Sketchup Tutorial Part 4 - Understanding the Basic

Shortcut settings in Sketchup  

Previously, in part 3, we have covered how to setting up Preference settings in Sketchup. Today, we are going to finish up our Preference settings by going over Shortcut settings in Sketchup.

The most important thing that you settings up the shortcut is because it will save you lots of time while you are working on the project. The only negative things of Shortcut is it might take little bit of learning curve.

It is very hard to remember all the Shortcut settings. My advise is trying to use Shortcut on things that you often uses (Pull/Push, Draw Line, Draw Rectangle, and etc.) and expand little by little.

In Sketchup, Shortcut settings are already been assigned as default. The default setting is very good. However, you might wants to change few settings later on.

In this tutorial, we are going to cover

1. Shortcut Settings


Software that we are using: Sketchup 2015
(Sketchup 8.0 or below have similar interface so you shouldn't have any issue with following the tutorial)

Shortcut Settings

1. Window > Preferences

Click on Shortcuts

1. Filter: Works as "Search" type the functions that you are looking for

2. Function: Lists of Function that you can assign Shortcuts

3. Add Shortcut: After you have selected Function, Assign your Shortcut here

4. Assigned: Showing Function Shortcut if it is already been Assigned


Here is my Example of using shortcut to speedup my work flow:

I often uses "Delete" a lot! Especially, when I am importing 3D models from Revit or other program, so many lines that I have to clean up the model. However, default setting in Sketchup for "Delete", you have to hit "Delete key" in your keyboard. It might seems not big of deal. But I often not just doing "Delete". I delete, draw lines, push/pull the object, and more almost at the same time! All of these other function Shortcut keys are located in left side of my keyboard.

Example:

Your Left hand mostly occupied with the shortcut keys and Right hand for the mouse

You see how does "Delete" key is that faraway from the shortcut keys that located in your left hand? Your Right hand is most of times on the mouse and left hand is for the Shortcut key that is located on the left side of the keyboard. So every time that I that I have to delete something, I need to come all the way to hit "Delete" key.

So I have changed my Shortcut key for "Delete" to hit "D" on the keyboard instead of hitting "Delete" key. So now I can do all my job without moving my left hand from my keyboard.
Isn't it efficient for simple change?

Here is the way you can change your Shortcut keys:

1. Type "delete" on the Filter box
2. Select "Edit/Delete"
3. Type "D" 
4. Click on the + 

You see now that "D" is also Assigned for Edit/Delete

Saving your Shortcut settings

1. Click Export 

2. Name the file

Importing your Shortcut or someone else's settings

1. Click Import

2. Select the file

Simple enough right?

It is very basic and simple move but it impacts on your working efficiency. 

Keep in mind that using Shortcut efficiently might take some time. 

Keep practice little by little and you will be using Shortcut like a master!!

Here is some Shortcut list that provided from Sketchup

 

So this is it for Today's Skecthup Tutorial.

Today, we covered in Sketchup

1. Shortcut Settings

Thank you for reading!

-Rendering-Studio-

Sketchup Tutorial Part 3 - Understanding the Basic

preference setting that boost up your speeed in Sketchup  

Previously, in part 1 and 2, we have covered how to setting up your Toolbars and Styles in Sketchup. In this tutorial, I will show my preference setting in Sketchup which I think it is efficient. It is only my preference setting that I come up with after the trials and fails. It is suitable for me and I think it is efficient when you are modeling in Sketchup. However, everyone have their own preference settings that works for themselves. So this is just giving you an idea if you don't have any preference setting not just yet.

In this tutorial, we are going to cover

1. Preference Settings
2. Toolbar Settings

Software that we are using: Sketchup 2015
(Sketchup 8.0 or below have similar interface so you shouldn't have any issue with following the tutorial)

Preference Settings

We will cover how to change measuring units, locations, and use it as template

Setting up the Location 

1. Drag down the existing Toolbars (IMG. 1)

1. Clck and hold with your left mouse button
2. Drag your Toolbar as the IMG.1
3.  You will see the name of this Toolbar is called  "It is Getting Started"   
4. Close the Getting Started Toolbar (It really sounds like we all newb lol)

It will be looks like this after you close up the "Getting Started" Toolbar

2. From your pull down menu

• Window > Model Info

Click "Geo-location" (Location)

Two options are available

1. Geographic Location

2. Advanced Settings

The primary reason to setting up the location is 

1. Shadow study 

2. Import Google Earth site image into the Sketchup

Some people do not need to setup the location if you are using Sketchup just to learn (just set it up to your location for now).

Some professionals might already have clear idea where the model should be located. If so, setup the location so you get the shadows that corresponding to the location. 

It won't be big of deal if you want to skip this step. You can always able setup the location anytime.setup the location or not in Sketchup.

Geo-location is for you to grab the site image from Google Sketchup

Putting Location to where you located in or specific location for your project

Now, you can grab the image that you wanted to imported in to Sketchup

Imported the image into Sketchup. You can see the Current location setting in the Model info

As I have mentioned. It is not required for you to setup the location. But it is recommended. 

Setting up the Measuring Units

1. Model Info > Units 

Change to Decimal and Inches (Prefer Milliliter if you are in Asia).  

Uncheck Length snapping and Angle snapping (we will go over further details in later tutorial)

We just finished up with Model info setting so you can close up the Model info setting box from your Sketchup.

 

Now let's save our setting. 

File > Save As Template

If your Sketchup Version doesn't have Save As Template, use Save As

 

Name your Template and add description if it is needed. [Check the box] if you want the Template to be used whenever you open up the Sketchup.

If you are using Sketchup that does not have Save As Template:

File > Save As 

and save your template file to 

C:/Program Files (x86)/Google SketchUp 8/Templates

Now, Let's check that we created the Template correctly. 

• Window > Preferences

Setting up the Toolbars

1. Window > Preferences  

Click Extensions and Make sure Advanced Camera Tools, Dynamic Components, Sandbox Tools, and Photo Textures

2. View > Toolbars  

Select all the boxes that is been checked

Click Option and Check the boxes as the Image (We don't need to click on Large Icon if you are comfortable with the Sketchup and maximize your work space.

This is my Toolbars layout. We will have similar to this or little bit different. You can follow my layout or you can create your own layout. Check our Sketchup Tutorial Part 1 - 2 for layout tips for Sketchup

So this is it for Today's Skecthup Tutorial. Pretty easy right? 

Today, we covered in Sketchup

1. Preference Settings
2. Toolbar Settings

In Next Tutorial, we will be continuing with shortcut key Setting. 

Thank you for reading!

-Rendering-Studio-

Sketchup Tutorial Part 2 - Understanding the Basic

Style Setting for you project in Sketchup

This tutorial is just covers the very basic elements in Sketchup.

After you successfully setup your customized Toolbars (see previous tutorial), now it is time to customize "style" for the modeling in Sketchup. The reason is because some style settings aren't ideal for the complex modeling. Therefore, it is always good to go over each "style setting" and choose the stetting that will be the best for the modeling.


In this tutorial, you are only going to be cover the style setting that need for us to make template. We will cover individual style settings in the future tutorial.

In this tutorial, we are going to cover

1. Skecthup Styles
2. Edges
3. Back Edges
4. Profiles
5. Extension
6. Endpoints
7. Jitter

Edges

1. Window > Style

IMG.1

IMG.2 Style setting Box will appear

2. Style Setting  Box > Edit

Uncheck everything except Edges

IMG.3

IMG.4

Edges is basically the series of lines that needed to form the shapes. 

IMG.5 Just Edges is checked

IMG.6 Highlighted in yellow shows you an idea of the Edges 

IMG.7 Edges is unchecked - can you tell the difference?

If the Edges is unchecked, you can't see the lines and you also unable to select the lines. 

It is easier to do modeling when the Edges is checked so we will check the Edge on the Style Setting. 

Back Edges

Next, we will go over the Back Edges. 

Back Edges are located right below the Edges.

Or

View > Toolbars > Styles 

Style box will be appear and you can added to your menu.

*Note: Back Edges are only enable when Edges is checked.

IMG.8

or

IMG.9

The Back Edges is new feature that was added in Skecthup 8.0. If you are using Sketchup 6.0 or 7.0, you won't see this feature.  It is very similar feature as X-ray. People who uses Sketchup 6.0 or 7.0 can use X-ray instead of this feature (X-ray takes up more modeling data than using Back Edges mode). However, the X-ray takes up more modeling data and does not shows as hidden lines (See IMG.10). So as the modeling become more complex, it was very difficult to read the lines. 

IMG.10 X-ray mode, Not showing hidden lines as Back Edges mode and take more modeling data

As you can see in the Image, the Back Edges is feature that shows hidden lines of the model. 

We are going to disable Back Edges mode because we can simply turn on and off by clicking Back Edges on the menu (IMG.9). 

Profile

The Profile is similar to outline. It enable you to see the outline of the shape that you draw. 

IMG.11 by default setting, thickness is set in 2

IMG.12 Profile set by 20

Profile not needed while modeling, so it is best to be turned off while you are modeling.

Depth Cue

Depth Cue is the similar to Edge but the lines are showing thicker on the object that is closer and thinner as object is further. It is used when you want the objects look to be 3 dimensional.  

IMG.13 Depth Cue set by 20

Depth Cue also not needed while modeling, so it is best to be turned off while you are modeling.

Extensions

If you had architectural drafting experiences, you might be familiar with this feature. Extensions is lines that extended out from the objects so lines are crossover each other. This feature can be used if you prefer to give Sketchup model a classy look. 

IMG.14 Extensions set by 20

  

Extensions are also not needed while modeling, because it will be very hard to read the lines when you do the complicated modeling.  So it is best to be turned off while you are modeling.

Endpoints

Endpoints is feature that make lines bold at the end of the points.

IMG.15 Endpoints st by 20

   

Endpoints also not needed while modeling, so it is best to be turned off while you are modeling.

Jitters

Jitters is feature that make lines that are not straight. The best way to use this feature is when you want to give the model that looks like sketch. 

IMG.16 Jitters applied

Jitters also not needed while modeling, so it is best to be turned off while you are modeling.

So we just finished up with Sketchup Styles that available for us to use. 

In this tutorial, we covered Sketchup Styles 

Edges, Back Edges, Profiles, Depth Cue, Extensions, Endpoints, and Jitters.  

All of these styles are very effective if  you can use them appropriately. However, when we modeling, it is best to use Edges and turn off the rest.

In this Tutorial covers:

1. How to apply Styles to Skecthup models
2. Available Styles available
3. Best Style Settings for Sketchup Modeling 

Contact me if you have any question.