SketchUp 8 Lessons: The Basics

An introduction tutorial to SketchUp 8. Learn the basics in just 15 minutes!

[lukeang]

One of the most efficient yet quick tutorials I've seen so far.

[tobobobo]

That is probably the most constructive (sorry) 15 minutes I've ever seen on YouTube. thanks.

[imagine-face]

Wonderful! This is the difference when you buy course and see 8 hour-long lessons about moving objects around with arrow keys in the "Essentials" part. Here you just gave the essentials about how to move and create stuff in very short yet understandable way and kept lazy turtle like me motivated to go further. Thank you so much!

[stickwallfarm]

Great video; thank you!
Below are the reference notes I took from the video in case it's helpful for anyone else.
Keyboard shortcuts are shown in parenthesis, e.g. Rectangle tool (R).
Also filled in a couple missing steps (e.g. how to start editing a component after it's been created; how to duplicate an object when moving it).

=== SETUP
View : Tool Palettes : ✓ Large Tool Set

=== CAMERA CONTROLS
* Zoom in/out by scrolling up/down
* Orbit (O) tool.
* Pan - May be able to click mouse wheel button; didn't work on my Mac, but this did: with the Orbit tool chosen, hold Command + Shift and click (a little hands will appear). Click and drag to pan.

=== IDENTIFIERS
Blue - vertical axis
Red/Green - horizontal axis
Green = Midpoint
Red = Edge

=== BASIC CUBE/SHAPES
Draw a rectangle, it'll be on the horizontal axis
Use the push/pull (P) tool to grow it along the vertical axis creating a cube

Divide/create new shapes from existing shapes
Ex: Add a line to a box

=== FRONT vs. BACK FACES
White face = front face - for outside or front of objects
To flip a face to a front face (e.g a new rectangle), select it, right click it, choose `Reverse Faces`

=== ROUNDED EDGE
Create rounded edge on cube using the `2 Point Arc` tool to create an arc on one of the faces. Then use Push tool (P) to push the arc.

Goto View : ✓ Hidden Geometry and note how it's a bunch of faces
You can push/pull each individual face (could be used to create a gear)

=== CIRCLE
Click once for the center; drag out radius.
Enter a number to increase increase of sides to make smoother circles.

=== RECTANGLE OF SPECIFIC SIZE
Choose the Rectangle tool (R).
Click once.

Type in, for example, 6', 6' for a 6 foot by 6 foot square and hit enter.

=== CLICKING
* Single click will select a surface or a line
* Double click will select an entire surface and all of the lines it's connected to
* Triple click will select an entire model and everything it's connected to

=== INFERENCING
Every line you draw is "inferenced"

Example: To draw two parallel lines...

Draw the first line on a face.

Start the second line line; hover first line; it will now infer the angle of your second line from this first line.

The second line will turn pink when it's matching the same angle as the first line (e.g. it's parallel)

=== ROTATING
Select the object you wish to rotate and choose the rotate tool (Q; imagine the tail of the q as the handle to rotate)
Wherever you click the compass of the rotate tool will be the reference point of the rotation; e.g., it will rotate around that point.
After you click to set the reference point, drag to align to the axis you want to align to (e.g. green) and click to set the axis, then start rotating.

=== MOVE OBJECTS
Use Move tool (M)
Hold down option while using the Move tool and it'll copy objects.

=== SCALE OBJECTS
Use Scale tool (S)

=== GROUPING AND MAKING COMPONENTS
Highlight object
Goto Edit : Make Component (G)

Now make a copy of that component - Hold down option while using the Move tool (M)

Note how if you try to edit the component - for example, push/pull a face, it won't let you. You have to first open the component for editing by double clicking it.

Once in edit mode, you can make changes to it. Note how those changes are mirrored in the duplicate component.

To turn off this mirroring on one of the components, right click it and choose `Make Unique`

=== ERASING
Erase tool (E)
Click or drag over a line to erase it

=== TAPE MEASURE (i.e. Guides)
Tape measure tool (T)
Get rid of guide with Erase tool or Edit : Delete Guides

=== PAINT SURFACES
Paint bucket tool (B; think "B" for Bucket)
Can choose color or textures
Click a surface to apply the chosen color/texture

With a given texture, look for "Edit" to change its dimensions, opacity, etc.

[AaronBishopDesign]

Thank you for the praise (: If you have any questions about anything after you're done watching all of them let me know and I'll make some more.

[AaronBishopDesign]

My bad. In order to duplicate something make sure you select the Move tool, highlight the object you want to copy, press and hold Control and then drag.

[AaronBishopDesign]

@Croz 1007 - Youtube won't let me reply to your comment for some reason.

There is an extension for cut lists you could look into for the free version. For the plans though, as far as I'm aware, you will need the pro version.

[joestallings]

I've watched several 'basic' sketchup tutorials on YouTube. This video is my favorite by far. "subscribed"

[dgb]

You are in the right job, the most effective tutorial, please don't stop and thank you

[squalinereg]

Thanks for that Lesson about the basics. For a french beginner your english is less difficult to understand so i can progress. You explain all that is necessary to start not too fast. Good ! That lesson is a fun start so no stress now .Thanks again

[chrisstahl]

This video is fast paced, but wonderful. Just the basic functions explained simple and easy. I found it very mind-blowing just how easy-to-use Sketchup is! Thank you a lot for this tutorial.

[fgriffintx]

Excellent intro! I've plowed through more YouTube sketchup videos than you can imagine, and I think yours is the best so far. You impart more useful knowledge per minute than any heretofor. Your video seems applicable to the latest version of Sketchup, so you might consider re-issuing it with a newer date. I was avoiding "old" videos in the belief that they might not apply to the 2017 version.

[bozawanhle]

You're Brilliant. Must applaud you

[wheelman]

thanks ! you're a very good sketchup teacher

[enriquebob.]

I was frustrated before i saw this introduction tutorial and after i finished it I feel like i am learning something....
Thank you so much for your time.
will see other tutorials too

[pikifrino]

Congratulations! good job here! I like your videos. Thank you

[hansdegroot]

By coincidence I only now discovered your channel. I straight went to these Sketchup lessons.
This first one, the basics, is awesome. Thanks for sharing.
But now I do not know which part to take as the second lesson. I'd like to learn how to draw simple furniture
in sketchup. I think I'll choose "making detailed objects".

[dbpollock]

Concise, and simple to follow. A great video!

[alaezalfa]

Thanks! this tutorials are great they deserve more visits. I´m in number 3 now. Thanks for making them.

[vladmireanu]

Very usefull and cool! Congratulations!