Rendering in SketchUp: From Modeling to Presentation for Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Interior Design

The Styles Menu

The SketchUp Styles menu controls how surface colors and texture are displayed. The options range from x-ray views peering through model surfaces to wire frame, displaying the edges and lines composing surfaces (Fig. 8.24).

Fig. 8.24: The Styles menu with options

Shaded and Shaded with Texture are the two most important options because they affect performance. They are the two primary settings used for modeling.

To access the Styles menu, select View ⇒ Toolbars ⇒ Styles. Don’t confuse it with the Window ⇒ Styles menu, which has very different functions. The Styles menu options are described from left to right as they appear in the menu bar.

X-ray The X-ray button can be toggled on and off. Once turned on, it will work with the other options listed here. X-ray turns all faces in the model transparent, allowing you to see objects normally hidden by other geometry. Furthermore, X-ray allows you to select lines and faces through the transparency. The X-ray button needs to be toggled off (clicked) to turn the x-ray off.

Back Edges Back Edges displays dashed lines through geometry illustrating the back lines that compose a volume or 3D object. Like the X-ray style, it can be toggled on or off and will work with the other style options listed.

Wire Frame This style turns off all model faces. Only the edges and lines that compose the model are visible.

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