How to use Google SketchUp
Google SketchUp is an excellent, if not the best way to create 3-D digital models and structures. It can be useful for creating realistic looking buildings. Here are the basics:
Start by selecting a template
The choice of having your building to be made in feet and inches or meters is completely up to you. On the start menu, click Choose Template, and select your measurement template.
Navigating around
The three tools you use to navigate around are orbit, pan, and zoom. To use orbit, click on the orbit button (far left on inset). Then, hold the mouse down and move it around slowly at first, and then speed up. You will eventually get the hang of using orbit. To use pan, click on the pan button (middle left on inset). Hold the mouse and move it from side to side. To use zoom, click on the zoom button (middle right on inset). Then, drag the controller up to zoom in, and drag it down to zoom out. By using these three tools together, you will be navigating Google SketchUp like a pro.
Start by selecting a template
The choice of having your building to be made in feet and inches or meters is completely up to you. On the start menu, click Choose Template, and select your measurement template.
Navigating around
The three tools you use to navigate around are orbit, pan, and zoom. To use orbit, click on the orbit button (far left on inset). Then, hold the mouse down and move it around slowly at first, and then speed up. You will eventually get the hang of using orbit. To use pan, click on the pan button (middle left on inset). Hold the mouse and move it from side to side. To use zoom, click on the zoom button (middle right on inset). Then, drag the controller up to zoom in, and drag it down to zoom out. By using these three tools together, you will be navigating Google SketchUp like a pro.
Draw some lines
To draw a line, click on the line tool (the red pencil). Then, click the mouse and drag the line to wherever you want it to go from the end point. Then, click the mouse again to release the line. If you connect lines to form a shape, it will automatically turn into a 2-dimensional object.
Make a circle and a square
To make a circle, click on the circle button. Then, click somewhere and move your mouse to extend the circle and to shrink the circle. Click the mouse again to close the circle. To make a square, click on the square/rectangle button. Then, click somewhere and move your mouse to extend the rectangle or to shrink the rectangle. Click the mouse again to finish.
To draw a line, click on the line tool (the red pencil). Then, click the mouse and drag the line to wherever you want it to go from the end point. Then, click the mouse again to release the line. If you connect lines to form a shape, it will automatically turn into a 2-dimensional object.
Make a circle and a square
To make a circle, click on the circle button. Then, click somewhere and move your mouse to extend the circle and to shrink the circle. Click the mouse again to close the circle. To make a square, click on the square/rectangle button. Then, click somewhere and move your mouse to extend the rectangle or to shrink the rectangle. Click the mouse again to finish.
Push/Pull Tool
Now, with the circles and/or squares you drew, click on the Push/pull tool. Then, click on a square or circle and drag your mouse up or down to push and pull, respectively. You can do this to transform 2-D shapes into 3-D shapes.
Now, with the circles and/or squares you drew, click on the Push/pull tool. Then, click on a square or circle and drag your mouse up or down to push and pull, respectively. You can do this to transform 2-D shapes into 3-D shapes.
Eraser/Paint/Tape Measure
The eraser tool is handy for when you make mistakes. To use it, click a line and it will erase the line. The paint tool should be used when you are all done constructing the actual thing. It will give a color or a detailed texture to a wall or floor. to use it, select the color in the paint menu and the n click over anything you want to be painted that color. The tape measure measures the dimensions of the thing you are building in life size units such as feet, inches, or meters. This is handy so that you will know the dimensions of something in real life, as it is in SketchUp. To use this, click the starting point of what you want to measure, and then travel to the ending point. The dimensions are listed in the lower right corner of the screen.
The eraser tool is handy for when you make mistakes. To use it, click a line and it will erase the line. The paint tool should be used when you are all done constructing the actual thing. It will give a color or a detailed texture to a wall or floor. to use it, select the color in the paint menu and the n click over anything you want to be painted that color. The tape measure measures the dimensions of the thing you are building in life size units such as feet, inches, or meters. This is handy so that you will know the dimensions of something in real life, as it is in SketchUp. To use this, click the starting point of what you want to measure, and then travel to the ending point. The dimensions are listed in the lower right corner of the screen.
These are the basic things you need to know when using Google SketchUp. I hope this helped you get a better understanding of this outstanding program.