SketchUp for Design

We don’t always need to work in 3D. Space layout planning for interior design, event planning, facilities management, etc. is often easier and faster in 2D. As it turns out, we can do this quite effectively in SketchUp’s 3D modeling environment or on LayOut’s 2D sheets, without even creating a full 3D model.

In this tutorial video I describe various ways how you can print scaled, parallel-projection views from SketchUp for Web as well as SketchUp Pro/Desktop (where I will be using the LayOut software).

I cover all the relevant aspects and then show how you can use the PDF file format as an intermediate print file format. This video is an update to my older one on this topic. Since that video was posted, SketchUp for Web has been introduced and printing in SketchUp Pro/Desktop has changed. Hence the need for an update.

SketchUp 2024 removed the option to save files in all previous version formats, now only offering a version-less format from 2022. A Ruby script workaround lets users save to older versions.

In this video Tutorial I cover a basic skill for fabrication in SketchUp: parallel-projection printing. This allows you to get flat-shot views out of SketchUp’s 3D environment that you can then use for cutouts, laser-cutting, CNC and more. While this can be accomplished easier using SketchUp Pro’s LayOut software, it is possible to create these […]

In this video I use the example of a set of mitered beams to cover how to trim solid (i.e. volumetric 3D) objects in SketchUp. As always, there is more than one way to do this. In addition to what is mentioned in the video, also check out the Eneroth Solid Tools and Eneroth Slicer […]

In this video I cover how to customize your template (and set up your work environment) in SketchUp. There is no need to only accept what the default templates give you! Make your own and give yourself a head start when you begin new projects.