SketchUp Tutorial – How to Get Started with SketchUp (5 Tips for Beginners)

New to SketchUp? Self-taught SketchUp users often struggle when first getting started. These tips will help you avoid the frustration beginners often run into early on. Inside the video, we cover:

Introduction (00:00)

The Right Way to Learn SketchUp (02:32)

8 Topics to Learn in SketchUp (03:00)
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- Draw & Edit in 2D
- Draw & Edit in 3D
- Groups, Components & Layers
- Colors, Textures & Images
- Styles
- Cameras & Views
- Shadows, Shading & Fog
- Scenes & Animations

The First 5 Things you need to Learn About Drawing & Editing in 2D
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1. Start in 2D (03:28)
2. 3-Button Scroll Wheel Mouse (04:23)
3. Learn How Geometry Works (04:38)
4. Understand Stickiness (06:18)
5. Group (Almost) Everything (06:59)

DID YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW IN THIS VIDEO?

Do us a quick favor and let us know which tip you liked the most in the comments… or just let us know you liked the video by giving it a like 👍.

AND if you’re serious about learning SketchUp…

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One last thing!

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“Your teaching methods are fantastic and I only wish I had started learning SketchUp the right way sooner.” Ron Paulk 😀
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“It's a pleasure to watch a well structured, professionally presented and succinct video. Many thanks!” deldridg 😃
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ABOUT SKETCHUP SCHOOL

#sketchup #sketchuptutorial

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“Your structure for presenting retainable information is remarkable. Thank you from all of us learning.” Jacob Howse 😀
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[WallyJK]

So, I first thought this was going to be one of those supposedly useful videos that was really just an infomercial, but the tips in this video are very valuable. And yes you promote your class, but you also added value. Thanks!

[jonfolsom]

After dabbling in SketchUp for a month it's clear that a comprehensive approach to learning, like yours, based on fundamentals, and conducted by a professional, wins the day! Thank you for your video. Thumbs up!!

[VW]

Some great advice here.  Grouping is definitely a tool that I have underemployed.  Stickiness is a feature that has caused me a lot of problems.  I have figured out ways to work around it rather than dealing with it properly by grouping.  Well done and well said.

[allenhumphrey]

I learned about sketchup by accident and was very pleased. The Instructions I recieved with it were OK but I had problems with several of the procedures. Then I bought sketchup for dummies. this was a big help. Being a Building Designer fooled with it and designed some toys and other things that I enjoyed. When this program started selling for a very inflated price I decided it was overpriced and still is, kind of like AutoCad. I have all of the old programs started with on old computers and they are working well. SketchUp is a powerful and a very useful program. I only use the free version and it works for me. I liked the video and you are well versed with your instructions and advice. I enjoyed it. Thanks.

[kwguy]

I have spent much of my life demystifying computers for users of all levels and ages... I am just now become interested in SketchUp and I appreciate the method and message you use to make it approachable and avoid wasting time; thank you.

[rhiaec]

that grouping tip was by far the most useful

[robinfagan]

I have been using Sketchup for nearly 20yrs I am self taught and looking back I really wish I learnt about groups and components right at the start. I am now trying to retire and still do contract engineering drawing as well as Sketchup tutoring .
Keep up the good work and good luck
Cheers Robin
New Zealand

[frankdeblock-burij]

I have learned to group the hard way, with massive frustration :-( . I just tested the click-release-click tip, wish I knew that one before, thanks :-) !
I personally have a few tips myself, which come in handy.
On components: if you have a component inserted in a complex drawing, and you later want to modify it, make a copy of the component outside the complex drawing and modify it there.
On scenes: I always make two scenes which I call "all on" (with all layers on) and "all off" (with only layer 0 on).
This makes it easy to see if I have not accidentally drawn some of the basic geometry (which should be on layer 0) on a wrong layer.
On scenes and styles: I make another scene with the edges style set to "color by axis", or in any schene I change the edges style to "color by axis"
this is extremely helpful to avoid painstaking corrections, especially with components downloaded from the 3D Warehouse !

[mikhail]

By far the most helpful tip was the fact that by grouping a shape I can avoid a lot of unintended editing of that shape. Thanks for turning that light on

[Miscool]

I found starting in 2D and the group often tip extremely helpful.

[kennentwig]

It was refreshing to realize that the comments on learning given in this video are exactly what I have been teaching for six years - guess I got it right from the beginning! Glad to see the step-by-step approach, and hear about repetition - things I emphasize regularly. Starting in 2D, then moving to 3D and Groups, certainly made sense to me in my early stages of program development, and has been the 'way to go' by providing students with a restrictive template file and simple exercises.

As a specialist in the training of landscape designers, teaching SketchUp Pro and the accompanying design process has been greatly facilitated as I developed my skills to share with my students. The course is one semester long, is offered onlline, and has been well received. It (teaching this way) is an entirely rewarding experience, and I appreciate seeing how others approach things, and knowing that we speak the same educational language. Thanks for the smiles!

[WillNGo]

Thanks. 7:24 that's where I got jammed. 3x.
So far this is good. Anders Ericsson's work is the perfect way to structure learning. He's dialed it in and almost no one (else) seems to have realized this. For self-taught people (me) and those without a coach: always go back to basics. When I read Malcolm Gladwell's book that included Ericsson's 10, 000 hours I decided to become a writer. The great coaches were writers (not MFA programs) so I wouldn't need to be adopted by Venus and Serena William's dad.
I'm really impressed how as an advanced user of SketchUp you're still dialed into what it's like to be a beginner. That's good teaching. I've been using Illustrator for years, did some CAD, but I hit the wall with SketchUp on three different attempts, exactly where you say this happens. One of the reasons I wanted to learn SketchUp was to replace using Illustrator as a CAD app, and also get 3D modeling. I've used Illustrator for more than 20 years and the stuff that bugged me at the start (grabbing handles that have gotten smaller and smaller, random crashes, designing to scale, default Adobe nonsense like their font....) still bug me today. You've made we realize that maybe I've missed some critical basic step like using the 3 button mouse.

[bigplant]

I've been using Vectorworks for about 10 years and occasionally Sketchup. Having seen this tutorial, I realised how much I have underestimated Sketchup and will now use it on a daily basis.
Thank you

[ahmedelattar]

Can you make an alternative pricing plan other than the $159/month, its very expensive if you are using SketchUp as a hobbyist

[eduardoleano]

Mister! Thank you for making this video. I am a student taking up the IT class, we were told to make our dream house in sketchup. It was my first time to use sketchup and i dove right in. When i got stuck i searched online to help me do this and that when suddenly your video popped out. And i am grateful that i have watched it. This is my future self ;)

[kendallklingerman]

Hi I am a mechanic, a self taught Sketchup user, I work in a production facility fixing things, ordering parts, technical support to my coworkers, and of course draft extensively to create new production lines, electrical, control ctks. and interface with our upper management and engineering contractors. I use Sketchup-Pro in three major areas. 1) Create visual drawing that express a concept to make things work better or have my coworkers fabricate a part. This is usually done without measurements. 2) Draw electrical control circuits for unique designs: Latches, VFDs, PLCs, solenoids, Sensors, and connectors. Layout and Wire numbering is a big part of these elements. Normally, I do this by hand and clean it up in Sketchup, or MSPaint. 3) Most importantly, I fit hole equipment into our facility by the use of components. In this we as a management team sit down and play with the fit of the component elements within our facility and move, spin and create lists for me to change. I think I am going to take you up on your offer. Currently, a draw every line with the exception of a few Warehouse items.

[MrMbc]

Just started teaching myself SketchUp and the way you explained the importance of grouping was the most impactful.

[venktesh]

i used to press holding mouse. u corrected-No Pressing. n group often n group early. !! thanks we like group things.. no matter what website .. 😉

[robertcherny]

As a former (recently retired) AutoCAD user looking to find something a little less expensive to use exclusively for 2D floor plans once a month or so, I most appreciated the warning about stickiness and the introduction of the concept of groups. It looks like some of the features of "layers" work for groups. Thank you for the intro.

[deldridg]

It's a pleasure to watch a well structured, professionally presented and succinct video. I've used Sketchup since its inception - mostly for designing furniture that I make as a hobby. With a fairly deep background in technical drawing, it's been mostly intuitive for me but there have certainly been gotchas along the way. No doubt your training courses will potentially save those who use them an enormous amount of pain and wasted time! Many thanks from Sydney, Aust - Dave