Super Newbie Question

calvin1214

Hey Guys,

I'm a super newbie and just started teaching myself sketchup last month. I am having trouble placing objects onto faces. Let me try to explain with an example...

I create a large black rectangle on the plane. I create a smaller blue rectangle on the same plane. When I move the smaller blue rectangle onto the black rectangle (inference says "on face"), the blue rectangle disappears.

I tried grouping the blue rectangle, then placing it onto the black rectangle's face which works partially, but then it distorts when I orbit around.

I want the blue rectangle to be 100% visible... not disappearing into the face or distorted when orbiting.

I hope that makes sense. Any help that you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Calvin

pilou

Explode all

or from nothing
draw the black rectangle
draw a rectangle inside
Fill this new rectangle in blue
Select it (double click)
You can now move it inside without problem (must be totally inside)
that must works

TIG

The distorting is 'z-fighting' where two faces share the same [or almost the same] plane - it's a graphic problem you have to work around...
When you move the smaller face onto the larger one it's as if you only moved just its edges and they cut a new face out of the larger one - keeping the larger one's material - two faces can't co-exist in the same space so the one that's already there takes precedence.
Do what you do, then repaint the smaller rectangle with the desired material and it will be as you intend.

If you really want to be able to place a smaller rectangle onto a larger one without interference or loss of material then you can make a component of the smaller one, giving it gluing and 'hole cutting' properties.
Now if you insert that from the component-browser it will snap to any face and cut a hole so its material is retained and there is no interference...
A component can 'cut a hole' that it immediately completely fills up with its own geometry OR alternatively it can make a real hole like a window for example...

Gaieus

@tig said:

make a component of the smaller one, giving it gluing and 'hole cutting' properties.

The easiest and most fool proof way is to draw the smaller rectangle on a face (it can be this final face or any temporary face). Now when you drew the rectangle,

double click on it (to select the face and its bounding perimeter),
right click on the selection > "Make component"
and SU (by default) will already assign the gluing and cutting properties to this new component.
As TIG says, since it will "cut" a hole into the face it is placed on (but at the same time fills that cut with its own face/colour), this Z-fighting will not happen.