Architectural Design with SketchUp 3D Modeling, Extensions, BIM, Rendering, Making, Scripting, and LayOut

The most complete reference for anyone using SketchUp, fully updated to cover the latest features, with a new chapter on drawing preparation using LayOut

This newly updated and revised Third Edition of Architectural Design with SketchUp covers all the topics that students and professionals use daily, such as 3D modeling, extensions, photorealistic rendering, and drawing preparation. It features more than fifty easy-to-follow tutorials that first brush up on the basics of the program and then cover many advanced workflows (including digital fabrication and scripting), offering informative text and full-color illustrations side-by-side to clearly convey the techniques and features any reader needs to excel.

The leading guide to SketchUp for architects, interior designers, construction professionals, makers, and many others, Architectural Design with SketchUp is the key resource for students using SketchUp in a course or studio, and professionals looking for a thorough desk reference that covers the latest SketchUp features.

Topics covered in Architectural Design with SketchUp include:

• 3D modeling and design approaches with SketchUp, such as conceptual massing, geo-based modeling, component-based assemblies, point-cloud- and script-based modeling.
• Creating stunning photorealistic renderings and presentation-ready illustrations from your SketchUp models and using LayOut for 2D graphics and construction-documents.
• Using extensions to enhance SketchUp's core toolset and provide advanced functionality.
• Making physical objects from your designs with common digital fabrication tools, such as 3D printing, CNC fabrication, or laser cutting.
• Differences between SketchUp Pro, web, and iPad versions, and integrating SketchUp into workflows with other BIM software and various Trimble products and services, such as Trimble Connect.

This Third Edition of Architectural Design with SketchUp includes hundreds of full-color images that show SketchUp features, many example projects, and cookbook-style approaches to common tasks, which is supplemented with additional tutorials and sample files on a companion web site.

Alexander C. Schreyer is a Senior Lecturer II and Director of the Building and Construction Technology (BCT) program at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) in Amherst, MA. He teaches courses in AEC BIM/CAD modeling and visualization as well as materials and methods, structural design, and 3D printing. He is an active member of the SketchUp community, speaks regularly at user conferences, and blogs at alexschreyer.net and sketchupfordesign.com. He is also the co-author of Fundamentals of Residential Construction. 

Acknowledgments xiii

About the Companion Website xv

Chapter 1: Introduction 1

1.1 A Multitude of SketchUp Users 1

1.2 How Does SketchUp Fit into the Designer’s Toolbox? 2

1.3 Easy 3D for Everyone 7

1.4 Windows or Mac, Pro or App, iPad or Phone? 9

1.5 Trimble’s Product Ecosystem 11

1.6 About This Book 14

1.7 How This Book Works 19

Let’s Go!. 20

Chapter 2: A SketchUp Refresher 21

2.1 Getting Started and Getting Help 21

2.2 Interface and Program Setup 22

Adjusting SketchUp’s Preferences 27

2.3 Working with Templates 29

Setting Units and Fonts 30

Adding Components 31

Views 32

Completed Template 33

2.4 SketchUp’s Tool Set 33

Navigating the 3D Model 33

Accurate Modeling 36

Example 2.A: Starting a Pergola 38

Selecting Items 39

Temporary References 40

Example 2.B: Creating Beams for the Pergola 40

Groups and Components 43

Example 2.C: Using Components for the Pergola 45

Applying Materials 52

Example 2.D: Applying Materials to the Pergola 52

Curved and Compound Shapes 56

Example 2.E: Modeling a Post Cap 56

Other Tools in SketchUp 60

2.5 SketchUp’s Best Practices and Watch- Outs 62

Chapter 3: 3D Modeling Approaches 65

3.1 Massing and Reference- Based Modeling 65

Using References for Modeling: Location and Images 66

Example 3.A: Location- Based Modeling 66

Example 3.B: Modeling from an Imported Plan 73

3.2 Group- and Component- Based Modeling 78

Effective Use of Groups and Components 79

Staying Organized in SketchUp 80

Generating Reports of Groups and Components 82

Modeling with Assembly in Mind (Virtual Mockup Building) 85

Example 3.C: Trimming Groups Using Two Methods 87

Example 3.D: Assembly Animation in SketchUp 90

3.3 Using Parametric Components to Your Advantage 93

Dynamic Components 93

Example 3.E: Adding Dynamic Components to Your Model 95

Authoring Dynamic Components 97

Example 3.F: Making a Wall Dynamic Component 97

Live Components 101

3.4 Modeling from Point Clouds 103

Laser Scanning 103

Point Cloud Modeling Techniques 103

Example 3.G: Drawing a Structural Column from Point Cloud Data 104

3.5 Where Does SketchUp Fit into the BIM Workflow? 106

Example 3.H: Program Planning with SketchUp’s Dynamic Components 109

Making a Space Dynamic Component 110

SketchUp and Revit 112

SketchUp and AutoCAD 113

BIM Classifier and IFC in SketchUp 114

Example 3.I: Using IFC Classifications in SketchUp 116

Chapter 4: Using Extensions Effectively 123

4.1 What Does an Extension Do? 123

4.2 Getting and Using Extensions 124

How Exactly Do Extensions Work? 129

Updating, Uninstalling, and Organizing Extensions 131

4.3 Extensions and Their Applications 132

Extensions for General Modeling 133

Better Curves (Bezier, Spline, Catmull, etc.) 133

Surfaces and Shells 134

Working with Surfaces 135

Freeform Organic Modeling 136

Arranging Components 136

Bending and Scaling 3D Objects 138

Boolean Operations 139

Randomizing Things 139

The Missing Modeling Tools: Shapes, Geometry, Lines, etc. 141

The Missing Editing Tools: Selection, Mirror, Copy, etc. 142

Model Cleaning 143

User Interface Improvements 143

Example 4.A: Creating Trusses 144

Example 4.B: Making Shells in Different Ways 147

Extensions for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Modeling 151

General Architecture Tools 151

Site and Landscape 154

Structure and HVAC/Plumbing 155

BIM and Object- Based Modeling 156

Example 4.C: Mullion Windows 156

Extensions for Digital Fabrication 158

3D Printing 158

Shape Properties (Centroid, Volume, etc.) 159

Cutting and Shop Solutions 159

Unwrapping and Slicing 160

Example 4.D: Slicing Up a Volume 161

Example 4.E: Making a Terrain Model 163

Example 4.F: Unwrapping/Unfolding a Shape 165

Extensions for Data Integration and Exchange 169

Attributes in SketchUp 169

Geometry from Points 170

Import/Export Extensions 170

Extensions for Presentation and Animation 171

Camera and Object Animation 171

Physics- Based Modeling 172

360- Degree and VR Viewing 173

Example 4.G: Sharing Interactive 3D Models from SketchUp 174

Extensions for Analysis 177

Model Analysis and Graphing 177

Solar and Building Energy Analysis 178

Example 4.H: Creating an Energy Analysis Building Model with OpenStudio 180

Chapter 5: Rendering in SketchUp 187

5.1 Let’s Get Visual! 187

What Is Already in SketchUp? Non- Photorealistic Rendering 187

The Magic of Styles 189

Example 5.A: Creating Your Own Branded Sketchy Style 189

What If I Want More? 197

5.2 Overview of Photorealistic Rendering Methods 197

What Is Photorealistic Rendering? 198

Rendering Techniques 202

5.3 Rendering Software 203

Example 5.B: Setting Up Twilight (Hobby) and Creating a Rendering 206

5.4 Perfecting the Components of a Rendering 217

Modeling 217

Edges and Faces 217

Front Face and Back Face 220

Triangulation 221

Environment 221

Sky (Physical Sky, Sky Color, or Sky/Environment Image) 222

Night Renderings 226

360° Environments 227

Ground 229

Lighting 230

Ambient Lighting and Image- Based Lighting 230

Sun 233

Omnidirectional Lights 234

Attenuation 237

Spotlights 238

IES Lights 240

Recessed Lights 242

Neon and Other Self- Emitting Light Sources 244

Combining Lighting Scenarios (in Photo- Editing Software) 246

Materials 248

Components of a Material 250

Texture or Color (Diffuse Texture) 251

Reflection 253

Refraction 255

Bump 256

Displacement 258

Emittance 258

Subsurface Scattering 259

Putting These Features Together 261

Tweaking Texture Positioning 262

Example 5.C: A Wooden Tabletop 262

Example 5.D: Texturing Curved Surfaces 266

Example 5.E: Texturing a Sphere 269

Objects 271

Entourage 271

Urban Context 273

People 275

Example 5.F: Adding a Person (or any Object) to an Image in Photoshop 276

Plants, Trees, Grass, Rocks, and Carpet 277

Example 5.G: Making a 2D PNG Cutout Face- Me Component 281

5.5 Rendering Tips and Tricks 287

5.6 Making Renderings Presentable 289

Combining SketchUp Output and Rendered Output in Photoshop 289

Other Methods 292

Chapter 6: Making Things with SketchUp 295

6.1 What Can You Make with SketchUp? 295

6.2 Services for Makers 297

6.3 Selecting the Manufacturing Technique 298

6.4 Manual Fabrication Planning 303

Example 6.A: Fabricating an L- Shaped Stair 303

6.5 Laser Cutting (and Engraving) 311

Example 6.B: Creating a Laser- Cut Mobile from SketchUp 312

6.6 CNC Routing and Milling 317

Example 6.C: Cutting the Patterned Panel 319

Example 6.D: Depth Cutting Profiled Models 322

6.7 3D Printing 323

Preparing Your SketchUp Model for 3D Printing 324

Example 6.E: Cleaning Up a Model for 3D Printing 327

Method 1: Using the Outer Shell Tool (or other Solid Tools) 328

Method 2: Using Intersect and Manual Cleanup 328

Example 6.F: 3D Printing a Cutaway View 333

Exporting and Processing Your Model Outside of SketchUp 334

6.8 Learn More About Making 338

Chapter 7: Creating Geometry Using Ruby Scripting 341

7.1 Why Computational Geometry? 341

7.2 Setting Up SketchUp’s Ruby Interface 344

Installing the Ruby Code Editor Extension 346

More Extensions and External Editors 348

7.3 Intro to Ruby and the SketchUp API 348

How Does Ruby Work? 349

Objects, Objects, Objects 349

Storing Stuff: Variables and Constants 349

Some String Peculiarities 351

Reusing Stuff: Declaring and Using Methods 351

Controlling Things: IF/THEN/ELSE 352

Repeating Things: FOR, WHILE, and More 353

Making It Work: Some More Ruby Syntax Details 354

What Else Is There? 354

What’s in SketchUp’s Ruby API? 354

API Object Hierarchy 355

Length Units in SketchUp 357

Links to Further Reading 358

Resources for Ruby 358

Resources for SketchUp’s API 358

7.4 Creating Geometry with Ruby 358

Example 7.A: Lots of Boxes 360

Example 7.B: Lots of Boxes with Color 361

Example 7.C: Creating a Small City 364

Example 7.D: Randomizing Extrusions 365

Example 7.E: Using Formulas for Patterned Panels 366

Example 7.F: Drawing Data from Text Files 368

Example 7.G: Saving Vertices to a Text File 370

7.5 Transformations Change Things Up 372

Example 7.H: Lots of Boxes Using Components 374

Example 7.I: Building a Curved Wall 374

Example 7.J: Placing Components on Faces 377

Example 7.K: Randomizing Everything 379

7.6 Attracted to Attractors 381

Example 7.L: Coloring Faces by Proximity 381

Example 7.M: Scaling Objects by Proximity 383

Example 7.N: Solar- Responsive Design 386

7.7 What Else Is Possible with This? 387

7.8 Some Pitfalls and Things to Watch Out For 388

Chapter 8: Creating Documents with LayOut 391

8.1 SketchUp and LayOut— What Can LayOut Do for You? 391

What Is in LayOut? 393

Workflows in LayOut 396

Navigating LayOut’s interface 397

The Ins and Outs of LayOut 398

8.2 Setting Up Your Project in LayOut 400

Your SketchUp Model in LayOut 403

Example 8.A: Setting up the SketchUp Model (in SketchUp) 403

Example 8.B: Creating Your LayOut Template (in LayOut) 408

Example 8.C: Creating a Cover Page (in LayOut) 412

Example 8.D: Creating the Plan and Elevation Pages (in LayOut) 418

8.2 Other Drawing Methods: Scaled Drawings, DWG/DXF Import/Export 422

Shapes, Fills, Patterns, and Strokes 423

Working with Coordinates 427

Example 8.E: Drawing a Scaled Detail 428

Create Your Own Scrapbooks 436

Working with DWG/DXF File Import and Export 436

8.3 Tips and Tricks for Working with LayOut 441

Appendix A: SketchUp and LayOut Reference 445

SketchUp Keyboard Shortcuts 445

LayOut Keyboard Shortcuts 445

File Locations 446

Appendix B: Ruby and API Reference 447

SketchUp’s Ruby API 447

Ruby Core Classes 447

Creating Your Own Extensions 450

RBZ Extension File Structure 450

Extension Template Structure 450

Appendix C: Creating a Simple Custom XML Schema 453

Index 455

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