Help With Layers Please

Mark Simpson

Hi,

Very new to Sketch Up, I'm using it for a pending ('very' pending) university project and turned to Sketch Up when another programme I had been recommended proved very difficult and un-user friendly. I am finding SU is suiting my needs and it quite quick to learn.

I have a couple of problems currently. I have imported a CAD wireframe and have been adding images to it. As I want to add different sets of images, I need to put these into different layers, to switch between them. But I cannot seem to be able to create a layer that includes the first set of images, at least not one I can turn on and off. Any thoughts?

My other problem is that I need to export the finished model to a good, reliable and easy to use animation programme that can cope with high resolution images. Tried downloading a VRML viewer, but that appears to have problems with the images on a test run. Again, would be grateful for ideas.

Thanks!

JQL

@mark simpson said:

Hi,

But I cannot seem to be able to create a layer that includes the first set of images, at least not one I can turn on and off. Any thoughts?

I can only help you on this because I know nothing of animations.

I suppose you know how to make new layers:

Window > Layers > Click the "+" circle sign above > type layer name.

Now you must also know how to make groups or components:

Select geometry (images I guess) > right-click on one of the elements selected > make group (or make component...)

Now you must change the layer of that group/component into the layer you created:

Right-click on the group/component you just created > Entity Info (opens a docking window) > On this window search for Layers dropdown wich should be on "layer0" > click the dropdown and choose the new layer

Now you have this group of images on a separate layer from layer0 and you can manage it's visibility on layer's window:

To the right of layers names there is a tick box under "visible" column tick/untick this boxes to turn layers on and off.

IMPORTANT TIPS:

1 - Never tick the circle on the left of layers names, that will change the active layer and will make a wreck out of your model.

2 - You can make new scenes that, when they are updated, might save current layer states (and styles, and sun poisiton, and camera and several other nice things) with two different scenes you can have different layers on, changing the way you see the model.

3 - Read number one carefully as it might be the most important thing when dealing with layers.

4 - You should never change geometry to a layer different than "Layer0" and that's what 1 and 3 are trying to say.

Mark Simpson

@jql said:

@mark simpson said:

Hi,

But I cannot seem to be able to create a layer that includes the first set of images, at least not one I can turn on and off. Any thoughts?

I can only help you on this because I know nothing of animations.

I suppose you know how to make new layers:

Window > Layers > Click the "+" circle sign above > type layer name.

Now you must also know how to make groups or components:

Select geometry (images I guess) > right-click on one of the elements selected > make group (or make component...)

Now you must change the layer of that group/component into the layer you created:

Right-click on the group/component you just created > Entity Info (opens a docking window) > On this window search for Layers dropdown wich should be on "layer0" > click the dropdown and choose the new layer

Now you have this group of images on a separate layer from layer0 and you can manage it's visibility on layer's window:

To the right of layers names there is a tick box under "visible" column tick/untick this boxes to turn layers on and off.

IMPORTANT TIPS:

1 - Never tick the circle on the left of layers names, that will change the active layer and will make a wreck out of your model.

2 - You can make new scenes that, when they are updated, might save current layer states (and styles, and sun poisiton, and camera and several other nice things) with two different scenes you can have different layers on, changing the way you see the model.

3 - Read number one carefully as it might be the most important thing when dealing with layers.

4 - You should never change geometry to a layer different than "Layer0" and that's what 1 and 3 are trying to say.

Thanks, I'll give that a try. Much appreciated!

pbacot

I am not sure this is in the exhaustive explanation above. One thing when importing CAD you may find that the entities are on a CAD layer that came on the import. You should try to assign the entities (in this case edges, arcs, and circles etc. which you imported) onto Layer0. There's a good plugin for that called "Default Layer Geometry". This is separate from the grouping and components you have. DON'T explode the groups or remove anything from them unless you have a another reason to. You are just returning the "raw" contents to Layer0. The group can be on a different layer and that will control visibility.

Dave R

It would also be worth taking a look at the SketchUp Online Help regarding layers. Especially read this. Follow the "rules" or you'll be tearing your hair out. The key rule, which Peter alluded to, is all geometry (edges and faces) should be on Layer 0. The second rule is leave Layer 0 active at all times. Remember that layers only control the visibility of entities. They do nothing to create separation between entities.

Mark Simpson

Thanks for the help everyone, I'll give it a try. Much appreciated.