SketchUp 2023: The A-Z Course to Mastering 3D Modeling

Explore built-in SketchUp templates and their unit settings, learn to access more templates, and see how templates adjust the workspace for different professions.

Explore SketchUp's tool palettes and default tray, learn to customize trays and manage view options to edit 3D models more efficiently.

Explore the blue, green, and red axes that extend to infinity and meet at the origin. Use view options to toggle axes and access isometric and top/front/right/back/left views.

Master the line tool by drawing lines with the pencil icon or L, typing lengths (like 100 ft), and locking direction with arrow keys; close loops to create surfaces.

Master the rectangle tool in SketchUp by drawing from two corners, locking planes with arrow keys, and following the red-green-blue precedence to create surfaces.

Use push pull to convert 2d surfaces into 3d shapes with P and Ctrl; double-click to set height, escape to cancel, orbit and pan with mouse, and use pen tool.

Erase models, then master the tape measure tool to measure distances, input new lengths to scale models, and use guidelines to outline shapes, with the top toolbar or T key.

Use the move tool to relocate whole objects, surfaces, or lines, and press control to create copies, then lock movement with the up arrow for gable roof design.

Divide lines into segments with the divide tool, set slopes using the move tool, then mirror models with flip along in SketchUp 2023 across red, blue, or green axes.

Explore modeling inclined surfaces in SketchUp by creating roof eaves and chimneys with push pull and line tools, using axis locking, outlines, and erase actions.

Master the offset tool to create a hollow chimney and copy objects using control+c and control+v, then move and place multiple copies with the move tool.

Master object selection in SketchUp with single, double, and triple clicks, learn deselection shortcuts, and scale objects precisely using the nine grips, uniform or non-uniform, with manual scale factors.

Save or save as to name SketchUp files and choose their location, then export as 3d models or 2d graphics in various formats; import shows transfer results.

Explore freehand drawing in SketchUp to sketch irregular surfaces and map topography using the freehand tool from the line tool menu, aided by elevation grids for contour line accuracy.

Use the protractor tool to create a 45-degree line from the red axis and set a guide line, then measure dimensions with the dimension tool in SketchUp.

Master the text box tool to create text boxes and dimension lines in SketchUp 2023, and measure radii, arcs, circles, and surface areas by selecting surfaces.

Learn move tool fundamentals in SketchUp 2023, including copying with the control key and setting distance. Use the inner array with slash notation to create multiple copies.

Explore SketchUp 2023 by building a simple house model as an exercise. Start from a template view and create a centered rectangle to shape the roof and eaves.

Create a gable roof on an inclined surface by using guidelines and axis directions, shaping eaves, forming a rhombus top, and adding a framed window integrated into the house.

Learn to model windows and a chimney in SketchUp by drawing guidelines, creating frame rectangles with offsets, using push/pull, fixing errors, and hollowing the chimney with an offset.

Create a door and two steps, draw center guidelines, and shape with push pull. Offset the door frame, add a glass opening and handle, and check for errors.

Master built-in shapes in SketchUp by using the shapes tool to create polygons and circles, adjust polygon sides, and compare inscribed versus circumscribed states, circle smoothness, and hidden geometry.

Access the arc toolbar in SketchUp to draw arcs such as first, two point, three point, and pie, mastering tangency, radius, and axis locking for three dimensional modeling.

Learn to use the paint bucket to apply colors and textures in SketchUp 2023. Edit textures via the materials menu and right-click to scale, move, and rotate brick texture.

Import custom materials and textures into SketchUp using the material box, the folder icon, or the file menu. Edit texture by selecting the face only, then adjust color and size.

Learn to use the Follow Me tool in SketchUp 2023 to create surfaces along a path, turning a rectangle and an arc into curved cuboids and varied objects.

Create a sphere in SketchUp 2023 by drawing two circles and using the follow me tool along the bigger circle's perimeter, with an alt-click shortcut for automatic following.

Create an umbrella model in SketchUp by using the follow me and scale tools, shaping a hexagonal base, center snap, arcs, and painted surfaces.

Build a wheel in SketchUp 2023 by using the follow me tool to form the tube, rotate and copy spokes around the hub, and imprint thread patterns with intersect faces.

Explore phase styles and edge styles in SketchUp, using shaded with textures, x ray, and back edges, then adjust profiles and soften edges in the default tray.

Explore the six solid tools in SketchUp—intersect, union, subtract, trim, split, and outer shell—using cylinders and a box. Learn how object solidity, selection order, and x-ray viewing affect results.

Build a bed frame in SketchUp with a 10 cm square, smooth corners via arcs, follow me to form the frame, align faces, duplicate, and flip along the z axis.

Continue building the bed in sketchup by creating a 20 by 9 cm rectangle support, drawing guidelines, tracing shape with the line tool, and extending with push/pull to second frame.

Model mattress supports with a 20×2 cm plank and a 20×5 cm crosspiece. Copy planks with inner array, place seven copies with slash seven, and flip beams beneath bed plates.

Continue refining the bed model by scaling the frames and main supports to proper size, adjusting the width, and leveling the top heights with the planks.

Create and finalize a bed model in SketchUp 2023 by forming a mattress from a rectangle, group it, soften edges, and paint the model; plan frame enhancements next lecture.

Master bedside drawer design in SketchUp 2023 by editing the bed group, applying offsets, push/pull operations, arcs, and precise handles to create a paired drawer set.

Learn to model a simple bedside lamp in SketchUp 2023 by creating base cylinders, refining radii, extruding heights, scaling from the center, grouping components, and duplicating for a second lamp.

Import a CAD file into SketchUp 2023 using the architectural template in centimeters, manage entities with tags (layers), and organize a ground floor plan for walls, windows, doors, and stairs.

Use the line tool to form a closed boundary from walls and create the ground floor slab, pull 16 cm, raise the step to 8 cm, then tag the slab.

Create a ground floor walls layer, trace inner walls with the rectangle tool, and pull them up to 350 cm. Remove blue surfaces by reversing faces, and group the walls.

Edit the wall group to create door openings using the 2D plan, tape measure, and x ray face tile, draw precise rectangles, remove wall sections, and review for errors.

Create window openings in SketchUp 2023 using the door workflow. Set sill heights (60 cm, 90 cm) and window heights (180 cm, 240 cm) with guides.

Design a door for the house model by outlining the frame in top view, flipping along the green axis, then use follow me and push/pull to shape and texture.

Explore the door component by shaping its inner surface with offsets and rectangles, copying edges to create dual surfaces, and addressing gaps with a line tool.

Create a door as a group, scale to fit spacing, build and mirror a doorknob with follow-me surfaces, then convert to a component to enable instance updates and faster modeling.

Build a window component in SketchUp 2023 by modeling a front-view frame, applying 6 cm offsets and 12 cm thickness, creating glass, grouping parts, and preparing for texturing and components.

Explore importing wood textures from the 3D Warehouse, applying wood veneer to the window frame, and turning the window into a component with a cut opening to fit surfaces.

Save reusable components from the components menu by selecting save as and naming each component to store for use, and editing the component updates all instances, saving time and resources.

Import and tag the door components, then use the section plane to access openings. Fit doors by scaling with the x ray style, copy and rotate them into all openings.

Learn to add bathroom doors from the 3D warehouse, rotate and flip them, and fit them into openings. Adjust size and thickness and copy to openings while ensuring door direction.

Place sliding doors in SketchUp, load from the 3D warehouse, edit components with wood and glass textures, and use the section plane to fit and scale openings.

Place windows of varying sizes by tagging and importing a window component from the 3D warehouse, then position, rotate, and scale to fit kitchen openings and interior corners.

Review a house model in SketchUp 2023, fix window gaps by resizing, create glass with the rectangle tool, apply glass texture and 1 cm thickness, and correct a mistaken slab.