  I use Enscape to do my rendering – it’s such a great software to use and like anything, at first I struggled to get to grips with it, but now I wouldn’t be without it! The quality of the renders, how quick it works, the inventory of items and all the effects that you can do on it are mind blowing. 

I also use SU Podium Browser for additional items to add into my model that Enscape or the SketchUp Warehouse don’t have – I’ve found this invaluable when looking for digital items to represent actual items that I’ve recommended to clients for their design models. 

Taking photos throughout the process and comparing them to our render designs helps the client and us to stay on track during the build.

I’d say to anyone who is tempted to get Sketch Up but isn’t sure, to go for it.  Once you understand the controls and how to use the software it really is an amazing tool to have when you’re in the industry.  It will provide you with invaluable resources to help convey your designs or concepts to clients.  With the free SketchUp available too, there is no harm in having a play before committing to the Pro package!

To see more of Mackenzie’s work, 3D modelling designs and renders, you can find them on social media here:

Instagram

So who is Mackenzie?

 
 

Our brand new SketchUp top trumps give you a speedy breakdown and the 411 on everything you need to know about Mackenzie…

 
 

From where he calls home in the digital design space, to his secret SketchUp power, you’ll find the ins and the outs of her SketchUp Journey here…

 
 
 

If you want to have a personalised SketchUp top trump made for you, email us at marketing@elmtec.co.uk and let’s get the ball rolling!

Communicating Your Designs in SketchUp

Posted on by Charlotte Lee

SketchUp’s 3D modelling software is robust yet simple to use. And thanks to a wealth of clever features, it’s even easier than you think to share your design ideas with other people. 

Whether you want to slice your 3D creations and share cross-sections of key aspects or offer your audience animated scenes from every angle, it’s up to you. Share your SketchUp model your way. 

Add shadows to showcase your ideas at distinct times of day. Or perhaps view your project on Google Earth to truly bring your creation to life.

Need to document your design elements?

LayOut with SketchUp Pro lets you create presentations using your designs with added extras to give documents a professional and branded feel. Add your own images, text, labels and more.

And the best way to store and share these files is via Trimble Connect.

Take advantage of the Trimble Connect for Business capability when you sign up for a SketchUp subscription. Storing your files online and auto-syncing them between devices is fast and secure. And you can even view and recover previous file versions and gain access to a host of additional project management tools too.

This guide will not only show you how to share a SketchUp model with your clients but also highlight some of the visual options you have at your fingertips as a SketchUp user. 

  • Sending a SketchUp model to LayOut
  • Using Trimble Connect with SketchUp
  • Slicing a model to peer inside
  • Walking through a model
  • Creating scenes
  • Animating scenes
  • Casting real-world shadows
  • Using the credits feature
  • Watermarking a model
  • Printing views of a model in Microsoft Windows & Mac OS X
  • 3D printing a model
  • Viewing your model in Google Earth

Sending a SketchUp Model to LayOut

Sending a SketchUp model to LayOut is easy. Simply click on the ‘Send to LayOut’ button on the Large Tool Set or Getting Started toolbars. But knowing how to make the most of the fantastic set of tools when you’re there is key to documenting your ideas perfectly.

 

3D models are amazing reproductions of your architectural visions, but they aren’t much use to a building contractor waiting to lay the foundations. Orthographic projections get your ideas across in an accurate and functional way. 

 

2D CAD drawings, elevations and floor plans are necessary for mapping out the exact footprint of a building design. And that’s where LayOut comes in.

 

But before sending your 3D models across to LayOut, you need to be sure to create your scenes first. SketchUp and Layout files link seamlessly to automatically update the designs. Setting specific scenes lets LayOut show you exactly what you want to see rather than the last saved version from your model.

 

After creating your scenes and sending a SketchUp model to LayOut, you can now input as many viewports as you need to showcase the design from various angles. Then it’s time to dimension and document the drawings.

 

LayOut’s documentation tools allow you to produce 2D plans based on the original design. From here, you’re able to produce a set of precise construction drawings that you can save and share with those who need them.

 

Any changes that you make to the original design are quickly applied to the 2D plans. Your clients can then access these updates as soon as you’re finished making the necessary adjustments.

Using Trimble Connect with SketchUp

Sharing your SketchUp model changes is fundamental to keeping all parties in the loop. And with Trimble Connect you can achieve this effortlessly.

This functionality comes with a paid SketchUp subscription and opens the door to a world of collaboration opportunities.

  • Save and store an unlimited number of creations and associated files
  • Share updated designs through the open BIM viewer
  • Grant teams access auto-sync data any time, any place
  • Recover previous file versions
  • And more…

How to sign in to the Trimble Connect website

Using Trimble Connect with SketchUp allows you to manage your designs in a simple yet productive way. And it all happens through the Trimble Connect Website.

The site stores all of your files on the cloud and gives you and other linked collaborators access whenever you need it. It’s available for Mac and Windows and is compatible with their mobile operating systems and Android too.  

Signing into this common data environment is easy. Simply head to the Trimble Connect site and enter your subscription email address and password. 

Once you’ve accessed your account, you can add your projects and begin. Select the subscription from the drop-down menu to grant access to the full range of tools and give your project a name. You can now start to add the files that you wish to share and publish your models using the Trimble Connect extension in SketchUp.

The Trimble Connect 2.0 extension

In SketchUp, head up to the main menu bar at the top of the screen and click File. At the bottom of the drop-down list, you’ll see the expandable Trimble Connect options. These include Open Model, Collaboration Manager, Publish Model, Publish As, Import Reference Model and Launch Trimble Connect.

Open Model 

This is where you can open any existing SketchUp files stored on Trimble Connect. Each file opens in a separate model window for you to view.

Collaboration Manager

Once you’ve opened your model file, you can now begin to collaborate with other users. Assign them tasks, control your ‘to do’ list, respond to comments and update reference models as well as open a Trimble Connect pane within SketchUp.

Publish Model

To share a SketchUp model, you can add it to an existing project over on Trimble Connect. Details of the new model are now available for collaborators to view and work with.

Publish As

In much the same way as a ‘Save As’ command, you can save your SketchUp files with a new name or add them to another folder.

Import Reference Model

Importing multiple files to use as a reference in an open model file is simple in the following formats:

  • .skp
  • .ifc
  • .dwg
  • .dxf

Other members collaborating on the project can work on their own design files and integrate them into a master drawing set. Any updates to those files can then be viewed within the main file by simply updating each added element.

Launch Trimble Connect

You can open the Trimble Connect web app directly with this option. From here, you can complete any necessary tasks and adjust any of the configurations as needed.

The Trimble Sync facility

Trimble Sync lets you keep your PC, laptop and mobile constantly updated with the latest project info—giving you complete access to real-time project info. Simply log in on another compatible device and pick up where you left off.

Slicing a Model to Peer Inside

Section planes in SketchUp make slicing a model to peer inside extremely simple to achieve. Planimetric views, either horizontally or vertically, give you visual access to floor plans and sectional views of multiple floors at the same time.

How to add a section plane

The first step is to deselect all other areas of the model to ensure that you aren’t working on the wrong area. Next, open the object that you wish to slice and input any height measurements for your plane.

Select tools from the menu bar and select the Section Plane tool. Or go straight to the icon on the Tool Set palette if you’re a Windows or Mac user.

Using the plane cursor, select the face where you wish to create the slice. Your section plane will appear along with a dialog box for you to name the section.

Finally, you can make any necessary adjustments to your plane by changing the placement, reversing the cut direction or aligning the camera view. You can also select an active cut if multiple planes are present and hide/show planes as needed.

How to fill voids in section cuts

Depending on the type of object that you choose to slice, your cut may result in open voids appearing. To fill these voids in a closed loop, you can open the Styles panel, click on the Edit tab, select Modelling Settings, and check the Section Fill box. You can also change the fill colour if required.

How to create a new geometry from a section plane

To create a new geometry from a new section plane, simply context-click on the section plane and select Create Group from Slice. You can now move that group to where you need it in your model.

You can also divide your model by exploding the group.

How to hide section planes and cuts

SketchUp comes complete with a versatile set of controls to adjust the visibility of a plane and cut independently. It’s possible to:

  • Hide a single section plane by right-clicking on the section plane and select ‘Hide’
  • Hide all section planes by clicking the Display Section Planes tool
  • Hide all section cuts with a click on the Display Section Cuts tool

How to export section cut effects

Showcasing and sharing your section cuts is possible with both SketchUp Make and Pro versions. But with SketchUp Pro, you can also export a 2D vector image known as a Section Slice.

You can use these 2D slices to create scaled drawings and edit them in other programs that work with vectorised images.

To do this, select the appropriate plane and head to the following: File > Export > Section Slice.

Now all you need to do is select the folder where you want to save the file, give it a name and click on ‘Export’.

Walking Through a Model

Getting up close and personal with your designs is the only way to check every intricate part of your model. Browsing an image from afar gives you a great idea of how it all feels in general. But you need access to all areas to give you complete confidence in the final product.

 

Walking through a model using a few of SketchUp’s additional tools will open the door to your design and let you step inside.

Methods for positioning cameras

You can choose to view your work from specific points by simply changing the camera position. Using the Position Camera tool will initially place the camera 5’ 6″ above where you click. After that, you can adjust the eye height to view from a different perspective.

 

To make this happen, choose the Position Camera tool from the toolbar, click and hold where you wish to place the camera and drag the cursor to the point that you would like to view. To adjust the camera height, just enter the figure in the Eye Height box.

How to use the look around tool

After positioning the SketchUp camera, you will automatically trigger the Look Around tool.

 

You will now begin to view your model from the preset height. Make your height adjustments as necessary and bear in mind that it is relative to the ground plane regardless of the surface height of your model. 

 

Click and drag the cursor in any direction to turn your head and view your design.

 

How to walk through a model

You can easily walk through your 3D model by using your mouse or trackpad. Select the walk tool that is represented by a pair of shoes and place your cursor on the screen to show the direction in which you would like to start walking. 

 

Click and drag upwards to move faster and downwards to slow down again.

 

The tool also has automatic collision detection to prevent you from walking through walls and other geometry. You can toggle the collision detection off to make it easier to pass from one side of the design to the other if necessary.

A Beginner’s Guide to SketchUp & Enscape Lighting

Posted on by Charlotte Lee

You already know that visualizing your SketchUp model in Enscape is simple. You click a button, and ta-dah, a high-quality render of your project appears within seconds! But there’s so much more that you can do to add more depth to your visualization with just a few tweaks to lighting.

We’ll guide you through the basics to help improve your SketchUp and Enscape workflow and brighten up your visualizations. We’ll cover how to:

  • Change the position of the sun
  • Place different light types into your model
  • Add colored lights, self-illuminated materials, and skyboxes

Before we get started:

Adjusting sunlight in Enscape and SketchUp

Sunlight can impact the look and feel of your project. Therefore, it’s essential for you to know how to adjust it. It’s possible to move the sun’s position in the Enscape rendering window, and Enscape can also take the geolocation and time of day/year settings from the Shadow and Location toolbars in SketchUp.

You can adjust these settings and see the real-time changes in the Enscape window. Set the time of day per scene, and then when you switch scenes in Enscape (via the view management tab), you will see different times of the day. You can change the time of day inside of Enscape by holding down the shift + right mouse button and moving your mouse left and right to the desired time of day. Pressing the HOME button will reset the sun back to the settings from the Shadow and Location toolbar in SketchUp.

TIP: You can also adjust the sun in a few other ways:

Time of Day: Press U or I

Solar Angle: Press Shift + U or I

Solar Rotation: Press CTRL + U or I

TIP: For softer shadows and a more natural diffused look to your scene, try increasing the density of the clouds and changing other settings in the Clouds section (under Visual Settings > Sky) to block out the sun (like clouds do in the real world).

Before cloud density was increased.  

After cloud density was increased to block out the sun. Now softer shadows have been achieved.

Adding lights in SketchUp and Enscape

Five lighting types come with Enscape: Sphere, Spot, Linear, Rectangular, Disk. They can all be found under the Enscape Objects button on the Enscape toolbar.

It’s important that the light source is not placed on the surface of your geometry, as setting it directly on an object’s surface could result in the light being obscured. Instead, place the light source just next to it. The click system (each type of light has a different system; see below) ensures the light source is placed away from an object’s surface. You can also set the axis direction by using the left, up, and right arrow keys between the first two clicks.

Let’s look at how to add each type of light to your SketchUp model.

Spotlight

When placing a spotlight, you’ll need to make four clicks to position the light.

TIP: When placing lights, draw a reference line of where you would like the light to be and hit.

1st click: This will determine the base point for the light. Click on the surface or axis of the object you would like the light to be placed.

 2nd click:  This will determine where the light will be placed on the surface. Move the light along the surface or reference line to the desired location.

3rd click: This will determine the surface the light will be hitting. Click on the surface you would like the light to hit.

4th click: This will determine the position of where on this surface the light will be hitting. Click and move the light to the desired place on the surface.

Once the light is placed, you will notice some red dots at the end of the light beam. These are here to give you control over the “Focal Point,” “Target,” and “Beam Angle.” You will also notice that you now have more options in the Enscape Objects tab for this spotlight.

These controls will allow you to adjust the Luminous Intensity and Beam Angle. Notice you will also get the option to load an IES Profile.

TIP: The maximum length of the spotlight cone is 23 meters.

 

IES Profiles

 IES files describe how a specific light is distributed throughout a space. These files can help add more realism to the model and give an accurate representation of what the actual space will look like when it is built.

Here are some resources where you can find IES profiles:

TIP:  You can tell when a light has an IES profile assigned to it by how it looks:

Without IES profile.

With IES profile.

Sphere light

When placing a sphere light, two clicks are required to position the light.

1st click: Will determine the base point for the light.

2nd click: Will place the light.

Once the lights are placed, you will see the options to adjust the light settings in the Enscape Objects window:

Sphere light and self-illuminated material.

Line light

 When placing a line light, there are two clicks you will need to make to position the light.

1st click: Will determine the base point for the light.

2nd click: Will place the light.

Once the lights are placed and rotated correctly, you will see the options to adjust the Luminous Intensity and Length in the Enscape Objects window.

Rectangular/disk lights in Enscape

 Place these lights using the same four-click process as the spotlight:

 1st click: Will determine the base point for the light.[GFDS1] .

 2nd click:  Determine where on the surface you want to place the light. Then, simply move the light along the surface to the desired location.

 3rd click: Click on the surface you would like the light to touch.

4th click:  Click and move the light to the desired place on the surface.

 As with the other light types, once you place the rectangular/disk light you can see the adjustment options available. For the rectangular light, it’s possible to change the Luminous Power, Width, and Length. For the disk light, the Luminous Power and Light Source Radius can be changed.

TIP: For optimal workflow efficiency, it’s possible to copy and paste all of the different light sources. Once you have placed a light, select and copy it using CTRL-C or the Copy option in the Edit menu. Then paste the copied light using either the CTRL-V or the Paste option in the Edit menu.

Changing light colours in Enscape

 TIP: To change the color of a light, pick the color you would like from the SketchUp materials and paint bucket the light.

White light underneath a kitchen cabinet.

Use the paint bucket to adjust the color of the light.

Colored light applied and visible.

Self-illuminated materials

Self-illuminated materials are another way to impact the lighting of a scene. A designer can use them for custom lighting fixtures, TV screens, fireplaces, and more. Use self-illuminated materials in combination with Enscape lights to give the appearance of the light being on during the day. To make a material self-illuminated, open the Enscape Material Editor.

Select a material, change the Type to Self-illuminated, and you will notice you now have a new option to control the self-illumination parameters of this material:

 On the left side of the screen in the Materials section, the material icon will change to a lightbulb. This determines what type of material each one is. Check out this article for more information on self-illuminated materials in Enscape and SketchUp.

Skyboxes for lighitng in Enscape

Another way to light a scene and add more realism to a rendering is to use a skybox, which acts as a background image for your project. Pre-loaded skyboxes can be found in the Enscape Visual Settings tab > Sky > Horizon > Source > Skybox:

You can choose from one of the skyboxes listed above or upload one you have created or downloaded.

No skybox applied.

Skybox applied. Notice how the brightness and shadows have changed.

In the Visual Settings tab, under Sky > Horizon, the ‘Normalize the average brightness to the value set below/Brightness’ slider will darken or brighten the overall brightness of the skybox.

Using the ‘Brightest Point as Sun Direction’ option will connect Enscape’s sun to the brightest point of the skybox (which in most cases will always be the sun) and add more realism to the scene.

One thing to remember when using skyboxes is that they will block out the Enscape sun, and you will not be able to change the time of day.

Here are some free resources where you can find HDRIs (custom skybox files) to download and add to your scene:

Final thoughts on SketchUp and Enscape lighting

By simply adjusting the sun’s position and time of day, as well as adding the right lights and a skybox, you can make a difference to the look and feel of any project. We hope this basic guide to lighting in SketchUp and Enscape has provided you with some tips and ideas to implement within your own projects.

There are many great tutorials on YouTube, depending on your level of experience, and additional resources contain other best practices. Here are a few worth checking out:

Have fun exploring lighting in SketchUp and Enscape! We can’t wait to see what you create. Remember to tag us on social.

P.S. Enscape for Mac and SketchUp will be available soon! Sign up to our dedicated Mac mailing list to hear the news first.
 

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How to Set Up Templates and Improve Sketchup’s Performance

Posted on by Charlotte Lee

Setting up Templates

There are several templates to choose from that will help speed up your design setup. Having the model’s default settings predetermined makes it much faster to get started.

 

You can add your own elements to a template and create your own if you wish. These include changing settings in the Model Info dialog, Geometry info, Styles and Shadows. 

  • The Model Info dialog box allocates the model defaults and your template should reflect these settings 
  • Saving existing geometry to a template means that it can be instantly available when you create a new model 
  • The styles browser presents sets of styles or the alternative is to set an individual face, background and watermark value
  • Shadows aren’t switched on by default but you can add them along with their own preferences to a new template

How to change the default template

To begin, head to Windows > Preferences for Windows users and SketchUp > Preferences with macOS. Next, choose the template you would like to set as the default and click OK.

How to create a new template

Many of the designs that you create may well have a familiar group of settings. Setting up your projects is a matter of personal preference and depends on the type of models you often work on. Customising SketchUp by creating templates that match your individual needs is extremely useful.

 

You can use your existing default template to get started.

 

Simply make any of the changes you want to include in a template and select File > Save As Template. 

Improving Sketchup Performance

There are 3 key elements that combine to create the peak performance for your modelling design experience.

 

When you have everything working in harmony, you can expect fast and efficient results that won’t break your flow of concentration.

 

These areas are optimising your modelling techniques, adjusting any necessary computer settings and changing OpenGL settings.

How to optimise modelling techniques for improved performance

As you create more faces and styles etc., SketchUp will continuously render the results. This is the workload pressure that the software is constantly putting on your system and can have big effects on the overall performance.

 

By keeping models light, you reduce that pressure and help keep things running smoothly and effortlessly.

 

Here are a few fundamentals that you might want to focus on to strip things back and lighten the load a little.

 

Use simple styles. Shadows and textures add plenty of weight to a design in terms of processing power. If they aren’t essential, then keep them turned off.

 

Create components. Turning elements into a component lets you use them many times if necessary. So rather than adding the same thing over and over, make it a component and simply replicate it.

 

Use .jpeg instead of .tiff. Importing images as a JPEG will result in far less data being transferred as the files are much smaller.

 

Hide unused geometry. Everything that is visible needs to be rendered. Try grouping certain elements together in layers and turn them on and off as needed.

 

Purge unused data. SketchUp keeps copies of old styles and components after you remove them just in case they are needed in the future. If you don’t need them again, then you can always remove them to speed things up a little. Go to Window > Model Info. Choose Statistics and Purge Unused.

How to verify the computer meets Sketchup Hardware and Software requirements.

Your hardware setup is one of the biggest factors worth considering when it comes to SketchUp performance. Even with the most organised workstation and light designs, you can’t make things faster if your computer isn’t up to the task.

 

You’ll need to ensure that you’re using a suitable graphics card, have enough RAM to perform any assigned processes and an adequate processor for the job.

 

For Windows 10 versions, for example, it’s recommended to have at least a 2GHz processor, 8GB of RAM, AMG or NVIDIA graphics card, 2GB of free disk space and 3D class video card.

 

Finally, always use any available SketchUp software and operating system updates.

How to adjust OpenGL settings to improve performance.

The Open Graphics Library is the SketchUp API which renders 3D graphics within the program. This along with the Anti-aliasing of jagged edges can cause performance issues for your system. So it’s good to know that it’s possible to adjust the preferences for both if necessary.

OpenGL

Go to Windows > Preferences or SketchUp > Preferences on masOS to begin making adjustments.

 

Select OpenGL and you’ll have a couple of options.

 

Use Maximum Texture Size – SketchUp doesn’t render graphics with anything over 1024 x 1024 resolution. This should be the default setting. But if your software feels sluggish, then it’s worth checking that this hasn’t been enabled somewhere along the line.

 

Use Fast Feedback – This setting can help improve performance, especially when working on larger models. It should be on by default but check that it is still switched on, just in case.

Anti-Aliasing

If you notice issues with the SketchUp performance or the visual appearance of your model, then you might want to check this setting.

 

Head to Window > Model Info and choose Rendering. Try deselecting the Use Anti-Aliased Textures feature to see if this helps to improve things.

Developing Tools with the Sketchup Ruby API and Console

SketchUp’s Ruby API allows you to create tools and menu items along with a host of other functions. Ruby is an open source programming language that makes it possible to integrate various changes to simplify processes for the user. 

 

Naturally, you’ll need to be au fait with programming in this scripting language to add to the ongoing development.

 

The Ruby Console is also available for trying out any additions to see how they function within SketchUp.

 

SketchUp doesn’t offer any support for this at present. However, the developer’s forum is a great place to start if you have any questions.

SketchUp for iPad: Capture your creativity on the go

Posted on by Charlotte Lee

SketchUp for iPad is the new, versatile way to create, edit, and view 3D models whether you’re on a job site, on the go, or in the office. With support for Apple Pencil, multi-touch gestures, and mouse and keyboard, you can harness the power of 3D your way. Quickly draw, swipe, and click to bring form to your creative vision.

For those who already know you need SketchUp for iPad in your life, you can download it if you’re an active subscriber, or try it for free now.

SketchUp for iPad in practice

We knew sketching on an iPad would be a game-changer for various workflows, so we were eager to get the inside scoop from several of our SketchUp for iPad beta users. 

Our lucky betas fancy everything from exploring designs on a job site to being able to jot down early-stage concepts quickly. Other notable callouts include easily reviewing and marking up designs from team members, studying the details of a design, and cutting down the back-and-forth time it takes to go from RFI to an on-site solution. We’re going to pause here and let you read for yourself a 🔥 sampling of the inbound we’ve received from the SketchUp-verse.

Here’s what some of the beta users had to say:

“I have been using SketchUp for iPad a few different ways. It helps me get ideas out digitally instead of sketching on paper during the conceptual design phase. During design development, it’s useful because I can go back and forth between iPad and desktop. I also use Markup mode with Apple Pencil to sketch directly on top of 3D models. This is useful in meetings with clients, contractors, collaborators, and consultants. Lastly, it has been valuable to use SketchUp for iPad on construction sites. Typically, contractors have SketchUp on a laptop, and I have to sit down with them and help them understand how things are supposed to be built. Now, I do this work with my iPad. It’s very fluid and fast.”
João Queiroz e Lima Designer
“We use SketchUp to design all of our architecture projects. We even take our models out in the field to help the contractors during the build phase. SketchUp for iPad has many more viewing capabilities that I need when going to a job site. I can now zoom in on specific sections and take more precise measurements using Apple Pencil. It helps me communicate more efficiently with our general contractors. They love seeing the model on an iPad versus paper because it’s more detailed. I enjoy SketchUp for iPad because it’s like a digital piece of paper; it’s so much more flexible than bringing your laptop out in the field.”
Guy Wydouw Designer
“I use SketchUp every day in the film industry. Now, I use SketchUp on my iPad and take my work wherever I go – the train, on set, etc. Before SketchUp for iPad, I would hand sketch on sets and jot down dimensions on a piece of paper. Now, I can do it right there with the Director on my iPad. It’s saved me a lot of design time – about half a day’s work. Plus, I don’t lose any modeling space with the way the UI has been developed. All of the menus are dropdowns, so it saves a ton of space.”
Luke Whitelock Designer

Let’s dive deeper into a specific case from beta user Omar Calderon Santiago, Design Principal at Perkins Eastman. Perkins Eastman is a global architecture, interior design, urban design, planning, landscape architecture, graphic design, and project management firm. Omar handles front-end conceptual design work and prefers to work exclusively in SketchUp.

“SketchUp helps me communicate my initial design ideas to other team members and clients. Something unique about Perkins Eastman is that we work within design groups. So everyone works together throughout the entire design process.”

How do you use SketchUp for iPad in your workflow?

We’ve been exploring and experimenting with SketchUp for iPad in our workflow, and the possibilities are endless. I use SketchUp for iPad during the initial conceptual design phase. To unleash your creativity at the start of a concept, you need tools that are easy to use – tools similar to sketching on a physical piece of paper, and SketchUp for iPad is precisely this. 

My workflow typically starts by importing a geo-referenced location to get the scale correct, and from there, I create massing models. This helps me and the team understand the building’s scale and the surrounding context. And, since there’s a seamless integration between desktop and iPad, I can work across both on the same project. 

Another SketchUp for iPad use case is carrying out detailed studies of aspects of a particular design. For example, I can import an image clip or floor plan and extrude objects, or focus on one area and detail it out. 

I’m also excited about being able to easily import 3D Warehouse models into my iPad designs, which has helped speed up my workflow. 

What benefits have you gained from using SketchUp for iPad in your workflow?

It’s been liberating. I enjoy the mobile aspect because I can take my design work anywhere. The past couple of years has brought a new perspective to how we work and fast-tracked our ability to work away from the office. Work needs to be easily transportable, and with SketchUp for iPad, it is.

Experience SketchUp in a new way

To solve the trickiest design problems, you need the right tools. Here’s why SketchUp and iPad are the perfect (design) pair:

  • work on the go whether you’re connected to high-speed internet or working offline;
  • create in 3D with the ease of drawing by hand without sacrificing precision using Apple Pencil; 
  • access your projects anywhere with iPad’s inherent mobility;
  • And share your way via AirDrop, text, email, or sync files to your favorite storage app.

We’ve also got all of your core modeling bases covered with a few old friends you’ll be happy to see – Entity Info, Shadows, Styles, Materials, Add Location, Tags, Scenes, Image export, Animation export, access to 3D Warehouse…and so much more. After all, this is the SketchUp you know and love, just on an iPad. 

On top of all of that, this completely new interface incorporates robust, intuitive modeling capabilities developed specifically for iPad 🔥. SketchUp for iPad has the professional features you need with the simplicity you desire. Explore the highlights:

Autoshape: This new machine-learning feature enables you to turn doodles into 3D shapes instantly. Even better, you can pull in Live Components: parametrically configurable objects that redraw themselves in real-time. Talk about a time saver!

Markup mode: Are you a person that likes to edit designs with a red pen? Well, we’ve got your back. Using Apple Pencil, you can mark up and sketch over top 3D models with different styles, colors, and strokes. When you’re ready to turn those redlines into reality, you can iterate quickly in 3D using the Apple Pencil.

AR viewing: Experience your projects in the context of the real world with iPad’s powerful augmented reality viewing capabilities. While in AR, you can cycle through any pre-saved scenes and explore your model at a fully immersive 1:1 scale. 

Draw your way: Create in 3D with Apple Pencil, mouse & keyboard, or multi-touch gestures. Whatever works best for you!

Add Photo Texture: Bring inspiration from the real world into your projects using your iPad’s built-in camera. Take a picture, and apply it as a texture to any surface in your model. Simple. 

Always connected. Trimble’s cloud-based project management solution, Trimble Connect, is now available at your fingertips. With Trimble Connect, you can work on whatever device you need – from SketchUp Pro, SketchUp for iPad, and SketchUp for Web. You’ll always have access to the latest file, so whenever work calls, you’ll be prepared to answer.

Cross-app functionality. SketchUp for iPad also plays nicely with other apps. With USDz export capability, you can create in 3D on SketchUp for iPad and then draw or paint in various other apps, including Procreate and Morpholio Trace.

Take a peek inside SketchUp for iPad…

How to access:

Great news. SketchUp for iPad is available to anyone with a paid subscription. Yup, you read that right: Go, Pro, Studio, Higher Education, and Non-Profit subscribers can start creating SketchUp models on an iPad today! 

Prefer to try it out first? You can take it for a spin using our free 7-Day trial

Getting started:

Once you’re in the app, check out the ‘Learn’ tab on the left-hand side of the Home screen. We’ve developed in-app tutorials to help get you up to speed, fast. Whether you’re just starting, or you’ve been around the SketchUp block a time or two, you’re sure to pick up some helpful iPad modeling tips. 

Want to learn even more about the features and how to get started? Check out our Help Centre for the full scoop.

Alternatively, get started by following one of the links below:

Download the App
Start a 7-Day trial 

Buy From A UK Reseller for round the clock email and phone support with your SketchUp subscription

How to Create and animate Scenes in SketchUp

Posted on by Charlotte Lee

What are Scenes in Sketchup?

Creating scenes in SketchUp allows you to generate various views of your work and save them as independent images.

 

The benefits of doing so include quick access to different angles, seeing parts of your design with various textures or rendering applied, showing your model in parts to break down a presentation, adding additional views to shared models and creating animated sequences.

How to create a scene

Creating scenes is a simple three-step process. However, you should ensure that you set the view exactly how you want it with styles etc. applied for each before you begin.

 

Step 1. Head up to the Windows tab and select Scenes from the menu.

 

Step 2. Click on the Add Scene option.

 

Step 3. A new scene will appear and you can now change the name and add any other details as necessary.

How to manage scene properties

Each new scene comes with various preset properties. You can adjust these by unselecting the options from the Scenes dialog area.

 

Camera Location. You can adjust the point of view and zoom distances to suit your requirements.

 

Hidden Geometry. Everything will remain hidden when you load a new scene. Uncheck the box to display hidden elements.

 

Visible Layers. If you have used layers to control which parts of the document are visible, then you may wish to continue showing these throughout your saved scene.

 

Active Section planes. As with the visible layers, you may have created various section planes for your model. If you don’t want these to appear in your scene, then simply uncheck this box.

 

Style and Fog. Any of the scenes that you create will have their own style settings. When you edit these, you can decide whether or not you want to save the changes.

 

Shadows Settings. Creating Shadow settings for each of your scenes allows you to view shadow aspects at various times of the day. You may or may not want these saved with a newly created scene.

 

Axes Location. If you do not want the axes display info included in your scene, then you can toggle this off as well.

How to update a scene

To update your scene, select Windows from the menu bar and then click Scenes to open the dialog box.

 

Select the scene that you wish to work with and make sure you check the Show Details option to double check any of the properties that you want to save.

 

Finally, click on the Update Scene Button.

 

How to manage scenes

 

The scenes window will present all of your scenes in order of their creation time.

 

But sometimes you may wish to adjust this order and organise them in a way that makes more sense to you.

 

To do this, context-click on the scenes tab that you would like to move and shift it to the left or right as appropriate. You can also move the tabs up and down by selecting the Move Scene Down option and choosing the appropriate arrow.

 

How to delete a scene

 

Over time, it’s possible to build up a lot of scenes associated with your model. And you may not wish to keep all of them in the long term. To delete them, simply select the scene from the dialog and click Remove Scene.

 

How to customise scene thumbnails

 

Choosing your scene thumbnails is a matter of personal preference. It is possible to remove them altogether by clicking on the Details icon and unchecking the Use Scene Thumbnails option.

 

Other options include Small Thumbnails, Large Thumbnails, View Details or a List option that provides just the names of the scenes in a list.

How to view scenes in models imported from the 3D warehouse

Downloaded models from 3D Warehouse into SketchUp arrive in the form of a component. These will not have any scenes attached to them. The solution is to open it as a model by selecting No when asked if you want to load it directly into your SketchUp model.

 

Next, choose to open the file and use any of the scenes associated with that model.

Animating Scenes

Animating scenes is a fantastic way to show how your creation looks over a period of time. This could be with people coming and going, for example, traffic or perhaps shadows moving across a building throughout the day.

 

All of this is possible after creating your initial set of scenes and can be played as an animation in SketchUp, exported as an .MP4 or as an image set.

How to animate scenes in SketchUp

You can animate your scenes in the Scenes Manager by selecting the scene and clicking View > Animation > Play. Alternatively, context-click on the scene tab and choose the Play Animation option.

 

You can also customise the animation by clicking View > Animation > Settings. 

How to export video animations

To export your animations, head up to the main menu and click on File. Select Export, Animation and finally, select Video.

 

Select or create a new folder, give your creation a name and file extension type.

 

You can make any final tweaks to the animation via the Options tab and click Export when you’re ready.

How to export image sets

Exporting your scenes as an image set is simple. Follow the path: File > Export > Animation > Image Set and the Export Animation dialog options will appear.

 

Enter the root name for your images and select an image type from either .jpg, .tif or .bmp.

 

To make any changes to resolution etc., click on Options. Click OK to finalise the changes and select Export to complete the process. 

Casting Real-World Shadows

Your project comes to life as shadows are cast across the design at various points of the day. Based on the geographical coordinates, orientation and time zone of your model, shadows show you exactly what to expect when a building takes on its constructed form.

 

How to enable and use the shadows feature

 

By default, casting real-world shadows is automatically disabled while creating your designs. But to turn them on only takes a couple of clicks. 

 

Select View > Shadows to turn the feature on. And now you can begin to customise your options.

 

Make any necessary changes to the following setting as you need:

 

  • Time Zone 
  • Light intensity
  • Shadow intensity
  • Use the sun to simulate shaded areas regardless of turning shadows on or off
  • Cast shadows on other faces
  • Cast shadows on the ground plane
  • Cast shadows from edges

A transparent face with an opacity of less than 70% doesn’t cast shadows. Increase the opacity to above 70% to reverse this.

Using the Credits Feature

As they say, ‘credit where credit’s due’. And that’s exactly why SketchUp allows designers and those who have contributed to a model to add their names to a project using the Credits feature.

 

This feature is a basic attribution for those creating components for each model and not does not grant legal ownership for Digital Rights Management Purposes.

 

You will need a Google account to use this feature.

 

How to claim credit

 

Open the desired SketchUp component model file and follow these steps to claim credit on a design.

 

  1. Click the Sign In Account button
  2. Enter your Google account login details
  3. Now go to Window > Model info > Credits
  4. Click the Claim Credit option and ensure that your username is in the Model Author field
  5. Save the file
  6. Import your component into any other model file and your credit will appear 

Watermarking a Model

Watermarks are fantastic for keeping your designs secure and avoiding unauthorised copies after you share your SketchUp model. And they’re also powerful marketing tools as well.

 

Company names, logos and other images can appear in front of your images and documents or behind as necessary. And watermarking a model in SketchUp is incredibly easy for whatever purpose you may employ them.

 

How to add a watermark to a SketchUp model.

 

To add a watermark, select Window > Styles. The Styles browser will now open. Click Edit and then select the Watermark Settings icon.

 

You can now head to the saved image that you wish to use as your watermark and open the file. The possible file formats are .jpg, .png, .psd, .tif, .tga and .bmp.

 

The Creative Watermark dialog will now open and you can enter a name for your watermark. Click on the Background or Overlay buttons to place the image in front of or behind your model.

 

Go ahead and click on Next and you will now have the option to create a vignette mask and adjust the transparency of your watermark.

 

Click Next and select the position of your watermark. You can now expand the image to the desired size. You can also uncheck the Lock Aspect Ratio to allow your image to cover the whole screen.

 

When you are satisfied that the watermark appears exactly as you want it to, click Finish to end the process.

 

You can use the Edit Watermark Settings icon to make any alterations after you have inserted your image. Alternatively, you can delete it and start again if you wish.

What is SketchUp 3D Warehouse?

Posted on by Charlotte Lee

Introducing the 3D Warehouse Interface

When you first open 3D Warehouse via SketchUp or a web browser, you see the 3D Warehouse main page. From this page, you can start a search, browse by category, find collections of models uploaded by other users, or explore catalogs uploaded by manufacturers and developers.

When you find a model that interests you, click its thumbnail image to see the model details page, which includes a description, statistics, viewing tools, sharing tools, comments from other 3D Warehouse users, and more.

Starting at the 3D Warehouse main page

The 3D Warehouse main page includes search tools and navigation features, called out in the following figure. These tools and features help you start exploring 3D Warehouse right away:

  1. Search box: Type a search term in the Search box and press Enter. 3D Warehouse shows you models with a title, description, or hashtag that matches your search term.
  2. Upload a model: Click this button to begin uploading a model. You need to sign in with your account to upload a model (if you’re not signed in already).
  3. Sign In link/user menu: Click the Sign In link to sign in to 3D Warehouse with your Trimble ID. After you sign in, this link becomes the user menu.
  4. Featured community models: See 3D models that are popular or created by skilled 3D modelers.
  5. Featured catalogs: Browse verified manufacturers that have created catalogs of their products (such as appliances, furniture, or materials) on 3D Warehouse. Catalogs enable you to browse models and materials from these well-known brands.
  6. Featured commercial models: This area features models that manufacturers created for 3D Warehouse.
  7. Featured users: Look here for featured 3D Warehouse users, including the SketchUp Official profile.

Checking out the model details page

You’ve flipped through catalogs, scanned search results, or peered into other users’ collections, and — hooray! — a model catches your eye. You click its thumbnail image, and the model’s detail page appears, with tools, details, and information galore! Here’s a look at the tools and features you find on the model details page, as called out in the following figure:

Preview: By default, you see the model’s thumbnail image in the main preview area. To see a 3D preview of the model, hover the mouse pointer over the image and click the 3D Model button that appears.

In the 3D preview, you can click and drag the Orbit tool to see the model from different perspectives. To access other tools, open the panel on the right to select different views or scenes or select the Pan, Zoom, or Zoom Extents tool. To open a large preview, click the Full Screen icon in the lower right of the preview window and press Esc to leave the full-screen view. To return to the model’s image preview, click 3D Warehouse in the lower left of the 3D preview.

  1. Model author: See which user uploaded the model. A blue checkmark by the author’s name means the creator is verified. For example, the SketchUp Official user is verified as an official 3D Warehouse account for SketchUp.
  2. Model Info: Here you find basic data about the model. To get a sense for a model’s complexity, check out the file size and the number of polygons and materials the model contains.
  3. Icons: Click the following icons to access a 3D Warehouse feature:
    • Like: If you’re signed in to your account, click the Like button () to tell the model creator you like their model.
    • Favorites: Favorites gives you a quick and easy way to curate a folder of your favorite models. To save a model to your private Favorites folder, click the Favorites button (). To see the models in your Favorites folder, open your 3D Warehouse Models page by selecting Models from the user menu.
    • Folders: Click the Folders icon () to add a model to an existing folder. Unlike collections, folders are private, so only you can view them.
    • Collections: Click the Collections icon () to add a model to an existing collection. Collections are public so you can share them with the 3D Warehouse community.
    • Embed: Click the Embed icon () to open a window that contains a code snippet you can copy and paste to embed the model thumbnail image or 3D Viewer preview on a web page.
    • Report Abuse/DMCA: If you come across a model that violates the 3D Warehouse Terms of Use, you can alert the folks at SketchUp by clicking the Report Abuse/DMCA icon (). If you believe that your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, use this button to contact Trimble’s DMCA administrator. Clicking this button opens a form where you can clarify the problem you see with the model.
  4. Download button: Click this button to download the model. If you visit 3D Warehouse via the SketchUp File menu, clicking the Download button displays a dialog box that asks whether you want to download the model into your current SketchUp model. If you visit 3D Warehouse via your web browser, clicking the Download button might reveal options to download different versions of the model. Your options depend on what the model creator uploaded to 3D Warehouse.
  5. Description: The model’s author uploads a description with the model file. Some model descriptions are more detailed than others, but you can often learn a bit about model or component features. When you upload a model, you can also add hashtags to your description that make your model easier to find. Start by typing # and the autocomplete feature suggests useful hashtags as you type.
  6. Comments: You can check the comments for feedback from other 3D Warehouse users or updates from the model author. To leave a comment, you must be signed in.

 

Creating a 3D Model In SketchUp

Posted on by Charlotte Lee

The SketchUp software package is an incredibly powerful solution for all your 3D and 2D modelling needs. The free download edition has all the tools you need to get started, while the Pro version will take your ideas to a whole new level.

 

If you’re just getting started with computer-aided design, SketchUp is the ideal environment to develop your skills. Its simple interface keeps the whole process clear and concise throughout. And with the help of our SketchUp 3D modelling tutorial, you’ll be on the way to producing your first creation in next to no time.

This guide will help you get to grips with the basics and includes the following areas:

 

  • Choosing a style
  • Drawing lines, shapes and 3D objects 
  • Applying colours, photos, materials and textures 
  • Adding premade components and dynamic components
  • Classifying objects
  • Organising a model 
  • Viewing a model
  • Placing movie cameras in a model of a production set

 

For a little help with some of the other basic elements that we don’t cover today, you can always check out the tutorials page.

Choosing a Sketchup Style

Your style says a lot about you and how you want others to perceive you. And choosing a style in SketchUp helps bring that sense of identity to your designs. 

 

In essence, styles are a group of display settings that you can quickly and conveniently select from the Styles Palette. They add a feel to your work that sets it apart from the rest with aspects such as hand-rendered lines, coloured faces and background effects.

 

There is a fantastic range of predefined styles to choose from. And you can also edit and customise them to suit your designs. In addition, Pro users can create their own non-photorealistic styles.

Choosing a style

To take your pick from the standard set of styles on offer, head to the Default tray and choose the Styles panel. You can see the name of the current style at the top.

Go to the Select tab within the Styles panel and choose a collection of style settings from the list. This will produce thumbnails for the options in that collection. There are several to choose from including Sketchy Edges and different colour sets.

To apply the desired style, you just need to click on the thumbnail and it will be applied to your design instantly.

Customising a preset style

Styles have a series of customisable settings to adjust the sky and ground appearance. These include using colours or a photo. There is also a Transparency slider should you require it. Just select the Edit tab to make these changes.

In addition, you may also alter the appearance of faces and edges to personalise your styles further.

Drawing Lines, Shapes and 3D Objects

Lines and faces make up the bulk of your modelling creation. And pulling them out into 3D objects is where the real magic starts to happen.

 

Lines are the most basic component. And without them, you wouldn’t have any faces to give your model depth. They essentially create the edges that form the faces of your model. So first, let’s take a look at the most fundamental action—drawing a line.

Drawing a line

To add a line to your drawing, select the Line tool from the main toolbar.

 

Your first step is to click where you wish to begin drawing your line. You can press the Esc key to reset.

 

Move your mouse around the screen and you’ll see that the line begins to follow you around. When you want to stop drawing, you can simply click once more. And depending on the units set in your template, you’ll see the length of the line in the Measurements box.

 

The colour of your line will change as it relates to one of the coloured axes (x, y or z). This helps maintain your creation’s perspective as you progress.

 

If you need to adjust the length of a line, then choose the Move tool and click and drag the end of the line to where you require it.

Creating shapes (faces)

By connecting your lines into a closed shape, you’re effectively producing your first face. 

 

But this isn’t the only way to create faces for your model. You can also use the various shape tools to instantly create the basic shapes that you require.

 

You can fill your faces too! Select your shape and then open the Shape Style panel. Here, you can click on the Fill option and choose a colour. 

 

Drawing a rectangle or square

 

Let’s take a quick look at some basic shapes; rectangles and squares. When creating a 3D model, these shapes are going to be your bread and butter.

 

You can draw these basic shapes anywhere on the ground plane, vertical plane and on existing faces too.

 

On the toolbar, select the Rectangle tool and you’ll see the pencil with a rectangle appear in place of the cursor.

 

Click where you wish to start drawing and drag the cursor to expand the shape. The Measurements box will show exactly how big the rectangle is. You can now manually change the shape measurements to suit your needs.

 

Basic 3D objects (pulling a 3D object from a face)

 

To bring the shapes out of themselves and create a third dimension, you’ll need to select the Push/Pull tool—it’s the one with a square and a small arrow pointing upwards.

 

Click the shape that you wish to add volume to and the face will now become shaded.

 

Next, move the cursor away from the face to expand the shape and click a second time to finish. Again, you can use the Measurements box to enter precise figures. To add an identical 3D shape on top of the original, hold the Ctrl button (Windows) or Option (macOS) and double click on the face.

Inspecting an entity

Any line and face in SketchUp is considered an entity. And you can easily bring entities together to form a group that is called a Component Entity.

 

All of these entities have various characteristics that you can change via the Entity Info panel. To access the panel, go to Window > Default Tray > Entity Info on a Windows machine or Window > Entity Info for macOS.

 

You’ll find info regarding the entity’s size, layer, type and more.

Applying Colours, Photos, Materials and Textures

Adding effects to your design helps to make faces stand out from each other. They add a realistic touch and make models easier to imagine in their natural surroundings as a finished concept.

 

You can add basic colours to lines and faces or go a step further and give them a textured feel to show how that element fits with the design. These may be roofs, gardens, walls or windows, for example.

 

You are able to add these textures by going to Tools > Paint Bucket and click the Select tab. Choose your material from the list and click on the face onto which you wish to apply the texture.

 

Furthermore, you can use photos to add more textured effects where necessary.  

 

Material images are usually a tiled photo displayed on an individual face. But it’s also possible to use a single image to create the same result. You might even want to try taking a snippet from a Google Street View image that fits your model. This is a great way to keep your design in keeping with where it will eventually sit in the real world.

 

To add an image, go to File > Import and choose the file you want to use. You can import the image as a standard image, a texture or a matched photo.

 

Beware of the image resolution and the effect it may have on SketchUp’s performance. The higher the resolution, the more RAM your system needs to process the job. This can slow things down considerably, depending on your setup.

Wrapping textures

After importing an image file as a texture, you can wrap it around a shape such as a box or cylinder. 

 

  • Click on the lower-left corner of a face and then the upper-right corner
  • Click on the Paint Bucket tool and hold down the Alt key for Windows users or Command key for macOS
  • You’ll now see the Eyedropper appear
  • Click on the existing texture and release the Alt or Command key
  • Select the adjacent face to apply the wrapped texture

Modelling terrain and other rounded shapes

Modelling a landscape or a terrain for your model to sit on is done through SketchUp’s Sandbox tools. It uses hidden geometry to create a Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) that you can then sculpt into the form you require.

 

The easiest way to begin is to import an existing terrain from Google Earth. Alternatively, you can draw a plain flat TIN to start working on.

Adding Premade Components and Dynamic Components

Components such as windows, for example, appear several times on a building. And rather than creating everything yourself and repeating the process, you can simply use a premade component to add to your design.

 

Components use edges and faces, like all of SketchUp’s geometry. And you need to make sure that each component has a definition and an instance.

 

The definition tells you how the component appears. It’s basically a description of what it is and how it looks.

 

And every time you add the same component repeatedly, you’re creating a new instance of it in your design.

Dynamic Components

Dynamic components are like regular ones, except that they can produce more advanced effects.

 

These will include at least one of the following:

 

  1. Constrained values. Certain aspects of a component may need to stay the same regardless of the overall size. This could be the width of a fencepost, no matter how tall it is.
  2. Repetitive elements. Subcomponents within a component can multiply as you increase the scale—such as stairs, for example.
  3. Configurable values. Predefined values in a kitchen appliance, or something similar, are useful when adding some components.
  4. Animated features. Animated dynamic components make use of the Interact tool to move them. Windows and doors, for instance, can open and close.

How to insert a component

It’s simple to insert a component through the Components panel. There’s a sampler that shows a number of possibilities. You can use one of these or go for the more complete selection at the SketchUp 3D Warehouse.

 

Just enter a word into the 3D Warehouse search box and find the best match for your needs. 

 

It’s also possible to insert your own components from a file on your device. Select File > Import and go to where your component is saved. Click Open.

 

After downloading or selecting one of SketchUp’s components, click on the area where you would like to enter it into your design.

 

You can later replace the components if necessary. To do this, go to the Components panel and choose the Model icon to show the components in your model’s collection.

 

Select the component or components that you want to replace. Now context-click the new component and click Replace Selected.

Editing and developing components.

Developing components and dynamic components is fairly straightforward once they’re inserted. And some of the most commonly used edits include scaling, flipping and rotating.

 

Scaling a component only affects the individual instance that you select. To do this, use the Scale tool.

 

Flipping means mirroring the component along an axis. Simply context-click the component and select Flip Along.

 

Rotating a component utilises the Rotate tool and the Move tool. 

 

If you want to reload a component from its original file, then this will override any changes. And to create a separate file from any changes, context-click and choose Save As.

Tools for Easier Designer Collaboration

Posted on by Charlotte Lee

Are you searching for insight into the best online design collaboration tools? It matters when working closely with your fellow designers is what’s needed to get a project off the ground. There can easily be several of you involved, perhaps one of you designing the ductwork for a building project, someone else handling the interior design, and another person who’s an expert in the roofing side of things. You might be an architect who needs to closely collaborate with a construction client. Whatever the situation, the best design collaboration tools let you achieve a smoother workflow and communicate effectively at every stage. What is collaborative design? Read on to find out, discovering the best collaborative tool for designers and how it works to improve your remote work collaboration life.

Best Collaboration Tools for Designers

First, let’s take a look at what online design collaboration tools mean in a design context. What is collaborative design, exactly? It’s an intelligent way to pin down the best way forward for a design project, and it involves many aspects of a project. It includes brainstorming and ideation in the early stages, bringing the best brains into play to figure out the best way to fulfil the client’s needs within the budget. Task allocation is also collaborative, handing tasks to the people who have the most experience and expertise.

Planning is another angle where design collaboration tools help enormously to get a project on its feet. The review process benefits from several sets of eyes too. In fact collaboration at every stage isn’t just a nice thing to have. In many situations it’s essential. And how does the magic happen? You need to be able to communicate everything between the team members fluidly and effectively, so nothing falls through the cracks.

Remote work collaboration in the design sector has plenty of advantages. One of the benefits is the way the team unifies around one core, clearly-defined goal. When everyone bends their energies towards the same aim things get done faster and more efficiently. When every team member buys into the design project there’s a feeling of positivity and cohesion that goes a long way towards superb teamwork. Sharing encourages creativity and innovation, and because it involves every stakeholder everyone gets behind the project to push it forwards, all pushing in the same positive direction. More people ‘in the know’ means fewer mistakes and a bigger, better critical base to test assumptions.

So what are the features and capabilities of the best design collaboration tools? For start it gives the team real time brainstorming and ideation support even when working remotely across two or several sites. The easy communications it provides means sharing between team members is simple, fast and reliable. The system makes giving reviews and critiques easy and a centralised, shared area where design briefs and design documents live helps everyone stay organised as well as up to date.

Real time design collaboration, where drawings are accessible and editable by multiple people at the same time, is one of the most exciting ways to work. When you can easily mark up design documents with comments and feedback, in a way everyone understands, the entire team knows exactly what’s what. And side by side design version comparison is, as you can imagine, a brilliant collaborative tool. It saves time, money and hassle, and minimises mistakes from start to finish.

Online Design Collaboration with Sketchup

Sketchup provides a suite of excellent online design collaboration facilities. It’s one of the best design collaboration tools out there. Here’s why.

 

Take the Trimble Connect facility.  Trimble Connect for Business is included when you buy a SketchUp subscription. The tools that sync SketchUp files with Trimble Connect unlock a host of great collaboration tools including unlimited online file storage, automated file syncing between computers (with Trimble Sync), Version History for recovery purposes, amazing remote modeling collaboration abilities, and of course some fabulous

project management tools.

 

Then there’s the Sketchup collaboration manager, the place where tasks and more are allocated. Trimble Connect provides designers with unlimited online cloud file storage plus automatic file syncing, handy version control, plus excellent remote modeling collaboration capabilities and a load of cool project management tools. It’s good to know that the Trimble Connect 2.0 extension is part of Sketchup Pro.

 

The Sketchup Viewer collaboration facility provides collaboration features to let teams and groups of users to enjoy SketchUp projects via immersive virtual and augmented reality. You can join sessions via a local Wi-Fi network or remotely via the internet. The room’s owner is the presenter, the rest are attendees. You have your own avatar representing your role in the virtual project model, and it cleverly places team members relative to each other.

Design Collaboration Best Practices in Sketchup

There are a few reliable ways to harness remote collaboration best practice. You can save design elements as components that are external to the project as SKP files, then share them with your fellow designers so they can work on isolated elements of the design. If one of you makes changes to the design you simply save it as another SKP file and share it. You can easily evaluate and discuss the changes and improvements you’ve each made, and tweak them with ease. And good, solid, practical communications come first from beginning to end, throughout the entire design process.

 

Did you know poor comms leads to 56% of failed design projects? It’s a shocker. Luckily design collaboration within Sketchup is easy and powerful thanks to:

  •         An ideation process that lets you split teams into smaller groups, giving everyone the chance to contribute
  •         An ideas communication process that reduces the risk of poor communication with stakeholders who haven’t contributed to the ideation process
  •         A design viewing process that involves remarkably realistic imagery in 2d and 3d, making it easy to see how items work within a  space, and how a space works
  •         A sharing process that allows sharing at every stage without confusing your design versions  
  •         A system that makes sign-off simple
  •         A tool that lets you export 3d designs to almost any file format  
  •         A system where you can stay in Sketchup but use Layout to create detailed dimensions in 2d.

Design Collaboration with SketchUp

Now you understand the unique power of collaboration within Sketchup, it’s time to give it a go for yourself and experience the benefits. You can do that free with a generous 7 day trial of Sketchup Pro. If you want to experience the wonders of hyper-real 3d rendering so good it blows your mind, take a free trial of v-ray for Sketchup. It’s quite something. Add a wealth of top class learning resources and tutorials and it’s very hard to beat. Some say it’s unbeatable.

sketchup education overview

Planning a Woodworking Project Using Sketchup Pro

Posted on by Charlotte Lee

You work with wood. You want to plan your next woodworking project using Sketchup. What an excellent idea! Woodworking plans in Sketchup come with a huge repository of Sketchup woodworking extensions. With many of its Sketchup woodworking plans free, it’s easy to create stunning, accurate Sketchup woodworking models that are accurate, easy to understand, and reveal the exact amount of materials you need to complete the job in the real world. Read on to find out about why you’d be crazy not to test-drive woodworking with Sketchup, how to draw woodworking plans, where to find woodworking plans and more. Read on to make your woodworking life easier than ever before. It’s fun, too!

How to Use Sketchup for Woodworking

SketchUp is a popular 3D modelling computer program. It’s used for a very wide range of drawing and design applications including architecture, interior design, industrial and product design, landscape architecture, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, film and theatre, and video gaming. Woodworking plans in Sketchup is a popular use for the tool.

It makes it easy and fun to create every kind of 2d and 3d object and layout.

There’s an enormous Warehouse full of ready-made 3d objects to download for free and play with. Many are actually available to buy in real-world shops. Plus lots of woodworking plans for Sketchup, all freely available. A simple French workbench, a saw vise, a boarded chest and more.  

How about Sketchup woodworking models? A particularly effective 3d modelling software for woodworking, it is widely recognised by many as the best cad software for woodworking projects. Along with the 3D Warehouse there’s a multitude of excellent learning resources and tutorials to tap into as well as a variety of licences to suit every circumstance.

Designing woodworking with Sketchup helps you visualise a project accurately, thinking through and pre-building before tackling them in real life. It costs a lot less than experimenting using real materials in the shop, with no waste wood and the ability to design infinite alternatives. It’s designed to make you more productive in no time. And once you know the basics it leaves you to get on with things, a lovely clear way to work. When you want to measure twice, cut once, it’s perfect. It delivers the ultimate form of measurement, rich in detail and always precise.  

There’s even a load of very cool Sketchup woodworking extensions, Sketchup’s word for ‘plugins’, basically little bits of software that enhance the basic functions of Sketchup and let you do more in all sorts of inspiring ways. Added together they make a woodworker’s life a whole lot easier.

 

  •         There’s no need to build mockups – 3d modelling takes care of that

  •         Sketchup is great for both Sketching and evaluating ideas digitally

  •         Digital pictures can be imported and used as the basis for 3D reproduction plans

  •         You can view and assess your designs from any angle and modify designs without wasting wood

  •         High accuracy drawings, plans, and cut lists

  •         You can easily experiment with changing materials, for example wood grains, to see what different finishes look like

  •         Perfect for both woodworking professionals and hobbyists.

 

If you’d like to get cracking, download the free version of Sketchup and install it. There’s a link at the bottom of this article.

How to Make Woodworking Plans in Sketchup

What are woodworking plans? A woodworking plan is a pre-drafted set of instructions to make a 3d object in wood. It contains all the insight, facts and actions needed to complete the project, along with the exact amount of materials you’ll need. Where to find woodworking plans? There are some great pre-drafted Sketchup woodworking plans free from the 3D warehouse.. How to draw woodworking plans? Here’s how to create woodworking plans in Sketchup step-by-step. It’s easy to get familiar with Sketchup fast, and you should find it a pleasure to learn.  

 

  •         If you haven’t done it already, download and install Sketchup

  •         Define the project’s dimensions using the ‘woodworking inches’ template

  •         Go to the drawing area in Sketchup

  •         Sketch the furniture design in Sketchup

  •         Add textures

  •         Check your dimensions are accurate

  •         Once it’s complete, simply convert your 3D model design into a 2d drawing using the Layout tool, which lets you create 2D woodworking plans

 

Layout lets you add notes to a design for partners, clients and other stakeholders to explore, which means your project moves ahead faster. The materials, lengths and details are clearly communicated to reveal your intentions accurately and support the work of builders and interior designers. And it’s super-easy to explain even the most complex and intricate details on just one page, in the right real-world scale.

Woodworking Plans with Sketchup

Making woodworking designs and plans in Sketchup saves woodworkers time and money, taking the hassle out of the process and minimising the risk of any mistakes sneaking past the design stage into real life. If you’d like to test-drive it for yourself there’s a free 7 day download of the Pro version to play with. You can also test v-ray for Sketchup at no cost, creating stunning 3d renderings of your designs to make friends and influence people. You can even go explore our large collection of learning resources, including tutorials.

sketchup education overview
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