Precise Drawing in SketchUp

[ItalianBandit]

Can you do this without pro???? I cant seem to manually put in the numbers.

[DarkMoonDroid]

@ItalianBandit

Yes, you can. There are several tools that you can use this function with. Here's the sequence using the push-pull tool:

1. Click (do not hold!) the surface that you want to push or pull.

2. Push or pull the surface in the direction you want to push or pull it.

3. Let go of the mouse.

4. Type in the measurement you want to push or pull it to: .25", .375", 4", 8', etc.

5. Type "enter", and the surface should snap to the measurement that you entered.

[DarkMoonDroid]

@ItalianBandit

You can use this function with these tools:

Push-pull: as described.

Rectangle: Type in the measurements as this Dude described with a comma between them.

Circle: Type in half the width of the size you want your circle to be (the radius).

Prolly the polygon tool, but I never use it.

Line: Just like Push-pull, type in one value and hit "enter".

Tape Measurer: Same as Push-pull.

Rotate: Instead of inches or millimeters, the value will be degrees. Type 45, 90, 180, etc.

[DarkMoonDroid]

@ItalianBandit

You can also do it with the Scale tool, but it's a different sequence:

1. Select a surface or shape.

2. Type "S" to bring up the Scale tool or click its icon in the toolbar.

3. Chose the point you want to use to scale your item and click it (do not hold).

4. Move the mouse in the direction you want it to go.

5. Click again.

6. Type in the value you really want and hit "enter". But you will have to type in the TOTAL distance wanted, not just the increase.

<3

[JJTheBigDog]

this does not work for me. i use the free sketchup 8 on windows 7. i cannot mark and change those numbers

[DarkMoonDroid]

@JJTheBigDog

See if my comments help.

<3



[JayKing131]

I don't agree. SketchUp is for throwing out QUICK rough models, brainstorming with other designers, showing clients a proposed model, etc... It was not and is not designed to be a precise drawing tool. That is what AutoCAD and other software is for. That was very inefficient as it took far too long to draw that element, something which can be done in seconds with the right tools.

[DarkMoonDroid]

@JayKing131

It is designed to be precise. You may like the way CAD works better, but that's your preference. It was intentionally designed to create precision and is used for every step of design and planning by thousands of users. Plus: people write ruby scripts and other plug-ins to add or simplify functions for it all the time. This is not an opinion or a preference. It's a fact. There's a difference.

[JayKing131]

@DarkMoonDroid I'm not knocking SketchUp for what it does. But my point is that if it takes about 2 minutes to draw something that is "conceptual and won't be exactly the proper shape" (video commentary) compared to ADT which takes seconds, it's the wrong tool for the job. SketchUp is great for prototyping where as ADT will produce more solid works in temrs of serious documents and project work. Thousands of people use Photoshop just to crop an image, that doesn't make it right.

[DarkMoonDroid]

@JayKing131

Thank you for clarifying.

He is teaching beginners and those who may not have the Pro version or any rubies. Once you get the hang of this, it doesn't have to be this time consuming to get a "proper" and "exact" shape. It takes time to learn the tricks which will save you time later. It prolly took you quite a while to learn how to produce a "solid work" in seconds in ADT. There are just too many successful professionals making masterpieces using this software for it to be "wrong".

[Odesinformante]

Hey! It would be nice to see some ruby programming.. i just love your plugins :D

[prattiers8]

guys, i cant do it either, when i make a square and i realease the button and i type(without clicking on the demensions) "1000,1000" and i press "enter" i create a rectangular (how is that even possible?!)

and when i type " 18m,18m " and i press enter nothing happens,like it doesnt read the measurement units!

pleease help me..

thank you:)

[DarkMoonDroid]

@prattiers8

You're clicking and holding and dragging, aren't you?

Don't do that.

Just click and let go. Then move your mouse in the right direction. Then type in the value you want and hit "enter". There is no clicking on dimensions. Only typing.

<3

[magnuspater]

Thanks, dude, this is exactly what I needed! I was going crazy trying to get the rectangle to the exact 1/8th of an inch! lol

[TheSongSeeker]

good guiding! it helped a lot!(:

[TheVampirebite]

wtf is a return button?

[smustardruby]

@TheVampirebite It's the key on your keyboard that says "Return".

[cjl85uk]

@smustardruby

or enter

[copolopo22]

@TheVampirebite

Enter --> Return

[NielsG070]

@TheVampirebite 'enter'

[DarkMoonDroid]

@TheVampirebite

It's prolly the key on your keyboard that says "Enter".

[GDM223SR]

The key to this is "after you have drawn the rectangle, do not move the mouse, do not move the cursor to the measurements text entry field. Just release the mouse button and leave the mouse alone, and start typing".

My first instinct was to click in the measurements field, but this essentially killed the ability to enter measurements.

[elunicotomas]

@GDM223SR it's not working for me.... and i dont know how to draw a rectangle with specific measurments... any specific template? any opcion enable/disable? i dont think so.. but its not working :S

[GDM223SR]

@elunicotomas I didn't add any template, or disable anything. Just started working from the install. It's simpler than you think ... kind of like "turn on the computer and start typing" to make a document.

[elunicotomas]

@GDM223SR i got it!