INTRODUCTION TO SKETCH UP PRO_ Version 8

Submitted by remanuele on 5 November 2010 - 4:19pm

Google SketchUp Pro is 3D modeling software for professionals. SketchUp’s user interface allows you to create some pretty interesting and detailed models.

Familiarization with Sketch Up Main Features and the Interface, the Sketch Up site has brilliant video tutorials to help get you started, please see below.

Toolbars
When you launch SketchUp it starts with the Basic Getting Started toolbar. Additional toolbars can be displayed by selecting the toolbars under the View - Toolbars menu item.

Drawing Area
The drawing area is where you create your model. Three axes identify the 3D space of the drawing area visually: a red, green and blue line, perpendicular to each other. These axes are helpful in providing a sense of direction in 3D space while you work. The drawing area also has a model of a person to give you a sense of 3D space.

Below is a brief description of what each tool does from left to right on the toolbar:

Arrow (arrow icon): Select an object/region
Line (pencil icon): Draw lines
Rectangle (rectangle icon): Draw rectangles/squares
Circle (circle icon): Draw circles
Arc (arc icon): Draw an arc line
Make Component (3d box icon): Make the object into a selectable object instead of a series of surfaces
Eraser (grade school eraser icon): Erase mistakes or items from your model
Tape Measure (tape measure icon): Measure distances
Paint Bucket (paint can icon): Paint/fill your surface with various textures/colors
Push/Pull (box icon with arrow coming out of the top): Extend the surface of the object selected
Move/Copy (4 way arrow icon): Move an object
Rotate (circular arrow icon): Rotate an object around a central point
Offset (double arc + arrow icon): offset an object
Orbit (3d spherical arrow icon): Orbit around your model
Pan (hand icon): Move your view up/down/left/right
Zoom (magnifying glass icon): Zoom in/out
Zoom Extents (magnifying glass + arrows icon): Zoom out to the full size of your object
The final 5 icons are for working with Google Earth and sharing the work online with the SketchUp community.

Familiarization with Sketch Up Main Features and the Interface, the Sketch Up site has brilliant video tutorials to help get you started, please see below for links:

Further more advanced information:

Selections - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfANG06Bieg&feature=player_embedded

Components - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1QpoNO-1zM&feature=player_embedded

Paint Bucket -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvSP54o_KqY&feature=player_embedded

Eraser - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX5oeKa7x7s&feature=player_embedded

Rectangle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRjH2kZxmjs&feature=player_embedded

Lines - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjpTPjdHIH4&feature=player_embedded

Circle/Polygon -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9R2N0nNb7I&feature=player_embedded

Arc -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2pgjs3ao9U&feature=player_embedded

Freehand -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP0jXQygsiI&feature=player_embedded

Move -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2e095bSztLs&feature=player_embedded

Push Pull -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miC1hvWQjlQ&feature=player_embedded