SketchUp Pro, Enscape & LayOut: The Complete Guide

Master the SketchUp welcome window to create a new model with templates and units, and use the recent files panel to quickly open recent projects.

Start a new SketchUp model by selecting architectural templates, setting units to centimeters, and then name the file course project and save with version 8.

Create a custom toolbar by collecting tools from view, large tool set, and location bars as a collector bar. Reset all toolbars to default; sandbox tools cannot be added.

Learn to view and customize trays in SketchUp by using the window menu to manage the default tray and create custom trays that show only materials and components dialogs.

Create and manage custom trays in SketchUp by grouping dialogues into tray one and tray two, using select all, and organizing trays into tabs for quick access.

Explore the measurement box and key interface elements in SketchUp, including geolocation and credits icons, the functions bar, and the select and push/pull tools; learn to read and input measurements.

Explore inferencing in SketchUp by working with the blue, green, and red axes, the origin, continuous and dotted segments, and toggling axes visibility from the view menu.

Master inferencing in SketchUp to draw axis-parallel lines with keyboard shortcuts. Practice creating a 100 cm square on the red and green axes.

Learn how to create and use components in SketchUp, a drawing entity where changes to one copy update all others, using rectangle, push pull, and selection methods.

Discover why using groups in SketchUp matters; a group is an entity that confines drawing and editing, unlike components, so changes don't propagate to other copies.

Apply techniques to group a square and build a sphere using the circle tool and Follow Me tool, snap to the red axis, with radii 35 cm and 15 cm.

Explore basics of manipulating 3d objects in SketchUp: reverse faces, arrange volumes with precise x, y, z movements, and create multiple copies or arrays of entities using controlled distances.

Learn selecting techniques in SketchUp: right-to-left boundary selection that captures touched shapes and left-to-right boundary selection for shapes fully within the boundary, plus basic copy and explode workflows.

Master efficient selection in SketchUp by using left-click and double-click to select edges and connected faces, then apply ctrl and shift to add, subtract, or invert selections.

Learn to organize project entities with tags in SketchUp, assign tags via the entity info dialog, and manage untagged items by creating, renaming, and deleting tags.

Use the scenes dialogue in SketchUp to save camera location, geometry, visible tags, and properties, then manage modeling, one plus three, and one plus two.

Learn how SketchUp defines entities such as points, edges, arcs, and curves via the entity info dialog, with radius and segments, and how to hide, unhide, and use tape measure.

Discover how every SketchUp model starts with points, edges and faces, build a rectangle from the origin, array copies, and edit geometry by moving points, edges or faces.

Explore hidden geometry and the eraser tool to hide and unhide edges, revealing how dotted lines indicate hidden edges and how spheres and pyramids are built from them.

Explore face properties, including area and tags, and how materials appear on both sides. Examine groups, solid groups, and components, noting volumes, opened state, and instance definitions.

Explore how to edit the default material in SketchUp and its two sides, adjust front and back colors with the color icon or color wheel, and apply styles.

Learn to define circle and polygon entities, view circumference and perimeter, and use linear and radial dimensions plus text to show coordinates, face area, radius, and diameter.

Learn how to import an image into SketchUp as a reference for tracing, setting the origin point as the base point and the back point as the second point.

Insert the image and switch to top view; establish a 1 to 1 scale using an eight by thirteen meter reference, then trace the shapes at true scale.

Trace shapes with the rectangle tool to draw eight by thirteen cm or 1300 by 800 cm, then resize with the scale tool and align to the image.

Navigate smoothly by reducing orbit lag in large models. Use perspective view for modeling, switch to parallel projection for 2D plans, and keep the field of view at 35 degrees.

Learn how to safeguard your SketchUp work with auto save, backups, and general preferences, including update alerts, startup options, and tools like crosshairs, pre-pick, and push/pull settings.

Speed your work in SketchUp by configuring shortcuts in window preferences, locating functions with the filter, and exporting shortcuts for use on other computers.

Discover default and new shortcuts for SketchUp Pro, including hide and unhide, follow me, group and component creation, import, camera position, hidden geometry, and quick scene and axes controls.

Identify the project site: a forest parcel in a community on a bus route, with a one-meter level difference and a 24 by 9 meter plot with six-meter front space.

Define the project scope and design program from site details, then outline architectural designs for floors, landscape, facades, pool, and the interior patio using Enscape and SketchUp.

Start a 2d project in sketchup by using the plan view template, switch units from meters to centimeters, and import and scale a sketch image for tracing.

Begin the ground floor in SketchUp from a 100 by 100 square, copying shapes in 15 cm steps, using the scale tool for depth, width, and the facade with doors.

Create door openings in a SketchUp workflow by duplicating and aligning door shapes, setting depths, and converting them to components for 2D openings across garage, office, lobby, and other doors.

Import two-dimensional door components and place them in a floor plan. Create, mirror, rotate, and assemble hinged, sliding, and garage doors as reusable components for ground and first floor layouts.

Place tubeless window blocks directly on openings, using copy-paste to set widths (250 cm, 310 cm) and align windows across the staircase landing and ground floor plan.

Trace landscape features in SketchUp by drawing planters, the grass floor, and a garage landscape using rectangle and arc tools, radius constraints, and offsetting to create accurate groups and stairs.

Create a landing rectangle with precise dimensions, build two nine-step flights by copying and dividing lines, then mirror, group, and indicate the utilities space.

Model an outdoor landscape in SketchUp by creating a ramp, sidewalk, planting bed, and entrance steps with precise dimensions, extruding 15 cm, grouping, and alignment.

Import 2D furniture components from a SketchUp file format, explode and copy them, then use move, rotate, and group edits to place and arrange furniture, lighting, and planters.

Explore SketchUp extensions and plugins, discover extension warehouse and official plugin stores, compare free and paid options, and learn how to search and download extensions.

Install extensions via extension manager from the downloaded folder, then enable plugins like JHS power bar, SU solar north, and fredo 6 plugins using the plugin toolbar.

Explore material types in SketchUp: default and imported materials, including ordinary non-seamless textures, seamless textures, and PBR materials with color, displacement, normal maps, and reflections.

Explore popular material websites like SketchUp Texture Club and Megascans for textures, seamless textures, and PBR materials, including backgrounds and landscapes, with free options and daily download limits.

learn how 3D assets—premade models and components—speed up workflows in SketchUp, explore 2D and 3D assets, browse 3D Warehouse with search, filters, and sign in to download.

Install the Face Creator extension via Extension Manager and attach it. Arrange the workspace by creating tags such as x, L, and L floor plans 2D for quick on-screen access.

Create wall geometry by building reusable window and door components, copy and stretch them with scale tools, set precise openings, and verify with sketch tag and x-ray view.

Learn to create openings in SketchUp by using the outer shell to fuse walls into one piece, then subtract openings for windows and doors, adjusting window heights as needed.

Arrange the workspace, apply parallel projection, and create interior floor faces with Face Creator. Group, cut, paste, and adjust openings by 50 cm to merge floors from reception to shower.

Learn to add outdoor floors in SketchUp by using floor plan tags, drawing and pushing faces, grouping geometry, and aligning with walls, ramps, and the pool boundary.

Model entrance stairs and planting bed in SketchUp Pro, using a floating step component and 2d plan guidance to create a precise, aligned stair array with correct heights.

Master SketchUp Sandbox workflows to model a sloped landscape, building and editing a mesh grid, pushing and lowering geometry, and smoothing and softening edges for cohesive terrain.

Model a front facade door in SketchUp using 1001 bit tools and JS bar; create frame, leaf, and pivoting handle, then mirror, align, and finalize with door frame tool.

Model a garage door by creating rectangular door frame with 4 cm depth, forming leaf doors via mirroring, and adding 2x2 cm tubes in a 3 cm lattice with handles.

Model a front façade window in SketchUp Pro by creating the window frame and beveled leaf, adding louvers and a grid, and organizing components and groups with precise axis setting.

Model a back façade three-leaf sliding door in SketchUp Pro by creating the door frame, detailing dimensions, forming leaf components, and applying a beveled window frame for overlap.

Model inside landscape planters across the backyard and garage by creating, copying faces, and applying push/pull, offset, and raise operations to finalize each planter before furnishing the sitting room.

Model a closet with a coffee corner in SketchUp by creating grouped leaves and components, mirroring and arraying them for precise depths and heights.

Import 3D warehouse assets into SketchUp, download and paste them to add a wall artwork and bookshelf, then scale, rotate, and set heights of 1 m and 140 cm.

Model a stair in SketchUp by applying a white material, setting the step height to 18.3 cm, and making each step a component for two flights with landings.

Create a false gypsum ceiling by setting a new scene, positioning the camera, drawing and offsetting the ceiling, then grouping and placing a led light along the guideline.

Build the first-story walls and door/window openings in SketchUp, using the subtract tool and floor plan tag, set heights, create a wall group, and apply union to finalize openings.

Create interior floors in sketchup by cleaning door openings, pushing down walls, and using the face creator plugin to form interior faces, then group and place terrace and bathroom floors.

Model the front facade doors and windows in SketchUp using the 1001 bit plugin, creating door frames, door leaves, and beveled window frames with panel divisions.

Draw a door and frame with a leaf and glass panel, then frame front and back windows. Copy and edit the stairs, align risers, and set up the front elevation.

Model the roof by forming the staircase room, floor, and parapet; apply a 15 cm offset, grouping, skylight integration, and wall details toward a complete roof design.

Model a terrace tempered glass panel, 1 cm thick, with two by two iron pieces, center the iron piece, and copy the group along the wall for even spacing.

Build façade's main mass by aligning walls and applying 60 cm thickness. Create privacy panels, lead profiles, and a blunt basin, then group and array panels to match the design.

Model and place front façade lighting fixtures in a SketchUp scene, creating circular ceiling units, ground units, components, and aligned copies to relate lighting to facade elements.

Model sidewalk, curb, and ramp details in SketchUp using 2D drawings, arcs, and rectangles; group, copy, mirror, offset, and subtract to complete the road details.

Model the land surrounding the project and its reflection in the windows, fit the mesh to the mass, and create surrounding plots with precise depth and levels.