Chapter 1

The SketchUp Setup

IN THIS CHAPTER

Choosing a SketchUp version

Getting to know the SketchUp interface

Touring SketchUp

Getting ready to work in SketchUp

SketchUp is known for its simplicity, and it's common for people to jump right in and start modeling. Even if you already have a running (with scissors) start, we think you'll find it useful to go all the way back to the beginning so we can explain how to get set up for success in SketchUp.

To us, a good setup means building habits that decrease the overall mental effort required to operate SketchUp. That's right: The way to get better and faster in SketchUp is to think less about SketchUp.

In the first part of this chapter, we run through the basic setup routine. Stick with us, because after we show you how to launch SketchUp, we jump right into the most important skills that most people never pick up. Finally, we get you oriented in SketchUp, both practically and on a meta level.

Picking a Version of SketchUp

2020 is SketchUp's 20th birthday, so there have been quite a few versions of it in the past. Today, multiple versions of SketchUp 3D modeling are available. Table 1-1 shows three basic flavors of SketchUp.

TABLE 1-1 SketchUp Versions

Version

Description

Best For

SketchUp Pro

The paid desktop version is software you download and install from SketchUp.com. It comes with LayOut (which we talk about in Chapter 12) and includes SketchUp extensions (which we touch on in Chapter 15). It requires a paid subscription, a paid license, or a discounted college-student subscription.

3D modeling for architectural drawings, illustrations, and professional document sets; faster performance for larger 3D models; extensions for more efficiency and more complex design.

SketchUp For Web

The free web version runs at app.sketchup.com. About 70 percent of this book pertains to the free version of SketchUp.

3D modeling for do-it-yourself projects, space planning, simple woodworking and carpentry.

Older desktop versions (Google SketchUp, SketchUp Make, and SketchUp Pro 2018)

You might already be using an older desktop version of SketchUp that was (or is now) free. You have the benefit of sticking with this version to use with this book, but you may run into a few bugs along the way or find that you don't have access to some things we cover in the book. If you use SketchUp extensions a lot already, we recommend sticking with the version you have.

If you already have it installed and it's working smoothly for you, you've got a running start on the book. You can update to a newer version later, and the book should still make sense to you.

If you don't already own SketchUp, you may consider purchasing it down the line. To use it for now, you don't have to buy it. Instead, you can take advantage of several subscription options:

• SketchUp Free: Free access to 3D modeling in SketchUp for Web is available with this free subscription. Go to SketchUp.com to set up a Trimble account to get started with the free subscription or any of the paid ones below.
• SketchUp Pro: This is the version we reference a lot during the book; it's the name of the desktop version and also the subscription you buy to use it.
• SketchUp Shop: This subscription offers some nice intermediary upgrades to the free web version, such as solid modeling, CAD file compatibility, and custom model styling.

  WHAT IS TRIMBLE?

  
  

  Trimble is the company that purchased SketchUp from Google in 2012. Aside from developing SketchUp, Trimble makes other really interesting technology to help people work better, such as laser scanning, drones, self-driving tractors, and route optimization.

• SketchUp Studio: This is a higher-end subscription, but college students can get a huge discount. In addition to the desktop software, this subscription includes access to other software for architectural analysis and visualization.

Whichever version of SketchUp you use, you need to create a Trimble account to access it. This is one of the first steps to take when you access the SketchUp.com website.

SketchUp for Schools

If you're getting familiar with SketchUp so that you can help younger people discover their own 3D superpowers, we applaud you. For most K-12 educators in North America, SketchUp offers SketchUp for Schools (a web application) and a statewide grant of SketchUp Pro, which means all public schools in these regions can access the desktop version.

Both of these options are free, so the best choice for you depends on where you're located and how you plan to use SketchUp. Find out more at https://www.sketchup.com/products/sketchup-for-schools. If you already use SketchUp for Schools, as you follow along with this book, focus on the instructions for the web version.

SketchUp Pro

SketchUp Pro is the desktop version that has been around since the early days of SketchUp. You can download and install the current version at https://www.sketchup.com/download/all.

Whether you're using the current version of SketchUp Pro, an older version of SketchUp Pro, or an older free desktop version, Figure 1-1 should still be useful to you as an overview of the interface. We walk you through each element of the SketchUp interface in "Taking the 10-Minute SketchUp Tour" later in this chapter.

When you first open SketchUp, you'll notice a little person on your screen. This illustration is called a scale figure, and his or her purpose is to help orient you in 3D space. With a scale figure, you have an immediate sense of up and down, as well as the proportion (or scale) of your model. The scale figure is also a little bit special in that it is a 2D drawing that will always orient itself to face your view head-on. Of course, you can delete the scale figure from your model; there's no harm in doing so.

FIGURE 1-1: Important features in SketchUp Pro.

SketchUp for Web

Since 2018, the free version of SketchUp has been available primarily as an application that runs in your Internet web browser. It's called SketchUp for Web, and you launch it from https://app.sketchup.com. If you haven't already created a Trimble account, you need to sign up for one the first time you visit the app.

This web version looks different from the desktop version. But when you get to know where things are, we think you'll find it just as easy to navigate. If you are using SketchUp for Web, bookmark the next page to reference Figure 1-2 throughout this book.

SCALE FIGURES

Fun fact: Every major update to SketchUp has a different scale figure, and each figure is based on a real person who's a member of the SketchUp team. In SketchUp Pro 2020, Laura greets you. Yes, if you like, you may talk to Laura (or yourself) while modeling. No one will look at you strangely. We promise.

FIGURE 1-2: Important features in SketchUp for Web.

One benefit of SketchUp for Web is that you don't have to remember where things are. For most of the tools we reference throughout this book, you can simply use the Search tool to find and activate them. For example, let's say you can't remember which tool you'd use to measure the height of a wall. As you can see in Figure 1-3, if you search for Measure, Search returns all relevant results - in this case, the Tape Measure and Dimensions tools. So you don't need to remember where a tool is, and you barely have to remember what it's called.

If you're not sure you want to buy SketchUp, know that you will still pick up a ton of knowledge using just the free web version. In fact, we recommend using SketchUp for free before deciding to purchase. If you start with the free version, know that as you poke around SketchUp for Web, you may run into a few tools that are available only if you purchase a subscription. You need to upgrade to a different version if you want to use one of these features.

FIGURE 1-3: Search for tools or search for what you want to do with tools in SketchUp for Web.

Trimble Connect

By default, the models you create in SketchUp for Web are saved to and stored on a web service called Trimble Connect. This has a couple of advantages:

• You can access your 3D models from any device.
• Trimble Connect keeps a revision history of your models, so you always have a backup file and a retrievable history of your modeling progress.

You can always download your models from Trimble Connect if you prefer to keep backup files on your desktop.

Navigating SketchUp

It's time to release the air lock and float in 3D space. Before you start zooming around Technicolor polygon nebulas, let's...