Getting started with Sketchup using Square, Circles & Arc tool

Video Tutorial 4 -  
Drawing Tools - SQUARE, CIRCLES & ARC with the introduction to PUSH/PULL

If you are new to Sketchup, you can follow and watch Video Tutorials outlined below:  These tutorials are arranged for you to be able to access all the series from Video Tutorial 1 (for beginners)

1. Video Tutorial 1 - Downloading Free Sketchup

2. Video Tutorial 2 - Getting Started - Choosing a Template 
3. Video Tutorila 3 - The Drawing Tools - LINE TOOLS 
4. Video Tutorial 4 - The Drawing Tools - SQUARE TOOL, CIRCLE & ARC with Introduction
to PUSH/PULL TOOL (this tutorial)
5. Video Tutorial 5 - The 3D Creation Tool - THE FOLLOW ME TOOL 
6. Video Tutorials 6  - The Editing Tools - COPY, MOVE AND SCALE TOOL 
7. Video Tutorials 7  - The Editing Tool - OFFSET TOOL 

Drawing Tools are your most commonly used tools in creating any design composition. These tools are simple and straight forward. This is to help you create two-dimensional to 3d object. 

The starting point is to create a line, or arc or even squares and circles that is an objects with a surface that can be extruded using PUSH/PULL tool. This is the only tool you can use to create three dimensional objects. LINE and ARC tools are used to create irregular shapes as in the creation of a plan layout in different shapes, connecting the first point with your last created point, the object you drew will become a closed polygon (with a surface) that can be extruded too. This is a great way to help you understand the basic principle in creating a 3d object.  Watch the video tutorial and take some time to explore these tools. Once you have learned and got familiar with the tool, you are more likely to enjoy using sketchup.

Before Using Sketchup choose a Template

It would be wise to start using a sketchup by choosing the right template for a particular project you are working. The templates relate to the unit set-up of a drawing. If you are working on a large scale project or a small 3d printing layout, it has a corresponding template. This is how user-friendly and easy to use the sketchup is. This will save you a lot of time and effort.

You can follow through this lesson and watch the video to get your started from choosing the template here.


What Template is suitable for you?

There are a lot of templates you can choose from, you can have the choice of having to set up your drawing to english system or metric system. It can also be either in feet or in inches, meters or millimeters.

From the selection, you can determine what kind of drawing you will produce. It will be on a macro or micro settings. If you are working on a large scale, then millimeter or inches will be irrelevant, or vise versa. Your drawing composition will be affected by the settings you choose. It is better to choose the right template for the right kind of drawing. 

The best way to answer the question is to determine what kind of drawing will you produce?
e.g. Doing a masterplan of a community or preparing a drawing for the construction of a cabinet. You will see the difference and notice a slowing down of your computer's performance if the setting is wrong.


For Sketchup Pro 2014, this is the sample of the template availabe in sketchup 

If you are using google sketchup pro, this is what it looks like;

Which one is best for you - you choose

Starting with Sketchup

 After Downloading, you can install the free version and follow the installation instruction. If this is the first time you will use sketchup, this will guide your through the process and follow along with the tutorials provided. Let us walk through the interface of Sketchup and explore all the tools you are going to use.

A look inside Sketchup

When you first launch the Sketchup, It will prompt you to choose a template or start using sketchup. see figure below;

The Template will let you set-up the units which are as follows:

1. Simple Template                       - Feet and Inches

2. Simple Template                       - Meters

3. Architectural Design                  - Feet and Inches

4. Architectural Design                  - Millimeters

5. Construction Documentation     - Feet and Inches

6. Construction Documentation     - Millimeters

7. Construction Documentation     - Meters

8. Architectural Design                  - Meters

9. Urban Planning                          - Feet

10. Urban Planning                        - Meters

11. Landscape Architecture           - Feet and Inches

12. Landscape Architecture           - Meters

13. Woodworking                           - Inches

14. Woodworking                           - Millimeters

15. Interior & Production Design    - Inches

16. Interior & Production Design    - Millimeters

17. 3D Printing                               - Inches

18. 3D Printing                               - Millimeters

Choose the units you are comfortable using and for which purpose you will produce your drawing and after that, you can start usign sketchup. In this case, Architectural Design - Meters is selected and click "Start Using Sketchup".

And there you go, you are now ready to start using sketchup

This is how your screen will look like and we will go through all the tools in the next lesson.

Go back to the lesson here:

1. Sketchup for Beginners 

Watch the Video Tutorial here (Choosing a template)

Sketchup for beginners

If you are interested in learning and using sketchup, you will really enjoy this because this will guide you through the process. This is intended for beginners who does not have any knowledge about sketchup but are willing to learn. Not only that, it will also help you download and install sketchup for free.

What you need to do?

First let me help you download sketchup for free and will guide you through the process in the installation on your computer.

1. Go to sketchup website here  (go back to this page after you have installed Sketchup for your online tutorial)

This will lead to the Sketchup official website as shown in the image below

Click on the download sketchup. This will lead you to another webpage in the download area. There are 3 steps to follow:

Step 1.  Choose the product - you must answer the following question on where are you going to use the product.

There are options on the  "use the Product" with a drop down menu of 3 selections

 * plan to use sketchup for  -  a. Professional use

                                               b. Personal projects

                                               c.  Educational use

and two types of product, namely;

Sketchup make or Sketchup Pro 2014

You must choose the free version which is the Sketchup Make

In this case, choose the third one which is the "educational use"

Step 2. You must fill up the form with your personal details under the heading "Tell us about yourself. This will ask you of your interest such as:

a. Your profession/ interest 

 if you are an instructor, Students and others. 

Then select the operating system you are using. Windows or Mac?

Step 3

Which version you will download?

Choose the Sketchup Make or Sketchup pro 2014?

Choose the free one (Sketchup Make, otherwise you can purchase the licensed version).

Start downloading. Once you have downloaded the software, you can start installing in your desktop. You are now equipped with the designer's tool and ready to go!

Come back to this site for your online training for beginners.

Start the tutorial, and do it at your own schedule.

Proceed to the next lesson here: Starting with Sketchup

To access the video tutorial on how to download and install Sketchup, go to this page

Lesson 1 - Downloading and Installing Sketchup

Lesson 2 - Choosing a Template

Lesson 3 - The Drawing tools - LINE TOOLS

Lesson 4 -  The Drawing tools - SQUARE, CIRCLES AND ARCS

Lesson 5 -  The 3D Creation Tool - FOLLOW ME TOOL

Sketchup is a good tool in creating any design. A good way to start is to learn how to design a house using sketchup. Once you have learned all these tools, a more advanced tutorial will be posted for your to be able to follow the application. We will start with ways to explore your creativity . A story you can learn from the history of Lego. How it all started and see the insipiration by increasing your creativity and exploring your ideas. Then, designing sill be much easier to achieve. Our short term goal is to work effieciently in using sketchup to design a house. 

Architectural Rendering using sketchup

Architectural rendering comes in a variety of methods and softwares use. Sketchup is a great way to produce architectural rendering. With its unique presentation and wide variety of styles, this is becoming the architect's choice! 

The sketchy style is still attractive to many although it has capabilities of producing high quality photo realistic rendering, yet there are options to do a different kind of presentation as if it is done by the very hand of the artist.

I find this complimentary to 3Dsmax instead of competition. Combining both capabilities, this will result in a more accurate and more refined rendering.

Using sketchup in the 3d modeling and establishing the scene, you can easily show the design right in front of your client, it is more interactive and user friendly.

What are the benefits of using Sketchup?

There are a lot of benefits you can get from using sketchup, here are some of the benefits;

1. It is so flexible that you can choose any style
2. It easy to use, you just need to practice and get familiar with creation tools which are literally translated from your manual sketching into digital form
3. It creates a very low file size but not compromising the quality of rendering and presentation you need
4. 3D scenes can be created at once and all views can be seen immediately
5. The actual file from your computer is enough to show the initial design created
6. Quick editing can be done easily
7. It is compatible with vray plugin so you can produce a more photo realistic rendering
8. shades and shadows can be turned on and off and you can create a different mood and scenarios depicting a particular time of the day

Enjoy using sketchup 


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