The SketchUp Workflow for Architecture: Modeling Buildings, Visualizing Design, and Creating Construction Documents with SketchUp Pro and LayOut

Chapter 14

Inserting Content

To move a 3D design into a 2D LayOut presentation, you simply insert the SketchUp model into LayOut. You can insert all sorts of content, including SketchUp models, images, and text, to describe your design. Any inserted content can be lightly edited in LayOut, or seamlessly sent to a program more suited for editing the specific file, while maintaining the dynamic link. In this chapter, you will insert and edit all of LayOut’s insertable entities.

Working with SketchUp Models

Hands down, the most important file you’ll insert into LayOut is the SketchUp file (.skp). The dynamic link between a SketchUp file and a LayOut presentation allows more than one person to work on a project. For example, someone could work on the text while someone else works on the presentation. By presenting your 3D model as 2D drawings and diagrams, you will be able to accurately and efficiently describe your designs and ideas.

New LayOut Presentation

To begin your new LayOut presentation, follow these steps:

1. Open LayOut and start a new presentation. Select the BIC_11x17 Landscape - Linear title block that you created in the last chapter, or you can choose any title block you want.

2. Within the Layers Inspector, unlock and set the current layer to DRAWINGS. Anything that you insert into SketchUp will typically be assigned to this layer.

Inserting the File

To insert the SketchUp file, follow these steps:

1. Click on the File drop-down menu and select Insert. This launches ...