Google SketchUp: The Missing Manual

Creating Your First SketchUp Document

Just as in Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop, before you start working in SketchUp, you have to create a new document to work in. Unlike some other programs, SketchUp always creates documents from a template that defines the units of measure and sets up the background colors for the drawing area. Some templates may even include prebuilt models or other objects. For example, the Architectural Design templates include a human model as a visual reference. The Product Design and Woodworking templates include a carpenter's square for the same purpose. This section shows you how to choose the right template for your project.

Choosing a Drawing Template

SketchUp comes with a bunch of templates that give you a head start depending on the type of model you're building. When you choose the right template, you don't have to begin your project by setting all the preferences—like units of measure, the way objects snap to each other, the way the ground is represented, and the geographic location.

Here are the questions to ask when deciding which template to choose:

• Are you working in feet and inches, or metric?

• What size is your project? For example, is your basic scale inches or feet?

• Are you working in 3-D or 2-D? (Yes, once you get used to SketchUp's tools, you'll find yourself firing it up for quick 2-D projects.)

After you answer those questions, it's easy to make your choice from SketchUp's standard templates. Just look over the helpful template names and ...