What's your beginners tip?

bulbucila

One tip for large models:

if you work with a large model with a lot of geometry, in order to avoid slow motion orbiting, use "Hide rest of model" best is to asign a shortcut key, that way when you edit a component or group the rest of the model will not be shown and will work faster (again pardon my bad english)

jwlyon1

This tip is hard to explain.
When rotating, click+drag along the desired rotation axis.

This lets you select a funky rotation axis with ease, and more importantly, repeatability.

Here's a quick vid, I'm having trouble embedding it. Sorry!
http://www.screencast.com/t/H30ObYtL

Gaieus

Definitely an important one. Unfortunately it hardly gets any "exposure" in the SU Guide; the only place it's marginally mentioned is the "Folding along an axis of rotation" header when it explains autofold here:
http://download.sketchup.com/sketchuphelp/gsu6_win/Content/D-Modification_Tools/ModTool-Rotate.htm

alarm

I always put Components, Materials, Styles, Scenes and Shadow settings at right side! Easy to access

pilou

Take a look at the Duh thread

mogogirl

As I'm still a beginner, take this for what it is worth. The biggest help for me was the Aidan Chopra series of videos on YouTube. I now also have the companion guide.."SketchUp for Dummies". He is very plain spoken and easy to understand and has lots of great tips. Just perfect for a complete newbie to 3D graphics like me!

Hope this helps!

idraft

If you are always having trouble opening your models because you work with different versions eg SU6 & SU7 you can drag and drop your model over the SU shortcut you created on your desktop. This opens SU straight away.

If anyone knows a way to right click and open with the correct SU version in your pull down menu that would be handy too. after all how do you tell if your model has been created in SU 6/7 without exploring properties. They have the same symbol "whatsamecallit"

Physicsguy1

You'll want to become familiar with the functions of all the tools. Things are much easier if you understand what you are doing. You should also group any object you create, so you don't run into problems where two faces have the same edge. Save your works frequently.

TIG

Make shortcuts of frequently used tools/operations... it will make life so much easier.
Get used to using them you will quickly speed up considerably...

Some obvious ones are built-in like...
<Spacebar>=Select
M=ove
L=ine
A=rc
C=ircle
P=ushpull
F=ollowme
S=cale
T=apemeasue [*actually I swap this to T=extTool and D=istanceTool(i.e.tapemeasure) + alt+D=imensions]
R=otate
E=raser
Z=oom
...
However, some extra ones speed things up even more, like... [here's what I use but you should choose your own]
Q = Quick reverse faces - you have to have a face selected for Reverse to show in the Preferences Shortcut filter...
H =Hide - again you have to have a selection for Hide to show in the Preferences Shortcut filter...
shift+H = unHide - again you have to have a selection for Hide to show in the Preferences Shortcut filter...
ctrl+H = Hide rest of model during an edit - toggle
ctrl+alt+H = Hide similar components during an edit - toggle
U = Un-select everything - ctrl+T is also built-in... but I think that just pressing U is quicker...
shift+X = eXplode
alt+S = Smooth
alt+E= Entity-Info
alt+M = Material browser
alt+B = Component Browser
alt+X = Xray mode toggle
alt+G = hidden Geometry toggle
alt+V = show Axes toggle
\ = Delete all Guides
F2 = open Ruby-Console
etc etc

I also swap G to 'Make Group' and make B 'Make Component' [as B=Block in ACAD]; however, if you want to keep G as your 'Make Component' shortcut, try adding shift+G for 'Make Group' - making groups is a vital way of keeping your geometry separated and tidy - shortcut key is very useful...

The well known...
ctrl+Z = Undo
ctrl+X = Cut
ctrl+C = Copy
ctrl+V = Paste
_Can be added to with this...
ctrl+shift+V = Paste in Place - p[art of a quick way to cut something from one group and paste it into another in the same place...

GreenToaster

Draw something that has an amorphic shape - sketch it out by hand, then create it with S/U. This may be more challenging than you think - pick something "easy" to begin with. Human body parts - head, hand, foot - are really very challenging to reproduce with accurate proportions and details.

Start with something simple and fun - it's a great way to learn more about S/U.

Gloryboy

Use the forum like it's your best friend...ask for help when you are in trouble. No sense stumbling in the dark when someone is more than willing to shed some light on your problem.
Gboy

arklandesign

As a month old sketchup user the things that have assisted me most recently, are the following:

When working on a model and making changes always save with the same name but add version 2 or 3 or 13... This way, if you make a mistake you can always go back to a previously saved version.
Locking groups assists in keeping ones sanity, it's only one extra click to do or undo, but can save one a lot of anguish.
Sometimes orbiting with the eraser or the move tool active, is akin to running around with a virtual pair of scissors.

I think the most important rule to remember is always... always.... group... It took me some time to get into the habit, but it makes all the difference. Also, always check components downloaded from 3DWH for extra layers and mistakes and purge them to the default layer, B4 introducing them into ones own model. Don't take it for granted that the model one has downloaded is safe to use... they sometimes simply aren't. Ever since I picked up this tip from Gaeius in this forum, life has been a lot more stress free.

Gaieus

@arklandesign said:

...Sometimes orbiting with the eraser or the move tool active, is akin to running around with a virtual pair of scissors...

Haha. How true. And how much I recognise my girlfriend (who is NOT using "virtual" weapons only)

BTM

• If you ever want to select an object enclosed in faces, instead of zooming into it, delete an enclosing face, select the object, then undo. The object will stay selected.

• If you ever wish you had a tool for doing something specific, such as push/pull on curved surfaces, making tapers, creating bezier curves, sculpting, flattening geometry, painting materials randomly on faces, rounding corners, or something else, you might find what you're looking for in the plugins forum.

• Look for free textures on the internet. The ones that come with sketchup aren't usually that good.

• Figure out the keyboard shortcuts for all the tools. If you don't know one, just guess. ( L = line, R = rectangle, C = circle, O = orbit, etc.)

takesh h

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!

Cyberdactyl

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.

bakbek

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.

GoldenFrog

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.

aadbuild

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.
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.
learn about components Short cut is "G"
Happy sketchuping.

Rafa

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.