Hiding edges in a single component but not entire model

sketchupjockey · 14 Oct 2011, 17:06

I am designing an album cover in sketchup. I want to be able to print with the edges turned on. However there is a single complex component in the composition and i do not want to have the edges visible. I am stumped on how i can only select the edges in the component (far too many to select indivually) and hide them. I am sure there is a simple solution- what pray tell is it?

Much thanks,
SUJ

massimo · 14 Oct 2011, 17:16

Double click on the component in order to "open" it-->switch to "wireframe" mode-->select the edges (left click and drag mouse from left to right: you have to select the edges only)-->right click, entity info-->check "hidden"-->switch back to "shaded with textures" mode.

sketchupjockey · 14 Oct 2011, 18:08

thanks for the quick response. Found this on SU website after my inquire. it's too bad in a component you have to go in and individually select edges. Even in wireframe mode surfaces will select and then one must deselect them manually.

I found pretty much the same thing you posted, compliments of our trusted friend Gaieus.

Gaieus
Hi Karen, Yes, you can hide edges of geometry within a group but keep displayed in others. Do not do it in the styles dialogue but edit the group (double click), go to wireframe mode (hides all faces but only edeges are displayed), select all geometry in the group, right click and choose "Hide" from the context menu. Now you can go back to your previous display mode and see the faces but not the edges. The unhide all command (within the Edit menu) will not unhide your hidden edges when you are out of the context of the group. Igf you later want to unhide them, you will need to edit the group again and apply the unhide command when inside its context. Gai... On Mar 7, 10:01 pm, sketchier karen.thei...@sbcglobal.net wrote: - Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -> Hi, > Is there a way to show the edges on one object/group but hide them on > all the others? > When I choose hide edges, it hides the edges on all of the objects. > This is good but on a few of the objects, I'd like to show their > edges. > Thanks, > Karen
(1 user) Mar 8 2008, 2:18 am

massimo · 14 Oct 2011, 18:31

@unknownuser said:

it's too bad in a component you have to go in and individually select edges. Even in wireframe mode surfaces will select and then one must deselect them manually.

You have to "open" the component and select edges at once by using the selection box. That should work.

Box · 14 Oct 2011, 18:43

@sketchupjockey said:

Even in wireframe mode surfaces will select and then one must deselect them manually.

These four spheres have been treated as described with the possible exception of using the hide option in the Edit menu.
With wire frame on I selected the Third sphere and chose hide from the Edit menu.
With Edges turned off I selected the Fourth sphere then chose hide from the Edit menu.

You certainly don't need to select or deselect each individual surface or edge.

Edit: there are also several plugins that will hide/unhide faces and edges.

Dave R · 14 Oct 2011, 19:57

You could just hold Shift and the left mouse button while wiping over the edges to be hidden with the Eraser tool.

Chris Fullmer · 14 Oct 2011, 21:11

@sketchupjockey said:

it's too bad in a component you have to go in and individually select edges. Even in wireframe mode surfaces will select and then one must deselect them manually.

That's not the behavior I see. When I am in wireframe mode, faces are not selected. Make sure you are in "Wireframe" and not "Hidden Line" mode.

TIG · 14 Oct 2011, 21:49

In 'Wireframe' mode if you select by a double/treble click on an edge then all connected edges AND connected 'unseen' faces will become selected... BUT if you select by fence only the edges get selected...

Chris Fullmer · 15 Oct 2011, 03:04

Ahh, good point TIG. Thanks!

Gaieus · 17 Oct 2011, 09:09

Yes, the only problematic way of selection can be double/triple clicking. Wireframe works exactly like when geometry is hidden (with hidden geometry in the View menu off): when using a selection box OR Ctrl+A (select all) for selecting, only visible geometry is selected but when selecting multiple by multi-clicking, it selects all connected (and hidden) geometry as well.

sagarsrinivas45 · 29 Mar 2016, 11:07

@massimo said:

Double click on the component in order to "open" it-->switch to "wireframe" mode-->select the edges (left click and drag mouse from left to right: you have to select the edges only)-->right click, entity info-->check "hidden"-->switch back to "shaded with textures" mode.

is there any other way to delete [not hiding or smothering]the edges in a single component/group.

Dave R · 29 Mar 2016, 13:52

You can open the component and use the Eraser tool to delete the edges or you can select them and hit the Delete key. Keep in mind that edges are required to have faces so deleting edges will remove their associated faces.

sagarsrinivas45 · 29 Mar 2016, 17:44

i too know that by deleting edges faces will be removed. but by doing your above step it will increase the model size when working on big models so my questions is "IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY, OTHER THAN HIDING OR SMOTHERING THE EDGES" I hope you are clear now.

TIG · 29 Mar 2016, 18:43

If you delete edges, then any reliant faces also delete.
If you delete any geometry the model's size will reduce.
Hiding or smoothing edges still leaves those edges there.

If you have unused components then using Model Info > Statistics > Purge Unused... will reduce the model's size.

This is by far the most effective way to optimize your model's size...

If you don't want to 'see' some edges, then hide [or smooth] them and use a Style that has hidden-geometry OFF.

If you don't want to see some objects [groups/component-instances] then put them on an OFF layer.

Otherwise make your geometry simpler from the kick-off...

Dave R · 29 Mar 2016, 18:47

I'm clear on the fact that deleting edges will delete faces. Hiding or softening edges will make them invisible and allow the faces to remain. The only other option to reducing the number of edges in your model would be to simplify the model. For example, instead of using a circle with 24 sides for a cylinder, maybe use 16 sides. That reduces the number of edges and the file size but also results in a rougher looking model. I hope you are clear now.

Box · 31 Mar 2016, 14:07

I'm slightly unsure now. Can I design a pillow in Sketchup that can be used for smothering, could be very handy. I'm writing this in lower case so less people will read it.

hygicell · 16 Sept 2017, 23:29

I have the same kind of problem, on two levels:
I have downloaded a component from the 3D Warehouse (a heating radiator) on which the edges are not visible, while I want them to be, as the image without edges is blurry
plus on components and groups I made myself, some edges are visible, some are not or seem smoothened or softened
please help
Frank

Dave R · 17 Sept 2017, 01:56

@hygicell said:

please help
Frank

Unhide the edges or unsoften them. If you share the SKP file so we can see exactly what you've got, we can give you more specific answers.

LEGOsketcher · 14 Jan 2019, 14:18

Is there any smart plugin that hides all edges (not faces) in several components at the same time? I have rather large model made og subgroups with lots of lines. I used to hide in wireframe manually but isn't there a smarter way? There is always on in S

Box · 14 Jan 2019, 14:21

Eneroth's Visual Merge might do what you want.
https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/eneroth-visual-merge