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SketchUp Pro & LayOut: The Complete Architectural Workflow

Name: SketchUp Pro & LayOut: The Complete Architectural Workflow
Rating: 4.6 (55 reviews)

Master 3D Modeling, Professional Documentation, and Photorealistic Visualization for Architects and Interior Designers.

Created byManuel Pallarés, architect and graphic designer

Last updated 5/2026

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Modeling an architecture, landscape, interior design or industrial design project from scratch to detail.
Assignment of materials in the project for subsequent rendering
Creation of technical plans: floorplans, elevations and sections as well as 3D images of the project
Make professional presentations using your 3D models to create blueprints in a techinal way

Course content

18 sections • 97 lectures • 15h 10m total length

A guide to make the best of the course3:48

Introduction3:40
MAC OSX

Recommended hardware

2.1+ GHz processor or current generation Apple M1 processor
8GB RAM
700 MB of available hard drive space
3D-class video card with 1GB of memory or more and supports hardware acceleration. Make sure your video card driver supports OpenGL version 3.0 or higher and is up to date.
3-button scroll wheel mouse
An Internet connection is required to authorize SketchUp and use some features.

Minimum Hardware

2.1+ GHz Intel™ processor
4GB RAM
500 MB of available hard disk space.
3D-class video card with 512 MB of memory or higher and supports hardware acceleration. Make sure your video card driver supports OpenGL version 3.0 or higher and is up to date
3-button mouse with scroll wheel

WINDOWS

Recommended Hardware

2+GHz processor
8+ GB of RAM
700 MB of available hard drive space
3D-class video card with 1GB of memory or more and supports hardware acceleration. Make sure your video card driver supports OpenGL version 3.0 or higher and is up to date.
3-button mouse with scroll wheel

Minimum Hardware

1GHz processor
4GB RAM
16 GB of total hard drive space
500MB of free hard drive space
3D-class video card with 512 MB of memory or higher and supports hardware acceleration. Make sure your video card driver supports OpenGL version 3.0 or higher and is up to date
Installation2:49
HIGHLIGHTS

Go to the official page of sketchup mentioned during the class
Within the page we will find different options to download the program
The course includes the Sketchup Pro options, so it is this option that is recommended to finally install
Templates2:41
Select and customize SketchUp templates by units (meters, inches, millimeters), colors, and camera position; favorite templates and use open, recent, or autosaved files, plus license info and learning resources.
Preferences6:26
HIGHLIGHTS

Sketchup backup files are saved in another file with extension Skb. To use it in case of need, you have to change the extension to Skp and open it normally with Sketchup
In Preferences_General we can adjust the time that elapses until the next backup
Model info3:49
HIGHLIGHTS

Within Model Info_Units, we can change the scale of our drawing at any time
It is convenient to work on scales with two decimal places of precision
If we are going to work in small scales like mm or cm, it is better to work in meters until finishing the drawing to avoid program errors, and finally switch to a smaller scale like mm, if that is what we are looking
Opening different skp files2:44
Open multiple SketchUp files simultaneously, switch between them with alt+tab, and copy elements from one file to another by selecting, copying, and pasting.
Workspace4:20
HIGHLIGHTS

The interface of the program consists of the following elements:
Main toolbar (called large set tools)
Groups of specific tools, placed on top (customizable)
Default trays
Main menu bar, at the top
Bar of exact measurements, in the lower right part
Model info menu
Navigation+ views+perspective and parallel projection10:35
HIGHLIGHTS

For a good navigation you have to orbit (middle button), zoom (mouse wheel) and pan (middle button + shift or H key)
If the zoom does not work, you have to put the cursor over some geometry of the drawing and zoom again
To open an area of the scene I must place the mouse in the opposite place and zoom out. Once I visualize where I want to go, I place the cursor in that place and zoom in.
Selection tools6:13
HIGHLIGHTS

We can select a geometry by making a box from: left to right or from right to left. The first selects only the complete elements inside the box. The second selects all the elements that are inside the box, even if it is incomplete
We can also select a surface or edge with a mouse click, two clicks to select a surface and its contour edges and three clicks for a volume
Shortcuts4:49
You can download a PDF with all the shortcuts
Exercise: navigation5:04

Lines and surfaces6:40
Groups and components7:50
Outliner10:31
Reverse faces7:00
Objects in Sketchup are formed through surfaces. They are not solid even though they appear to be.
To get them to behave like solids we will use the Bolean operations tools
Surfaces have a front color and a back color. You have to orient the front color towards the camera to avoid producing errors in the renderings later

Tape measure tool: guide lines and points, measure and scale8:15
Master the tape measure tool in SketchUp to measure distances, create guidelines or guide points, and scale the entire model while noting external components remain unchanged.
Lines and freehand7:08
HIGHLIGHTS

It is very important to draw based on guide lines previously
Guide lines are drawn from some point on a real edge, which is not a vertex
The guide points are drawn from the vertex of real edges or from endpoints of those edges
Rectangles, circles and polygons8:00
The width and length measurements of a rectangle are separated by a semicolon
Number of sides directly in the exact measurements bar as soon as we select the tool
Once the circle has been drawn, that number of sides could also be changed from the entity's default information tray (will be seen later)
To change the sides of a polygon, the same operation must be carried out as to change the sides of a circle.
Arcs10:32
HIGHLIGHTS

To build an arc that is not too polygonal, we must change the number of sides
The two-point arc is widely used in Sketchup for drawing curved elements
To draw a curve with continuity, we must look at the colors that the arc tool marks us, to draw tangents to the last curve
Styles12:23
Face styles are part of the default styles tray
Solid with textures: to see our elements with their applied textures
X-rays: we can detect edges and vertex that are behind different surfaces and work with more agility.
The use of X-rays is essential to draw skillfully in Sketchup
Eraser: erase, select, hide, soften and smooth + soften edges tray14:24
Exercise: drawing polygons10:25
Exercise: chess pawn8:51
Exercise: house floor plan10:06

Push/pull tool6:13
HIGHLIGHTS

The push/pull tool is the main tool for making volumes
To make a supplementary extrusion keeping the original surface, you have to press the letter ctrl (win) or alt (mac)
We can make positive and negative extrusions depending on whether we add volume or subtract it
Move tool10:09
HIGHLIGHTS

To move an element you have to mark a start point and an end point in a given direction
If we want to copy an element, we must press ctrl (win) or alt (mac) after selecting the starting point of the movement
To make a multiple copy we must make a first copy, and then, without deselecting the element, insert * or / , depending on the type of copy we need
Copy tool5:31
HIGHLIGHTS

If we want to copy an element, we must press ctrl (win) or alt (mac) after selecting the starting point of the movement
To make a multiple copy we must make a first copy, and then, without deselecting the element, insert * or / , depending on the type of copy we need
Rotate and copy tool6:38
HIGHLIGHTS

To rotate an element we need, first of all, to mark the plane on which the rotation is to be performed. For that when we press the left mouse button, we must keep it pressed and move the mouse to be able to choose between the different planes
To copy while rotating, the process is the same as when we make a copy with the move tool
Scale and mirror tool11:21
HIGHLIGHTS

We can scale with the scale tool or with the tape measure tool
To scale proportionally we must strech out a grab point located at a corner
If we press the letter ctrl(win) or alt(mac) while scaling, we set the anchor point in the center of the geometry
The measure tool scales all geometry in the scene proportionally (except external components)
Follow me tool10:19
HIGHLIGHTS

The order to use the follow me tool is as follows:
1- select the path
2- select the follow me tool
3- select the area I want to extrude around the path
Offset tool6:28
Solid tools8:54
HIGHLIGHTS

To be able to use the solids tools the elements have to be groups
If the solid is not detected even though it is a group, it is because there is some error in the geometry that we must detect and repair
Exercise: swimming pool9:10
Exercise: vase7:42
Exercise: drill18:20
Exercise: greek column17:47

Measure distances and angles6:04
HIGHLIGHTS

The measure tool has four functions: measure, guide line, guide point and scale (the whole drawing)
The protractor tool is used to measure angles through guide line drawn with the given angle
Text9:08
Dimension tools5:19
Changing axis4:54
HIGHLIGHTS

The axis change tool allows us to place the coordinate axis of the model in the position that we want temporarily
To return the axis to their place of origin we must press the right button on any axis in a place with geometry behind it, and choose the option restart
Section14:57
HIGHLIGHTS

The section tool will draw a plane that will extend the entire length of the model, from one end of the drawn geometry to the other
To contain the section to a certain space, we must use the tool inside a group
Right-clicking on the same section plane already drawn, we can find more options

Entity info6:50
HIGHLIGHTS

The entity information tray is used to obtain information on any geometry of the model: edges, surfaces, groups or components
In addition to obtaining information, it also allows us to make changes to the geometries, such as changing the number of sides of a circle or polygon, the length of an edge, hiding a group or even blocking it, among others.
Materials. Part 117:32
HIGHLIGHTS

We can use materials from: the Sketchup library, from libraries that we have in our computer or from internet pages
Visit the websites mentioned in the class to get amazing textures and resources
From file-import-image we can also bring images, which we can transform into materials
Materials. Part 25:40
HIGHLIGHTS

We can use materials from: the Sketchup library, from libraries that we have in our computer or from internet pages
Visit the websites mentioned in the class to get amazing textures and resources
From file-import-image we can also bring images, which we can transform into materials
Materials. Texture libraries11:43
HIGHLIGHTS

We can use materials from: the Sketchup library, from libraries that we have in our computer or from internet pages
Best textures libraries are mentioned in the class
From file-import-image we can also bring images, which we can transform into materials
Materials. Projected texture3:36
Components14:16
HIGHLIGHTS

The components are like the groups but as a fundamental characteristic, they allow us that any change in any of them is reproduced in all its copies
The components are going to be very useful when we work with modular elements that are going to be repeated many times in the drawing, such as pillars, windows, porticos, etc...
If we carry out material or scale change operations from outside the component, the changes will not be applied to the rest of the copies
Components. Creating our own figure7:22
Styles 121:35
HIGHLIGHTS

The styles are used to configure how we are going to see all the elements of the drawing
We can use styles edited by ourselves and adapted to our tastes, in order to work more comfortably
Sketchup has a library with different preconfigured styles
Styles 24:17
Tags8:25
HIGHLIGHTS

Tags help us to order the drawing and hide geometry that we are not interested in seeing at certain times
Being able to hide geometry will allow us to work more comfortably and will allow the computer's graphics card to move the drawing better when we need it
We cannot delete the default tag and neither can we delete the tag in which we are active
Tags. How to use them correctly7:18
Scenes13:06
HIGHLIGHTS

The scenes are used to save a specific view to which we can return whenever we want
This scene saves information about: camera location, visible layers, shadows, styles and fog, active sections, hidden geometry, and axis position
Throgh the movements of the camera between scenes, we will make our animations
Shadows8:08
HIGHLIGHTS

Solar north is placed by default in the direction of the Y axis
It is convenient not to activate the shadows while we work to prevent the graphics card from slowing down
Within the default shadow tray we can find more options to configure our sunshine

Requirements

No prior program experience is necessary. If you’ve never used CAD or any other 3D modeling program, you are at an advantage because you will not have habits ingrained from other software. You’ll be able to learn the fundamentals quickly, and you’ll be encouraged by the quick progress you are making. Don’t be intimidated if you’ve tried other complicated CAD software, only to become overwhelmed. SketchUp is one of the easiest 3D modeling programs to get started with, and I will help you learn the basics

Description

Are you ready to transform your design process and deliver architectural projects that stand out?

Most SketchUp users only scratch the surface, struggling to translate their 3D ideas into professional 2D construction sets. This course is designed to bridge that gap. We don't just teach you which buttons to click; we teach you a professional workflow that saves hours of production time and elevates your design output.

From initial concept to advanced 3D modeling and final presentation through LayOut, you will learn the exact techniques used by top architectural firms. Whether you are designing complex structures or refining interior details, this course provides the technical mastery you need to succeed in the competitive design industry.

What you will learn:

Precision Modeling: Master the SketchUp Pro toolset with a focus on organized, high-performance geometry.
The Power of LayOut: Generate professional-grade construction documents, floor plans, and elevations directly from your 3D model.
Advanced Components: Optimize your workflow using dynamic components and efficient group management.
Professional Presentation: Create stunning visual sets that communicate your vision to clients and contractors with clarity.
Real-World Projects: Apply your skills to architectural exercises, including the modeling of iconic modern structures.

Why enroll in this course?

As a designer or architect, your time is your most valuable asset. This course focuses on Technical Mastery, ensuring that your models are not only beautiful but also technically sound and ready for production.

Join over 100,000 students who have elevated their professional skills with our specialized design training. If you want to stop "playing" with SketchUp and start "building" with it, this is the academy for you.

SKETCHUP

In this Sketchup course we will start from an initiation level to end up mastering the program at an expert level. We will learn all the Sketchup tools such as: materials, styles, scenes, animations, sunlight, connection to Google-Earth, photomatch, dynamic components, terrains, plugins and much more.

It is a very complete course equivalent to 30 teaching hours where theory and practice go hand in hand through numerous exercises that will increase in complexity as more knowledge is acquired. It is designed to end with expert knowledge about the program that will allow us to face any project successfully, no matter how complex it may be.

The course consists of different blocks:

Workspace block. We will start with a presentation of the program, we will see how to install it correctly, we will adjust our preferences as well as the units and we will begin to familiarize ourselves with the workspace. We will learn how to navigate in the three-dimensional environment of Sketchup, how to move using the different views, we will see the selection tools and the keyboard shortcuts that will make our workflow much faster.

Theory and concepts . We will begin to learn important and slightly more complex concepts such as the difference between lines, surfaces, groups and components within Sketchup. We will also see the importance of inverting faces at specific moments

Drawing in 2D. We will explore all the drawing tools in 2D.

Drawing in 3D . It will be time to delve into the most complex tools of the program such as the extrusion tools, move, copy, rotate, scale, follow me or equidistance. In this block we will also see operations between solids.

Measure and text. Which will focus on the use of other types of tools more focused on measurement, such as dimensioning tools, distance and angle measurement, change of position of the coordinate axes or the text tools and of section.

Defaut trays. We will see the so-called ¨default trays¨. We will learn how to use the material tray, entity information, components, layers, styles, scenes or sunshine.

Special tools. We will see some other Sketchup tools of special importance. We will study the use of the wharehouse library, the creation of terrains, the geolocation of our projects through the use of Google Earth, the very interesting photomatch tool, the creation of animations, dynamic components and the use of plugins that extend the capabilities of Sketchup to be able to model everything that is in our imagination.

Utilities. Will deal with functional aspects of the program such as: importing dwg files, exporting images in different formats, as well as useful tips to improve our workflow based on my experience. Finally, the last chapter will make a comparison between Lumion and Vray, the two main rendering software that the market offers us to obtain photorealistic images from our models made in Sketchup.

Each of these blocks will be accompanied by practical exercises at the end of each block to establish the theory explained with specific exercises on those specific topics.

Also to consolidate knowledge, at the end of all the blocks, a 30-question multiple choice questionnaire is proposed, where the student will test their theoretical knowledge of the program.

Updates block. The course is made in the 2021-2022 version.The truth is that there are hardly any differences with the previous versions. In this block I will update a new class every year explaining the most important improvements in the latest Sketchup version.
New Plugins and Artificial Intelligence. Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work. In this section we will focus on the main plugins that emerge in this topic.

Layout course

Using LayOut with SketchUp offers numerous advantages that significantly enhance your workflow, especially when it comes to creating professional documentation and presentations. Here are some key benefits:
Seamless Integration
- Direct Link to SketchUp Models: LayOut integrates directly with SketchUp, allowing you to import and update your 3D models effortlessly. Any changes made in SketchUp can be automatically reflected in your LayOut documents, ensuring consistency and saving time.
Professional Documentation
- Create Detailed 2D Drawings: LayOut enables you to generate high-quality 2D drawings from your 3D models, including plans, elevations, sections, and details. These drawings are precise and can be annotated with dimensions, labels, and notes.
Customizable Templates
- Consistent Branding and Layouts: LayOut offers customizable templates that help maintain consistency across all your documents. You can create templates that match your brand, including logos, title blocks, and standardized layouts, ensuring a professional appearance.
Dynamic Viewports
- Flexible Model Views: LayOut’s viewports allow you to create multiple views of your SketchUp model within a single document. You can control the scale, perspective, and style of each viewport, giving you the flexibility to showcase your design from different angles.
Scalable and Accurate Outputs
- Precise Scaling: LayOut allows you to scale your models accurately, making it ideal for producing construction documents. Whether you’re working on large architectural plans or detailed shop drawings, you can ensure that your outputs are to scale and meet industry standards.
Enhanced Presentation
- Visual Storytelling: LayOut empowers you to create compelling presentations that go beyond basic 2D drawings. With the ability to add textures, shadows, and even stylized line work, your documents can convey the full intent and aesthetic of your design.
Efficient Revision Process
- Easy Updates and Revisions: Because LayOut links directly to your SketchUp model, any revisions made in SketchUp are easily updated in LayOut. This minimizes the need for manual adjustments, streamlining the revision process and reducing errors.
Collaboration and Sharing
- Export Options: LayOut offers multiple export options, including PDF, DWG, and image formats, making it easy to share your work with clients, collaborators, and stakeholders. This ensures that your documents are accessible to everyone involved in the project.
Time-Saving Automation
- Auto-Text and Tables: LayOut includes features like auto-text, which automatically populates text fields with project information, and tables for organizing data, further reducing the time spent on documentation tasks.
Consistency and Quality Control
- Standardized Output: By using LayOut, you can ensure that all your project documentation adheres to a consistent standard, which is crucial for quality control and professional presentation.

I just want to add,

Welcome to this Sketchup + Layout course!

Finally you should know that you will have my guidance during the course. Any doubt you have, you can ask me and in less than 48h I will respond you with the answer.

Best regards,

Manuel Pallarés

Welcome!

Finally you should know that you will have my guidance during the course. Any doubt you have, you can ask me and in less than 48h I will respond you with the answer.

Best regards,

Manuel Pallarés

Who this course is for:

If you are an interior designer, architect, kitchen designer, woodworker, project engineer, project manager, or other design professional, this is your course

SketchUp Pro & LayOut: The Complete Architectural Workflow

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

INSTRUCTIONS1 lecture • 4min

SKETCHUP11 lectures • 53min

THEORY AND KEY CONCEPTS4 lectures • 32min

DRAWING IN 2D9 lectures • 1hr 30min

DRAWING IN 3D12 lectures • 1hr 59min

WORK PROJECT2 lectures • 15min

MEASURE AND TEXT TOOLS5 lectures • 40min

WORK PROJECT1 lecture • 7min

DEFAULT TRAYS13 lectures • 2hr 10min

WORK PROJECT4 lectures • 56min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: