Tutorials Archives | SketchUp for Design

Getting Started with SketchUp: My Top 10 Tips

February 7, 2024February 23, 2024 by Alex SchreyerNo Comments

This post's video tutorial features a list of my standard SketchUp beginner tips and tricks. SketchUp has much more functionality (see my book to learn about the rest!) but these ten tips will get you started with SketchUp for desktop, web, or iPad and clear up some typical confusions. TIP:New to SketchUp? Give the free web app at app.sketchup.com a try. Happy SketchUpping! What are good "next steps" after these first steps? I would recommend working through Chapter 2 in my book, which features a great refresher exercise. Tutorial Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HD4NODwJDjQ My Top 10 SketchUp Tips This list shows my key tips. Watch the video for further detail. Tip 1: Toolbars and the Large Tool Set The first thing I do in SketchUp is set up my workspace to my liking. This includes turning toolbars on and off and arranging them on your screen. Tip 2: Understanding units in SketchUp It is important to understand the unit system ("inch is default") and the various ways to enter precise values and...

Modeling a Log House

March 16, 2022February 23, 2024 by Alex SchreyerNo Comments

In this video tutorial I show how useful SketchUp's Solid Tools (especially the Trim tool) are when modeling a log house. The process as shown here makes it easy to create clean log overlaps and door/window cutouts. Of course, the log portion of this is just an example - you can use the technique for much more than that. Note: I am not showing the entire modeling process here, just the basic principles based on two walls. You can easily expand this to other walls and windows, etc. Tutorial Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rokkx7EmZXM Did you design your own log house this way? Let me know below in the comments. ...

Construction Site Logistics Planning with SketchUp

March 4, 2022February 23, 2024 by Alex SchreyerNo Comments

In this tutorial I cover various approaches for construction site logistics planning in SketchUp. This begins with importing an accurate geolocated site, constructing a rough building model from a plan, and then laying out the construction site with pre-made components from the 3D Warehouse. This is then followed by crane location planning. As I mention in the video, the goal here was to use the 3D environment for rough (but realistic) logistics planning. Adjust the techniques as needed for your projects. Also, for more documentation options, check out SketchUp's LayOut software. Tutorial Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdXnFYDpens Links The Turner Construction Logistics Collection that I mention in the video can be found here. One example (a site trailer) is embedded below as an interactive 3D model. Did you like this tutorial? Got any images of your construction sites that you planned this way? Let me know below in the comments. ...

Intro to Coding in SketchUp with the Ruby Code Editor

August 26, 2020February 23, 2024 by Alex SchreyerNo Comments

This video provides an introduction to Ruby scripting with the Ruby Code Editor extension in SketchUp. Scripting in SketchUp is also a good "intro to coding" exercise because you not only learn a usable scripting language (Ruby), you can even use it to create 3D models that you can manufacture (e.g. 3D print) afterwards. Tutorial Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKz6m7sR-uw&feature=youtu.be This is a free sample instructional video from the book "Architectural Design with SketchUp: 3D Modeling, Extensions, BIM, Rendering, Making, and Scripting" (2nd Edition). I discuss this topic more in detail in that book's Chapter 7. Want more of these videos? If you own the book, use the password from the inside cover to gain access to all of my remaining videos on Wiley's website: http://www.wiley.com/go/schreyer2e. If you don't yet have your own copy, follow the links in the sidebar to get one. It is a great reference for SketchUp! ...

Importing and Scaling Images

August 19, 2020February 23, 2024 by Alex SchreyerNo Comments

In this video tutorial I cover importing raster images into SketchUp and scaling them for 3D modeling. A typical case would be a scanned building plan that needs to serve as a basis for modeling architectural features. This is an important basic skill that you will often need. Tutorial Video https://youtu.be/gBt-x9EZf48?list=PLxUo4IvucruefSR-dwEs7pHAjQZgoOhw0 This is a free sample instructional video from the book "Architectural Design with SketchUp: 3D Modeling, Extensions, BIM, Rendering, Making, and Scripting" (2nd Edition). I discuss this topic more in detail in that book's Chapter 2. Want more of these videos? If you own the book, use the password from the inside cover to gain access to all of my remaining videos on Wiley's website: http://www.wiley.com/go/schreyer2e. If you don't yet have your own copy, follow the links in the sidebar to get one. It is a great reference for SketchUp! ...