You can learn SketchUp

Anyone can learn the basics of SketchUp by taking a few minutes to work through the tips in this learning center. We hope this video will help you get a sense of working in SketchUp.


Modeling Units

To change your modeling units format, First go to the "Window" menu and choose "Model Info". Once you have the "Model Info" dialog visible select the "Units" pane. There you can set your modeling units format and precision.

To save your new units as the default, you will need to create or update a Template file. For more information see the next tip or the templates help topic.

Using Templates

Want to customize how you begin each SketchUp session? Create a template file to use as the starting point for your models.

You can even create different templates for different projects. Any SketchUp model can be used as a template. To get started, first open the "Model Info" dialog under the "Window" menu. Next, set important settings such as your model Units and Location.



You will probably also want to set things like your default view and your default active style. After you are done adding your favorite settings, save your template file to a location you will remember.



Finally, go to the SketchUp "Preferences" Template pane and browse to the file you just created. Start a new file to begin using your template.

Forcing Axes Inferences

When working with tools such as the Line or Move tool, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to force SketchUp's red, green and blue axis inferences. The arrow keys are "toggles" so they will lock a tool into a particular direction until you finish the operation.

If you want to stop forcing an axis direction simply press the arrow key again. If you pick the wrong direction just press another arrow key

3 Button Mouse Navigation




A 3 - button mouse provides quick access to SketchUp's most frequently used viewing tools: Zoom, Orbit and Pan. Learning to use a 3-button mouse is the best and easiest way to speed up your modeling.

Zoom - Scroll the wheel to Zoom in or out. Use your cursor to choose the part of your model you zoom to.

Orbit - Press the scroll wheel like a button and hold as you move your mouse to Orbit your model.

Pan - While Orbiting, hold shift on your keyboard to Pan

Exporting SketchUp to 3D's Max 2010

If you are a user of 3D's Max, then a new update for 3ds Max 2010 has a feature called Connection Extension. Together with other Interop features, 3ds Max can now directly import the file *. SKP.

It is also very strategic for Autodesk because now if you have Max 2010, you do not even need to buy SketchUp Pro to export a 3D model with a universal file format. SKP *. Max can import files directly.

Extensive connectivity with Google SketchUp
Start your project in Google SketchUp, and update in 3ds Max. Connection Extension for 3ds Max 2010 is a feature that allows you to open / export your SketchUp files into 3ds Max scene. In addition, 3ds Max is now able to read thousands of models from the 3D Warehouse SketchUp, which is part of the Google website. SKP translator that includes:

* Support for the two faces of the available material in SketchUp, so the orientation of the surface will not cause the models used have lost one surface when displayed in 3ds Max.
* Use the original pivot axis and the values and scale of objects and samples.
* Consolidation of reference materials. Some use the same SketchUp materials collected and referred back to a single material, save the time of revision.