Google SketchUp Cookbook

Chapter 11. Presentation: Showing off Your Model

You’ve worked hard on your model, and now you want to show it to a boss, a client, a friend, or the whole world (if you upload it to the 3D Warehouse). It’s easy enough to hand over your .skp file and walk away, but if you really want to knock their socks off and show them exactly what you want them to see, it’s important to understand SketchUp’s model presentation tools: layers, scenes, shadows, and sectioning. (Styles are also important, and they are covered in Chapter 12.)

Although some of these tools are not used exclusively for presentation, each can play a role in showing your model in exciting and interesting ways. When you understand each of these tools and learn ways to combine them, you’ll become an expert at communicating your designs.

Note

The tools and techniques described in this chapter are available in the Free and Pro versions of SketchUp. SketchUp Pro users also have the benefit of the LayOut program, which is an application for presenting 3D models in a 2D format. LayOut has advanced features for view presentation and annotations such as dimensions and callouts. If you are not a Pro user, read about LayOut on SketchUp’s website, and you may be convinced to become one.

11.1. Working with Layers

Problem

You want to control the visibility of certain objects in your model.

Solution

Use layers.

Discussion

Layers in SketchUp are used to control visibility of objects. For example, if you are designing a series of buildings, you ...