Tools

This page will discuss the basic tools, and navigation of the tools in Sketchup.

*Note - Sketchup is a click-and-release type of program rather than a click-and-drag. A single click to start a drawing or tool function and then a final click to end the drawing or function. This may be counter-intuitive to all of the click-and-drag training and practice we have had in the past.

So let's go through each of the tools and discuss their function.

First is the select tool. This tool is one you will use often. In order to highlight or activate parts of sections of a sketch, you will need to use this tool.

Second is the line tool. With this tool, you can do what you might expect, draw things, specifically lines.

Third is the rectangle tool. It is also fairly straightforward. (if you are in a 3-axes drawing, the rectangle will be drawn angled away on a plane. Fourth is the circle tool. Once again, it does what you would expect. (if you are drawing to exact sizes, this is done based on radius) Fifth is the arc tool. This tool draws arcs, and it does so by clicking for the beginning then clicking for the endpoint, then moving the cursor for the size of the arc. Sixth is the make component tool. This is a move advanced tool that can be used to duplicate an object when you need copies that are clones. Simply select every part of an object by dragging around it with the select tool, then either click the button on the toolbar, or right-click and select the Make Component option. After this you will see this screen, Here you can name your component, give it a description, etc.

7th is the tape measure tool. It can be used to take measurements, as expected, AND it can be used to draw guidelines to help you be more precise about your drawings. With the tool active, you can click on an edge, then move the tool away from the edge and type in the exact distance from it then click to have the guideline.

8th is the paint bucket tool. When you select this tool you will get this screen,

on a Mac computer. It should be fairly navigable, and you just need to click on each section and see what the options are. The most used one will be the brick icon. Here is where you will have the option to use pre-loaded textures to decorate your sketch.

9th is the push/pull tool. This will be one of the most used tools in the list. This is the tool that brings your 2D object into the 3D realm. It is a click-and-release tool. Any surface can be pushed or pulled.

10th is the Move tool. This tool works on single lines as well as surfaces, with different results. Play with it and see what it can do.

11th is the rotate tool. This tool works by clicking and then selecting the second point to create an axis to rotate your selection around.

12th is the offset tool. This tool can be used to redraw a part either outside the original or inside the original boudaries. It is a more advanced tool and the video tutorials do a great job of demonstrating its use.

13th is the orbit tool. This is another of the most used tools in the toolbox. This tool allows you to view your objects from every angle possible. This tool can be activated by clicking in the toolbar, or by pressing on the wheel on the mouse/trackball and moving the cursor around.

14th is the pan tool. This tool is for panning left/right or up/down and is often used in conjunction with the orbit tool. It can be activated on the toolbar or when you are holding down the wheel on the mouse/trackball and then also hold down the shift key on keyboard. (sounds complicated, but if you use the program often, you will start to get used to this shortcut)

15th is the zoom tool. This tool is for zooming. It also can be activated 2 ways, on the toolbar and then just scrolling in or out to/from where the cursor is located, or just by rolling the wheel on the mouse/trackball and to/from where the cursor is on the screen. This also is a tool that is used often.

16th is the add location tool. This is an advanced tool. When you select this tool (you need to be logged into Google, or it will prompt you), you will see this screen, You can then type in an address and take a selection from a Google Earth skyview of the area and import it into your sketch to 3D a real building. Once again there are some great video tutorials that walk you through this.

17th is the toggle terrain tool. Use the Toggle Terrain button to toggle the Google Earth snapshot image between a 2D and 3D image. This is a rarely used tool.

18th is the add new building tool. This will activate the Google Building Maker (once again requiring a Google login) which is an external web-based program which will help you create 3D renderings of actual buildings. When you select the add new buildings tool, you will see this screen,

There are plenty of tutorials on this, but it is outside the scope of this session.

19th is the photo textures tool. This tool will bring up a Google Maps window, allowing you to see a street view of your building and grab sections of the photo to use as textures on your buildings.

20th is the preview model in Google Earth tool. If you select this, you will be activating Google Earth (is must be on your computer) and your model (no matter what it may be) will be placed on the location you selected in the Building Maker or photo textures tool.

21st is the get models tool. It will open up a window that looks like this,

Here you can search for and import from the thousands of models already built in the 3D warehouse.

The last tool on the toolbar is the share model tool. If you have a model you think others would like to use, you may select this and then you might see this window,

and if you want to have a model uploaded, you are going to have to let Google in.

Now lets talk about the use of mouse/trackball versus touchpad. While everything can be done using a touchpad or trackpad on a laptop, it can get tedious. If you connect a mouse/trackball with a "wheel" button feature, you will be able to quickly maneuver your sketches. With a mouse/trackball, you can use the wheel to zoom in/out just by scrolling on the wheel. By clicking the wheel down and holding it, then moving the mouse/trackball, you can move around in the orbiting mode, same as the orbit tool. By clicking the wheel down and holding it, AND holding down the shift key on the keyboard, you activate the panning tool.

If you activate the Large Tool set, which is in the menu under View, you will see this,

It has most of the tools from the toolbar, and some extra ones.