Getting started in Sketch Up

SketchUp’s intuitive Push/Pull tool will help you take your first steps on a three-dimensional canvas, says Mark Roosien

Mark Roosien shows you how to begin in 3D.

The aim of this new series of Core Skills is to introduce the 2D digital artist to an easyto-use 3D software. SketchUp enables you to achieve great-looking results quickly. It’s free for personal use, so if you haven’t done so already, download it from www.sketchup.com.

By using the Push/Pull tool, you can manipulate 3D objects very easily. Select

1 Draw a rectangle and pull up

Start by creating a new document and selecting the Rectangle icon in your toolbar. To create a rectangle on the ground, just click and move the mouse until your rectangle has the desired shape. Now select the Push/Pull icon. Place the cursor on the rectangle, click and pull the rectangle up by moving the mouse. You just turned a 2D surface into a 3D object.

2

Draw a roof and push

the Push/Pull icon from the toolbar and click an object’s surface on your screen. This makes it possible to either push the surface away from you, or pull it towards you. Even when you’re unfamiliar with SketchUp, the Push/Pull tool will enable you to create a simple 3D model – let’s say a rudimentary house – in just a few minutes, and over three easy steps, as I’ll demonstrate here.

Draw the outlines of a roof on the front of the object, using the Line tool from the toolbar. Start at the lower left and draw the line upwards towards the middle. SketchUp will show you the centre point. Now draw a line towards the lower right. Use the Push/ Pull tool to push both triangles towards the rear of the object.

3

Create a home

Draw some outlines on the side of the house. Select the Push/ Pull tool and place the cursor on the side of the house. Now pull, just like in step one, to create a decent-sized extension to the house. It’s really that simple. Hold the scroll wheel while moving your mouse, to have a look at your model from different angles.