SKETCHUP TUTORIALDownload & Installing

SketchUp is a 3D modelling software used widely by Architects, Interior Designers and even Video Games Designers. It is also a great tool for creating small 3D models.

We will be using SketchUp Make which is completely free and the recommended version for Primary and Secondary Schools.

In your browser, go to http://www.sketchup.com where you will be greeted with this page:

How to download SketchUp

Click on ‘Download SketchUp’

On the next page, select ‘Educational Use’ from the drop down menu.

*Be sure to check the hardware and software requirements using the link below this menu before you proceed.

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SKETCHUP TUTORIALDownload & Installing

Complete the form on the next page, adding email, name, school name and your role.

Choose your operating system (Windows or Mac) and select ‘SketchUp Make’ as the product.

Read the License agreement and check the box to agree. Then click ‘Download SketchUp’.

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SKETCHUP TUTORIALDownload & Installing

From your Downloads folder, double click the ‘SketchUp Make’ Installer fi le and follow the wizard instructions.

Locate the ‘SketchUp 2016’ icon on your desktop and double click to open.

Windows

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SKETCHUP TUTORIALDownload & Installing

On the pop up screen read the License agreement and click the box to agree then click ‘Continue’.

From your Downloads folder, double click the ‘SketchUpMake-en.dmg’ Installer fi le.

Mac

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SKETCHUP TUTORIALDownload & Installing

Drag the SketchUp 2016 icon into the Applications folder.

On the pop up screen read the License agreement and click the box to agree then click ‘Continue’.

Open your ‘Applications’ folder and locate ‘SketchUp 2016’ and double click the icon to open it.

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SKETCHUP TUTORIALDownload & Installing

Before you start using SketchUp you will need to select a template. This is very important because it will allow you to select units for your model.

Select the ‘Template’ menu from the bottom of the screen.

Scroll down though the templates and select ‘3D Printing – Millimeters’, then click ‘Start using SketchUp’.

Template Selection

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SKETCHUP TUTORIALDownload & Installing

Let’s take a look at our blank work area. As part of the 3D Printer template there is a Makerbot Replicator model. This can be used as a guide area to work within to ensure your model stays at a printable scale.

The Replicator is 160.02mm x 248.920mm x 149.86mm (H).

Before we start building, it’s a good idea to practice navigating the work area.

From the top toolbar select the ‘orbit’ tool.

Navigation

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SKETCHUP TUTORIALDownload & Installing

Click and drag the screen to rotate and orbit around the build area in all directions. You can also click and drag with the scroll wheel to orbit.

Now select the ‘Pan’ tool.

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SKETCHUP TUTORIALDownload & Installing

Click and drag to move the work area without rotating it.

You can also click and drag with your scroll wheel on your mouse whilst holding down the shift key on your keyboard to Pan.

Next select the ‘Zoom’ tool.

Click and drag the mouse up to zoom in,

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SKETCHUP TUTORIALDownload & Installing

Click on the ‘Zoom extents’ tool to zoom in or out to fi t the full model into the screen.

and move it down to zoom out. You can also use the scroll wheel on your mouse to zoom in and out.

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SKETCHUP TUTORIALMoving Objects and Lines

Let’s take a look at the ‘Move’ tool. Still using the 3D shapes we created previously, triple click on one to select the entire object.

Or click and drag a box around it.

Once all lines and faces are selected, fi nd the ‘Move’ tool in the toolbar and click on it. Click on your shape and drag it to move its position on the work plane.

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