Google Sketchup: 3D Modeling Basics By: Matthew Jourden

Brighton High School

Brighton, MI

1. Accessing Google Sketchup

a. Option 1: Navigate to Gmail > Login in with your Brightonk12.com email address > Select the Apps Icon on the

Top Left of the Screen > Scroll Down to where Google Sketchup for Schools is Located Select Software.

Note: Advantages of using Google Sketchup for Schools is your files will accessible on any device since the file will be

stored in your Google Drive

b. Open Google Sketchup Pro from your Desktop after installation

Note: the Google Sketchup Files can be imported into each System

1. Select Apps Icon

Scroll Down to

Sketchup for Schools

2. Google SketchUp User Interface: the user interface and colors looks slightly different between the two interfaces. To

Start the tutorial will look at both but as the tutorial moves on and subsequent tutorials will focus on Google Sketchup

Pro based on the Desktop

a. Online

Open Files from various Locations

Account: Sign In/Out

Google Drive: Files are automatically saved to

your brightonk12.com Google Drive Account

Imports/Exports: User can import from Google

SketchUp Pro Desktop or export a file to the

desktop

Add Location:

Curriculum: SketchUp Community Tutorials and

Projects

Area Shows all Projects Created by User

Create New:Document Based on Defined

Measurement System

Open Files from Google

Drive or Users Desktop

b. Desktop

3. Create a New File that uses

a. Online: Feet and Inches

b. Architectural Inches

Create a New File based on

Measurement System

Shows all Created Models in Sketchup

Open Files from the HardDrive

Maybe Exported Files from SketchUp

for Classrooms online version

4. Rename/Save

a. Online: Click on Untitled > Rename House Tutorial “Your Last Name” (I.E House Tutorial Jourden) > Ok > Select

Folder in Users Google Drive to Save the File too.

b. File > Save > Choose Location on the Computer to Save Material > Name: House Tutorial

5. Environment Overview

Icon Referenced Sheet

a. Online Environment:

b. Desktop Environment

Reference Sized Human

Select Mannequin > Right

Click to adjust properties

or delete

Drawing Toolbar

Properties Toolbar

Includes: Materials,

Scenes, Components

Library, etc.

Type Measurements

of Geometry

Drawing Toolbar

Properties Toolbar

Includes: Materials,

Scenes, Components

Library, etc.

Reference Sized Human

Name: Laura

Select Mannequin > Right

Click to adjust properties

Inspector: Virtual

Tutorial/Tool Guide

c. Mannequin Properties

House Design

1. Select Mannequin > Right Click > Select Hide

2. Rotate View to Top View:

a. Online: Select Scenes > Select Parallel Projection > Select Top View

Online Desktop

Select Scenes

Select Top View

Select Parallel Projection

b. Desktop: Select View > Toolbars > Check Views, Measurements, Construction, Camera, and Section(Check any

other toolbars you want to appear at the top of the workspace) Optional: Large Tool Set (no drop down

menus) > Close > Drag and Move Menus around to fit Users Layout

Reorganized Menu

Select Pull-Down Menu Camera > Select Parallel Projection

Optional ToolBar: Large Tool Set

Displays all tools without and drop down

menus (Black Down Arrow next to an

Icon)

3. Interior and Exterior Wall Outlines and Wall Thicknesses

a. Exterior Outline and Exterior Wall Thickness:

i. Select Rectangle Tool > Place Cursor at Origin Left Click > Drag Top Right Corner > Type the

Following Size

(Length x Width) 15’,10’ > Press Enter

‘ = Foot

“ = Inch

1. Left Click at the Origin

2. Drag cursor up to the left

DO NOT Left Click

3. Type Size of Rectangle: Length, Width

Size: 15’,10’ > Press Enter

ii. Offset Tool: Allows the user to select an entity and type a measurement to distance to for the new

entity to be away from

1. Select Offset Tool (Located Online below Push/Pull Icon )

iii. Left Click one of the rectangle Edges > Drag cursor into the Rectangle > Type 6” > Press Enter

NOTE: Standard wall thickness for exterior or interior is 6”, which is larger than a normal wall (Studs +

Drywall + Drywall or Siding) To account for the use of dimensional lumber.

iv. New Rectangle

Note: Once a Closed Profile is drawn Sketchup will divide the space up into two separate enitities. In this case there is two

sperate Areas. This will come in handing when extruding walls, doors, windows, roofs, etc.

Exterior Wall Area House Area

Select any of the edges

of the rectangle

Drag Cursor towards the

Center of the 1st Rectangle

b. Interior Wall Outline and Thickenss

i. Drawing Center of Interior Walls: Select Line Tool > Draw the following two line

NOTE: do not worry about location; Dimensions will be set to move into place

NOTE: Rectangle Tool can also be used for this process

ii. Using Selection Tool > Select parts of the lines that are inside of the exterior wall

(Left Click and Hold Shift when selecting > Press Delete Key

NOTE: Erasor Tool will also work to remove the lines

Select Line Segment

within the Exterior Wall Press Delete Key to Remove

Draw Two Lines as Shown

Location is not critical at this point;

will be modified with dimensions

iii. Setting Dimensions: Select Dimension Tool (Note: Online Located under Tape Measure Tool

) > Select Point 2 Points Shown > Drag Cursor to location of Dimension > Left Click to Place

Dimension

Repeat the Process for the following Dimensions

2. Select 2 Points:

Left Click on Each

1. Move Cursor away

from building > Left

Click to Place

iv. Adjusting Dimensions: Add/Subtract the Value on the screen from the final value to determine how far

the line should move > Use the Move Tool to select the line to be moved > Drag in the

direction in which to move the line > Type in the difference between

Final Measurement (Worksheet) – Current Value) > Press Enter

I.E. Final Value = 8’

Current Value = 5’ ½”

Moveable Value = 8’ – 5’1/2”

= 2’ 11½” (This is the value to type in)

So, I will Select the Move Tool > Select (Left Click) the Vertical Line to move > Drag Cursor to the Right

> Type 2’11 1/2” (Note: 11.5” works as well) > Press Enter

Adjust the Vertical Measure to 6’ 0” (Current Case, which users will be different would be 6’ – 5’ 3 3/16” = 8 13/16”

Final Measure

v. Setting Wall Thickness: Since the 2 lines drawn represent the Center of the wall we will need to create

an offset that is only 3” and Create a Second Offset that is 3” in the L Shape Area.

1. Select Offset Tool > Select Vertical Line of Interior Wall > Drag to the center of Rectangle >

Type 3” > Press Enter

2. Trim and Add Lines as Shown

Select Vertical Line > Drag to

Center of Rectangle Type 3” > Press Enter

Trim Outer Lines of New Rectangle (3” Box) Use Line Tool to Extend Lines

Extend Lines to

Exterior Wall

Trim Exterior Wall to

Connect Interior Wall

Repeat this process for the L-Shaped Area. See Below for Finished Outline

vi. Add the Following Addition onto the House

4. Extruding Walls

a. Rotate the House to a pictorial view

i. Use Middle Mouse Button

ii. Select the Isometric Icon in Views

iii. Push/Pull: This is the Extrusion Tool for Sketchup. It will either Add or Subtract Material Depending on

the Direction into or away from Material.

1. Select Push/Pull Icon > Place Cursor in the Center of the Walls (6” Space) > Move

Cursor Up the Z Axis > Type 8’

Since the Walls are one continuous piece of Geometry only that area is extruded Vertically

Place Cursor in the Wall Area

Drag Cursor Up > Type 8’ > Press Enter

5. Doors and Windows

Note: For these Features we will be just creating openings that would represent a door or a window. In future

tutorials we will add more detail to these features.

a. Doors:

i. Standard Hinge Doors

1. Exterior minimum of 3’ wide to provide enough room to move furniture and other large

parcels in and out of the door. Also, this provides better fire safety

2. Interior Doors Range in size from 24” (2’-0”) going up in 3” increments up to 36” (3’-0”). New

construction homes will typically have 27” or 30” Interior Door Openings

3. Interior and Exterior Doors are typically placed closed to an Interior Wall to reduce the wasted

floor space due to the swing of the door. The Door should be a minimum of 3” from the wall

to prevent the door knob from going thru the drywall when the door is opened and closed.

4. Standard Height for Doors is 6’-8”

ii. Front Door

1. View Menu > Select Front View

2. Select Rectangle Tool > Draw the Following

Size: 3’, 6’8”

3. Dimension: Use the Dimension Tool to Set One of the Two Dimensions Shown > Place Cursor

inside the door Rectangle > Left Click to Select and Move Door to Proper Distance using one of

the following

a. From Left Edge of House to Left Edge of Door will be 9” (6” for the Exterior Wall + 3”

Door Spacing from Wall)

b. Measure From Left Edge of House to Mid-Point of Door 2’-3” (6” for the Exterior Wall

+ 15” to Mid-Point of Door)

c. Delete the Dimension Placed

Set one of the two Dimensions Move the Door to Set the dimension

as shown

d. Rotate House into a pictorial and/or Isometric

e. Select Push/Pull Tool > Place Cursor in the Door Rectangle > Left Click to Select > Drag

Cursor in the house to Cut out the Door

iii. Interior Door

Within Sketchup and most CAD software it can be difficult to see interior details in order to work. In

other software features of the house can be attached to layers which can be turned on/off. In others like

Sketchup we will create a Full Section View that will allow us to cut away a defined area of the house without

cutting the house using the Push/Pull Tool.

a. Creating a Section

i. Drop Down Menu Tools > Select Section Plane > Select the Front of house

with the door we just created Note: Part of the Front Wall will appear to have

been cut > Pop Menu Keep at Default Click OK

ii. Using the Move Tool > Select Section (Cutting) Plane (Orange Box) > Drag the

Cursor to the Desired Location to be able to cut away a specified area of the

house to see the room to work on > Cut away into the Front Room (Behind

the Front Door

Note: View Drop Down Menu gives the User to Hide the Section (Cutting) Plane and/or the Section View or Use the Toolbar

iii. Rotate to the Front View > Draw a Rectangle with the size and location

dimensions as shown

Section Plane

ON/OFF

Section Cuts

Turn ON/OFF

Section Cuts

Turn ON/OFF

Section Plane

ON/OFF Section Fill

Turn ON/OFF

iv. Rotate to Pictorial View > Select Push/Pull Tool > Cut the Rectangle into the

Wall

v. Delete the Dimensions

b. Interior Opening 2

i. Select the Move Tool > Select the Section Plane > Drag Cursor so the Section

Plane is in the hallway Area

ii. Create the Following Door

iii. Delete Dimensions

iv. Hide Section Plane and Section Cut

2. Windows

a. Window Standards

i. Windows Provide: architectural focal point, balance/symmetry outside/inside,

, light and ventilation

ii. Window Sizes Vary based on the Type (Double Hung, Casement, Hopper, etc.)

and Manufacturer

1. Heights of Windows will vary based on the room location (i.e shorter

windows in the bedrooms for privacy/taller windows in living spaces

to provide more light and visualation in and out of the house.

2. From Floor to the Top of Window is typically 6’-8”, which matches the

top of doors. We do this to provide symetry and balance for the

occupant in the building.

3. Windows are rarely square because it is hard for our brains to interupt

the shape in the real world

iii. Windows are rarely centered on a wall within a room because the window

should be balanaced with other windows from the exterior and from the

inside it restricts the size and configuration of the furniture that can be placed

within the room

b. Creating Windows is the same as creating a door > Create the following Windows with

the stated measurement (NOTE: Delete Dimensions when Completed.

Front Elevation

Right Elevation

Back Elevation

6. Rendering/Materials

Adding Materials and Colors is very easy within Google Sketchup

a. Select Materials Menu on the Right Hand Side of the Screen (Online Icon: ) > Select Desired

Material/Color

b. Coat the Complete Wall: Select the Wall to Apply Material/Color

NOTE This will coat the whole wall that is selected; Notice the edges and the reverse side of the wall is not

changed to the material; See Part c to coat a specific part

Select Material Type

Sample Color

c. Coat only a part of the Wall

i. Using the Line or other geometric tool draw around the area that is to be changed

ii. Select Material > Select the area to be coated

Notice the area selected below the line is coated, but the other part of the wall is not.

iii. Apply Materials and/or Colors to a minimum of 10 wall faces using a minimum of 5 different

materials/color

Submission: Face to Face: Show Mr. Jourden the Completed Tutorial

Remote Learning: Email File to Mr. Jourden at jourdem@brightonk12.com

Drawn Line to

separate two areas