SketchUp for Interior Design

Chapter 3

Exploring the Interface

Objective: This chapter discusses the SketchUp desktop and how to maneuver around it.

Tools: Select, Rectangle, Push/Pull, Pan, Orbit, Zoom, Move, Undo

Concepts and Functions: desktop, infotip menu bar, Getting Started toolbar, Views toolbar, Standard toolbar, Large Tool Set, human scale figure, modeling window, auto-select, measurements box, axes, inference engine, inference lines, dialog box, transparent tool, Escape modifier keys, plan, elevation, perspective, paraline, isometric, selection window, crossing window, template file

In Chapter 2 you installed and launched the SketchUp software, and saved a file called Cube. Open it, as we’re going to maneuver around the workspace now.

Select or Change a Template

We selected the Architectural Design – Feet and Inches template in Chapter 2, which we’ll continue to use. Each time you open SketchUp, it defaults to the last template used. Change it anytime by clicking on Window >Preferences>Templates (PC) or SketchUp>Preferences>Template (Mac) and selecting a new one (Figure 3-1). Your current template won’t change, but after exiting and reopening the program, the new one will appear. Making a custom template is also possible and discussed later in this chapter.

Add the Large Tool Set

The Getting Started toolbar doesn’t contain every tool. There are a lot more. On the PC, click View>Toolbars. This opens the toolbar window, which shows them all (Figure 3-2). Check the box in front of Large Tool Set ...