sketchucation logo sketchucation
    • Login
    ℹ️ Licensed Extensions | FredoBatch, ElevationProfile, FredoSketch, LayOps, MatSim and Pic2Shape will require license from Sept 1st More Info

    What's your beginners tip?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Newbie Forum
    sketchup
    305 Posts 169 Posters 340.0k Views 169 Watching
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • takesh hT Offline
      takesh h
      last edited by

      Use Outliner to select groups and components.
      If you have comprehensive naming convention for them, selecting deeply nested components within others is a piece of cake.
      It will drastically reduce the need of zooming in + out and orbiting around the space because it will grant you access even to components outside of your screen... or no matter how small they appear on the screen.
      So... Let's start grouping and naming them!

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • C Offline
        Cyberdactyl
        last edited by

        Didn't see this mentioned in the thread, however, I may have missed it.

        If you're working in tight and especially inside detailed areas, create a scene saving that perspective and position. If you get turned around and disoriented, you can quickly return to the view.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • B Offline
          bakbek
          last edited by

          Hi all,

          I keep watching this forum, but never did post much... but I've just posted a new article on my blog at http://www.ronenbekerman.com called 9 SketchUP Tips for better 3d modeling workflow that sums up my tips for a SketchUP beginner users or even more experienced ones.

          Do check it out.

          😄

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • G Offline
            GoldenFrog
            last edited by

            The axes tool is a nice one. you can line up your axes with the perhaps not sraight face that you are working on. I think its in the "Large tool set" Hope I help someone with this. 🤓

            Remember, great minds think alike, and fools never differ.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • aadbuildA Offline
              aadbuild
              last edited by

              1. do these tutorials http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/gsu7/videos.html
                2.get a 3 button mouse
                3.ctrl Z will undo last action
                4.stay away from the move tool (like an X with arrows on the endes)to start with.
              2. print the keyboard short cuts and put them in a place you can see until you get used to them
                6.get the book "Sketchup for dummies" big help.
              3. learn about components Short cut is "G"
                Happy sketchuping.

              Every building designed can be affordable & buildable, to help we built PlusSpec; VDC & BIM for Sketchup

              https://www.plusspec.com

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • R Offline
                Rafa
                last edited by

                I'm a complete begginner, so here is my tip. 💚
                Sooner or later you will be using some plugins or ruby scripts.
                Try one at a time, know what it does, and if it works for you, save a copy in an ordered folder.
                You can always re-install the main aplication, but find again a usefull plugin may take time.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • honoluludesktopH Offline
                  honoluludesktop
                  last edited by

                  I too am still a beginner, but have come to understand that its not always necessary to look for a plugin to do what you want. Often there are ways to do things by SU commands that are not obvious to us beginners. "Move" not only moves, but copies, creates arrays, rotates, etc. So my tip is, at first as a beginner, try hard to find a way to do it without a plugin, because that forces you to understand the program better.

                  Also read this page everytime a tip is posted:-)

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • AnssiA Offline
                    Anssi
                    last edited by

                    @honoluludesktop said:

                    its not always necessary to look for a plugin to do what you want. Often there are ways to do things by SU commands that are not obvious to us beginners. "Move" not only moves, but copies, creates arrays, rotates, etc. So my tip is, at first as a beginner, try hard to find a way to do it without a plugin, because that forces you to understand the program better.

                    And tho learn these tricks, look at Johnny Lemire's cool tutorials (many of them to be found in these pages, in .SKP format), even if you think you know how to do what the tut is about. They still make my jaw drop.

                    Anssi

                    securi adversus homines, securi adversus deos rem difficillimam adsecuti sunt, ut illis ne voto quidem opus esset

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • GaieusG Offline
                      Gaieus
                      last edited by

                      Indeed. Jean (Johnny) performs these tuts in a way you will always understand why and how SU (or in fact, YOU) is/are doing things like they can be done in a certain way.

                      Native SU - native learners of it...

                      Gai...

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • B Offline
                        bmscmoreira
                        last edited by

                        Well, here is my tip (hope someone hasn't said this yet, if so... its never enough to repeat)
                        Since Sketchup works with front and back faces (a plane has both) be sure that front faces are always facing you and the camera. Having a mixture of front/back faces makes applying materials harder in Sketchup and a lot of other problems when, later on, you will export sketchup scenes to be rendered in an external renderer software.
                        By default, back faces display in a blue/gray shade which sometimes is confusing with the front faces (which display white). So, I always work with red back-faces: the switch can be done in the styles/edit panel of Sketchup.

                        Make those back faces visible!

                        http://www.brunomoreira.net

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • boofredlayB Offline
                          boofredlay
                          last edited by

                          If this was mentioned before sorry. However, here is something I use all the time. Use the X, Y & Z axis to create construction lines with the Tape Measure tool . There is no need to have a face already drawn.


                          Const.jpg

                          http://www.coroflot.com/boofredlay

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • K Offline
                            kambing300
                            last edited by

                            DON'T bring your old CAD preconceptions to SketchUp! Groups, components, guides, and accuracy are just fine, but FIRST, discover what's DIFFERENT about SU: the 'sticky' geometry! Get comfortable with 'Move' and 'toggle autofold'; these two tools are all you need to create amazing objects from elementary geometry. Forget everything you know about CAD and discover what is possible! Have fun!

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • pmolsonP Offline
                              pmolson
                              last edited by

                              First open beer, then open sketchup!

                              pmo

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • ToboboT Offline
                                Tobobo
                                last edited by

                                I have one,

                                If you are working in a big detailed model that is slow to open or change scenes. Set up a scene with only the basic geometry on so you can use it to move around. This is helpful when creating an animation.

                                Toby

                                Philippians 4:13

                                I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • pmolsonP Offline
                                  pmolson
                                  last edited by

                                  Beginners of an appropriate age of course.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • F Offline
                                    flyashy
                                    last edited by

                                    Remember that once you've changed the arc/circle segment resolution ( by typing the number of segments in the mesurements window while drawing them i.e. 100s instead of 24s etc) it remains that way until you change it again.

                                    For example let's say you're drawing a 50' Dia. Circle it'll be all right to type in a large number of segments, but then it'll stay at that number for any new circles you draw. so you might end up drawing 200 segment circles for a 3" dia Pipe component and your model will just collapse under all the weight of edges!

                                    The easier way to have finer segmented curves is to change the resolution afterwards from the entity info window.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • majidM Offline
                                      majid
                                      last edited by

                                      set your units first
                                      pay careful attention to "OPTIONS" while importing/exporting.
                                      be skillful on selection methods.(usinf context meno, shift , Ctrl,...)
                                      make group/components (depending on your aim) to avoid "gluing" all objects to each other.
                                      while you have even 2 repetitive object, start using components instead of doing repetitive jobs.

                                      My inspiring A, B, Sketches book: https://sketchucation.com/shop/books/intermediate/2612-alphabet-inspired-sketches--inspiring-drills-for-architects--3d-artists-and-designers-

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • H Offline
                                        halane34
                                        last edited by

                                        Como todavía soy un principiante, toma esto por lo que vale la pena. La mejor ayuda para mí fue la serie de Aidan Chopra de videos en YouTube. Ahora también tienen la guía complementaria .. "de SketchUp para Dummies". Está muy claro que habla y fácil de entender y tiene un montón de buenas sugerencias. Es perfecto para un novato de gráficos 3D como yo!
                                        Espero que esto ayude!

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • K Offline
                                          KXI System
                                          last edited by

                                          @halane34 said:

                                          Como todavía soy un principiante, toma esto por lo que vale la pena. La mejor ayuda para mí fue la serie de Aidan Chopra de videos en YouTube. Ahora también tienen la guía complementaria .. "de SketchUp para Dummies". Está muy claro que habla y fácil de entender y tiene un montón de buenas sugerencias. Es perfecto para un novato de gráficos 3D como yo!
                                          Espero que esto ayude!

                                          Translation:

                                          @unknownuser said:

                                          As I'm still a beginner, take this for what it's worth. The best help for me was the number of Aidan Chopra videos on YouTube. Now also have the companion guide .. SketchUp for Dummies ". It's very clear and easy to understand speech and has lots of good suggestions. It's perfect for beginners to 3D graphics as I do hope this helps!

                                          SO true!

                                          Getting the perfect sig is hard...

                                          Google it!

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • M Offline
                                            Mensa
                                            last edited by

                                            These tips helped greatly, thanks!

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • 1
                                            • 2
                                            • 3
                                            • 4
                                            • 5
                                            • 6
                                            • 7
                                            • 8
                                            • 15
                                            • 16
                                            • 6 / 16
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            Buy SketchPlus
                                            Buy SUbD
                                            Buy WrapR
                                            Buy eBook
                                            Buy Modelur
                                            Buy Vertex Tools
                                            Buy SketchCuisine
                                            Buy FormFonts

                                            Advertisement