Changing the Size/Scale of the Model

[Karash]

Hello Everyone,

Well I am new to SketchUp, but doing great things in it. My question is this: Is there an easy way to increase the scale/size of the entire model (all polys) at one time? I am making some spaceship concepts and noticed that my scale is way off. One model needs to be about 3 times larger than it is.

I know about the scale tool, but that has not led to good results...plus, there is a performance issue in using it to adjust all polys.

Thanks!

[johnsenior1973]

If you select all the parts of the model you want to scale and group them it should be a lot easier to scale them.

After you've grouped the parts of the model you want to resize, select one of the top corners, move it a little, then type in 3 and press enter to make the model three times bigger.

[Anssi]

To scale the entire model, another method is to use the measuring tape tool: Use it to measure an edge. Immediately type the length you want the edge to be, and press Enter. SU asks you if you want to resize the entire model. Click OK.

Anssi

[dale]

To add to what Anssi said, be sure you have opened the group for editing before using the tape measure tool.

[Karash]

I guess I havent been using groups (noob!)

Whats the value of using groups? Should my entire model be one?

[Gaieus]

Groups and components are used to separate geometry from each other. Say you draw a rectangle and then another one sharing one edge of the former one.If you want to move either, the other one will "stretch" and you cannot move them separately because they "stick" to each other.

Now imagine a worse scenario: you make kitchen cabinets and find that you cannot move (or rotate open) a cabinet door because the sides stick to it and keep stretching like chewing gum.

Components have some advantages over groups such as

• if there is more than one instance in the model, they save file size

• whatever changes you make in one component, will be reflected in all the instances

• you can change the axes of a component (both components and groups have their own axis system independent from the model)

• you can get a component to

• "glue" to any face

• to cut opening on any face

• always face to camera (good for 2D objects like billboard trees and such)
  But in common, both are used to separate different sets of geometry from each other (which layers wont do in SU - unlike some other modeling software; typically CAD applications). You can eventually make your whole model a group but there's no real point.

Basically that's it.

Also,have a look at this short video explaining the significance of grouping (here actually vs layering)

[flash=425,344:qgiv0xf0]http://www.youtube.com/v/fBdP499iw0Y&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:qgiv0xf0]

[johnsenior1973]

In terms of scaling a model, grouping it also makes it easier to select everything and move it around. If it's a group then you can just click on it once and it is selected, it will scale, move rotate etc easily. If it's not a group and you select everything by triple-clicking it, or by dragging the mouse cursor and selecting all the lines and faces that can be very taxing on the computer if it's a complex model. You can also get problems if for some reason you don't manage to include all of the model when you're trying to select it.

I don't actually use groups that much. For me a lot of the time it's too much hassle to keep opening them up to work on them. But for things like moving parts of the model around and scaling large models groups are very handy indeed.

[Karash]

ok thanks guys. I got it figured out on my model and I even downloaded a little 3D man to put in there for a scale comparison. Now its perfect (at least the application, not my skills!)

I will work more with grouping and components soon. I plan on doing a sci-fi Capital class ship soon, so for the turrets, I can just make those components for easy editing and placing right (since I will probably have 20 of them)?

[Gaieus]

That's exactly the proper and idealuse of components. Also,to a limited extent,you can make changes to certain instances without affecting the others. These include
[list][]scaling
[]colouring
[*]moving and rotating (i.e.positioning and ligning anywhere)[list]
BUT in case you don't edit them just do these things "from outside" of the components.