SketchUp Tips and Tricks

[russell lowe]

Hi All,

This is the thread where you'll find tips and tricks for using SketchUp.

Post any links you have to useful tutorials, blogs, youtube videos, plugins, etc.

I'll kick off with:

 
Use the "Hot Keys" to speed up your modelling: (you can find them 
listed, and even change them, here: Window > Preferences > 
Shortcuts). 

L = Line 
P = Push 
E = Eraser 
M = Move 
Q = Rotate (I guess they can't all start with the first letter of the 
word that describes what they do aye ...) 
S = Scale 
Space = Select 
Ctrl + C = Copy 
Ctrl + V = Paste 

G = Make Component (you'll need to do this before you export your 
models to Crysis Wars later on in the course ... but it keeps things 
tidy in normal modelling situations too).

 
Holding down and dragging your middle mouse button = rotate the scene 
Holding Shift down as well = pans the scene 
Rolling the middle mouse button = zooms in and out 

F = offset function, to quickly set wall thickness for example (for 
floorplans etc) (this was from a student Bernie last year)

Use the arrow keys (←↑↓→) to constrain movement or placement to the 
Green, Red or Blue Axis'. (This was from Jeremy last year).

There are plenty more, but these will get you started ... someone 
might like to post the Mac versions of these keys ... 
Cheers

[russell lowe]

Hi All,

I saw some 3rd year architectural computing students looking at this blog a few days ago: http://www.alexhogrefe.com/

They said what set it apart was that he showed how it was done.

Cheers

[kelvin lau]

Always use groups to keep your model clean. Sometimes you may find that if you only use layers, some edges/faces go missing if that particular edge/face is shared with something else on a different layer (Refer to JPEGs 1 and 2 - an edge goes missing at the bottom of the column (JPEG2) as that edge is shared with the face connected to it in JPEG1. This can get really messy as your models become more complex and can be avoided simply by constructing elements separately, grouping them and then moving them back in place. 

In my experience, I think that it is best to keep all the basic ungrouped geometry on layer 0. Once you have grouped objects, you can then change the LAYER of the grouped object to say 'columns' or 'floor' etc. You can then turn off, for example, the 'floor' layer and see all your columns. This will speed up your modelling process as your file gets larger (especially if you have terrain made with sandbox tool - hide it while you model other parts).

The ENTITY INFO box is really useful. It allows you to see/change the layer of the line/face/group/component is on, shows the length, shows what texture you applied to both sides etc (JPEG3). It can be accessed by going to WINDOW - ENTITY INFO.

There is a duplicate/array function using the CTRL key. This works for both the ROTATE tool and MOVE tool. 

JPEG1

JPEG2

JPEG3

MOVE WITH CTRL:

First you select your group (it will be highlighted in blue). Then press M for MOVE. Now press CTRL key (will be referred to as MCTRL). You should have noticed that there is a small '+' sign next to the move icon. This means that you are in duplicate/array mode. Now you can move it around or type in a specific distance on a specific axis, say 100mm along the green axis and press ENTER. Now you can type in the no. of times you want this to be duplicated along the specified distance/axis - If you want to make 10 copies of it, type in '10x'. You can change this number while you are still in the same tool (just keep on typing (insert whatever no.)x, but it will be unchangeable after you switch tools. *Note that you can still rotate/pan around using the middle mouse button while you make changes. 

If you have a specific distance on your model and you would like to divide 10 columns, for example, in between the specified distance, it is quite similar to the above. Just make sure that the corner of your column (or whatever object) is snapped to one end, and do MCTRL and snap a endpoint of the other side of your object to the other end of the specified distance. Now instead of typing in '10x', type in '/10'. It will divide it equally into 10 segments.

MCTRL has several uses, such as arraying a line of trees, creating linear steps of a staircase (by snapping diagonally) etc.

ROTATE WITH CTRL

Similarly to MCTRL, simply highlight your object, press Q for ROTATE, and press CTRL (will be referred to as RCTRL). Click once to start defining the plane of rotation and click again to complete it. Now you can do (whatever No.)x or /(whatever No.) and duplicate your objects along the specified angle. 

RCTRL can be used for aligning chairs around a circular table, making the interior of something like an engine (the fins that rotate around a central point), or simply something that spirals!

Refer to JPEG4 for examples. *Note: The spiral structure is done by rotating the column on an angled plane drawn off the sphere, 360 degrees, and then dividing it.

JPEG4

Hope this helps!

[dani hosiosky]

SANDBOX:

Hi guys, Jessiah & I were lucky enough to score a one on one 'get to know the sandbox' tutorial with Russell that i'm going to attempt to spell out for everyone else. 

First things first - if the sandbox toolbar is not open go to:

View > Tool Palletes > Sandbox .. & turn it on. you may have to turn it off & on a few times for it to work (god knows why really..)

you also may not have it even as an option.. if this is the case go to: 

Sketchup > Preferences > Extensions > (& click) Sandbox Tools 

--note: there is no need to install extension.. simply click & your good to go!

now you have the sandbox :)

To CREATE THE TERRAIN (you don't necessarily have to use sandbox for the terrain - it can be useful to create your structure too): 

click the second icon from the left. 

it's like any other box tool: click and drag it for its length, and then for its width. (remember to keep it along the axis for symmetry)

To create those lovely lumpy levels on the terrain (forgive my improper terminology) as seen in Jeremy's tutorials.. 

you must first select the whole area.. you do this by clicking on it. blue outlines should appear. if you get a sort of box, click out of the terrain & do it again. you DON'T want this box. once it is selected: 

right click > explode.

- this allows a more gradual inclination of the terrain.

you then use the third icon in the tool box (it's sort of a push/pull) to create the levels. 

Select this & then click on the desired area of which you want to play with. 

once using this icon, you can type in your desired radius. simply type it in your keyboard, press enter, & it should be displayed on the bottom right (depending on your settings) in a box that is titled 'Radius'

have a play around & develop your terrain. 

note: if you rotate the terrain, the 'expansion & shrinkage' is relative to the Z-axis.. aka - it will only go up or down. so make sure to have your terrain at the right angle that suits your intention.. 

That's really all i know for now so hopefully it helps you guys out - enjoyyy! 

(feel free to correct me if i'm wrong)

[russell lowe]

Hi Guys,

Some great tips so far. Here is a tutorial for projected textures ... it's essentially the same as the tutorial Jeremy gave in the lecture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFZ6Ts9SaT8 

Cheers