Thu 11 Nov, 2010
Beginner’s SketchUp Tutorial, The Video Version–Part 2
Click Here To Comment/Comments (41) Filed under: SketchUpTags: Design, SketchUp, Software, Table, Tutorial, Video
Before jumping into the video there are some comments I hope will make learning SketchUp easier. SketchUp is a powerful tool, its learning curve is quick and it can be fun. It can also be frustrating for beginners. To help avoid this frustration, or at least to minimize it, I have developed a few rules that I encourage you to memorize. Or at least memorize the concepts embedded in them. If you commit these concepts to memory you will avoid that desire to give up, that many beginners reach. As you watch the video you should notice that I practice these rules myself.
Rules for 3D Modeling in SketchUp
1. Save your work frequently
Under the Window menu choose Preferences. Select the General panel and under “Saving” make sure both “Create backup” and “Auto-save” check boxes are checked. Set “Every” to 5 minutes. In addition, get into the habit of saving your file frequently using the File/Save (or File/Save As if it is the first save). You must save your file once before “Create backup” takes effect, so do it immediately upon beginning a model. 3D modeling is a lot of work and loosing multiple hours of work can make you blood curdling angry. Follow this basic rule to avoid hypertension.
2. Layer0 should always be active when modeling
During the modeling phase, described in Rule 6, make sure that Layer0 is always active. Access the Layers dialog box with menu Window/Layers and make sure the radio button to the left of Layer0 is selected. This should remain true through the entire modeling phase. This ensures that all primitives reside on Layer0. More importantly, that the primitives of a given group or component are not on different layers which would make using Layers to view and hide individual parts nearly impossible.
3. Draw one part at a time
NEVER allow a part in its primitive state touch another part in its primitive state. The word primitive, or primitives, means points, lines, faces, rectangles, circles, polygons and arcs including construction lines and points. In short, a primitive is any drawn object except a solid, group or component. Primitives are the most fundamental of drawing objects from which all other geometry is drawn.
A part is in its primitive state unless it is made into a group or component.
It is very important to understand that when two primitives touch, even when they are on different layers, they STICK together.
4. As soon as a part takes 3D shape make it a component
Components save time and frustration. In addition, they dramatically reduce the file size of your model. Groups are similar to components but components have several advantages, most importantly reducing file size and efficiency in editing. Avoid groups if possible. A part doesn’t have to be completed before making it a component; in fact it should be made a component as soon as it takes on a 3D shape. Further modeling of the part, or edits to it, can be made later using the protected “Component Edit” or “Group Edit” tools.
5. As soon as a component is created move it to the layer where it will reside
The best way to move a component to a different layer is by using the Entity Info box. If the desired layer does not exist, use the Layers box to create it and then move the desired component onto the layer. Both the Layers and Entity Info box can be found on the Window menu, including other helpful boxes.
6. Draw a complete model before creating scenes, texturing or dimensioning
Draw a complete model first, including joinery. Be sure all parts are components. All components must have a unique and descriptive Definition Name. All components should have a unique instance (part) Name.
This I call the modeling phase. Only when the 3D model is complete should you move on to creating scenes, texturing or dimensioning.
Rules 3 and 4 are important because in SketchUp primitives are “sticky”. That is, if they touch one another they stick together, more accurately they share points, edges and faces. Therefore, if table legs and a table top are drawn in their correct position relative to each other, and are in their primitive state, they would be touching. Separating them onto different layers or making them individual components or groups becomes at best frustrating and at worst near impossible. In fact if you tried to move a leg the top would move; worse it would become totally distorted.
SketchUp’s sticky nature is one of its most difficult aspects to deal with, unless you follow these rules. Once mastered, drawing parts and converting them to components will become second nature. You will also discover that this sticky nature of SketchUp’s primitives was not perpetrated on the unsuspecting beginners by its developers to inflict hypertension and a nervous breakdown. Rather there is an overriding useful purpose that will be evident as you continue learning.
Preparing to View the Video
A completed SketchUp model of the Bedside Table can be downloaded from my website srww.com. Select the Free Plans menu button, scroll down to Tables and locate Bedside Table from the list. It is available both in native SketchUp file format (.skp) and as a PDF file (.pdf). Before you view the video take time to familiarize yourself with its design and dimensions. For this second part we are especially interested in the Legs, Back and Sides. You may want to print out the Front View, Side View, Legs, Back and Sides scene(s) for reference.
Downloading the Video to Your Computer
Sometimes the performance of your internet connection, the load on it at a particular time of day, and the length of these video tutorials can all conspire to provide you a frustrating and impossible viewing experience. If this happens it may be preferable to download the entire video unto your system and view it on your local video player. The video file is an mp4. It can be viewed with most video players including QuickTime and Media Player. If you have a default, or user specified, file association for .mp4 you may have to delete it or use a download manager to download this file. Otherwise the associated application will be invoked and file streaming will prevail over downloading. There are numerous free download managers on the internet. Be careful, and do some research to locate one that is not loaded with spyware or viruses.
To download this video click here or paste
http://blip.tv/file/get/Chiefwoodworker-BeginnersSketchUpTutorialPart2968.mp4
into your download manager.
Viewing in Your Browser
You may find it easier to view the video in full screen mode. Start the video before selecting this mode. To enter full screen mode click the little screen icon at the bottom of the video player. When in full screen view hold your cursor near the bottom of the screen to access the video player’s controls. Exit full screen mode with the Esc key. This part is approximately 40 minutes long. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show!
See you in Beginner’s SketchUp Tutorial, The Video Version–Part 3.
WoodVet says:
Thanks for such an educational video. I will be waiting for video part 3.
Joe says:
Thanks WoodVet,
I’m working on it. Should be available in a few days.
Joe…..
Ron says:
Wow! This is great. I use AutoCad every day at work in my engineering profession but Sketchup is really a lot better suited for woodworking than Autocad. Anxiously awaiting #3+++
Joe says:
Hi Ron,
I too used AutoCAD in my engineering career. Then I used TurboCAD for my woodworking. A few years ago I discovered SketchUp and never went back to the others.
Part 3 will be out late on the 22nd or early on the 23rd of November.
Joe….
Ron says:
Made it through #3. I’m finding I need to do a lot of review to remember everything in #1 & 2
Draffter says:
Wonderful tutorial for us dummies.
I’ve been a draftsman [miscellaneous] since ’65 and can’t get enough of this stuff. Thanks for your dedication to the art.
Joe says:
Hi Draffter,
Thanks for the compliment.
I had my first drafting class in college in ’64, with the T square, portable drafting board, plastic triangles, Dietzgen drafting tools etc. I loved it and used it in my engineering work for years. Still have my Dietzgen, plastic triangles and scale.
But I must admit, I love 3D drafting also, especially SketchUp.
By the way, Part 5 will be out tomorrow.
Joe…..
Joe Lyddon says:
First of all, THESE are GREAT tutorials & Thank you very much!
From a design standpoint, I noticed that all of your tenons went Full Depth… technically, don’t you think they should be short by maybe 1/16″?
This is really GOOD!
I think more has ‘sunk-in’ than ever before… all I have to do now, is to REMEMBER it!
Thanks again and Happy New Year!
Joe says:
Hi Joe,
Thanks, I am glad you are learning a lot form these tutorials.
Yes, you are correct. The tenons in real life should be shorter. What I do in the shop is cut them to full depth and just before glue up I take them to a belt sander and sand off 1/16″. I also bevel all the edges at the end of the tenon. This provides plenty of room for the extra glue to escape. This step is so mechanical for me that I draw all tenons full length. It’s easier.
Joe….
Taran says:
Good day sir, I want to thank you for you online videos and blog… I am going to try my hands at woodworking for the first time… You help and guidance is truly welcome.
I got my copy of Sketchup Pro 8 and now finding my way around it. Thanks to your videos, I am getting the hang of it… I learn faster by seeing demo rather tan reading.
Anyways, I just bought the Rockwell Balderunner… it’s my first tool and I hope to build all my furniture pieces using sketchup and your blog. I know it’s not gonna be easy but I really want to try my hand at this.
Thanks again,
Taran
Joe says:
Taran,
Congratulations to you for starting in woodworking and SketchUp. I think you will love them both. I have no doubt you will become good at both too. Stick with it and don’t let little problems scare you away. Good luck.
Joe…..
Stephen says:
I can’t say enough good things about these videos. I thought that I was pretty handy with sketchup but I’ve already learned things and am looking forward to learning more.
Joe says:
Hi Stephen,
Glad to hear you are learning from them and like the series. I have one more in the Beginner’s series coming and then I am going to work on an intermediate series. So stay tuned.
Joe…..
Martin says:
I worked through part one, and your tutorial is great.
However, my legs do not include the lines at the transition point on the tapers. I wonder if that is because I took each side on the top and doubled them, instead of using the diagonal like you did? I was experimenting, sorry.
Issue two is that I had to name my legs “front leg 1″ and “front leg 2″ in the “Definition Name”. It said I had already used the name “front leg” when I tried to do it the other way. Same for the back legs. I am not sure what is going on there.
Anyway, I am off and running, and your tutorials are great. I’ll work on part two after I get some rest.
Thanks!
Martin
Joe says:
Hi Martin,
No need to apologize for experimenting. That is the best way to learn. Did you double the lines using the Scale tool in Edit Component mode? If you did, it should have worked.
When you copy a component from one instance to another place in the model you do not have to enter the component name (Definition Name) again. However the part name (Name in the Entity info box) should be unique. If you try to enter the component name again with the same name you will get the message you got complaining that you are using and already used name.
BY the way, if you send me your .skp file as an attachment in email I will let you know what you have done incorrectly.
Joe….
Gerry says:
The tutorials are really well done,and if one pays strict attention, are very helpful for getting the user going with Sketchup. Clearly, the program is NOT the easiest nor the most intuitive application, but the tutorials are quite helpful in shortening the learning curve. One thing, though. The advertisements that come with the tutorials are intrusive, and a bit irritating. Any way to remove them?
Joe Zeh says:
Hi Gerry,
The advertisements on the videos and on my blog/website are how I pay for their hosting fees. Since I don’t charge for any of my tutorials these fees would otherwise be out of my pocket, and unfortunately, my site is popular enough that it requires business level hosting. I very much understand how annoying they can be, which is why I have provided you the ability to download them to your system and view them locally. When viewed locally there are no ads.
That said, the level of revenue I get from the videos is so small (much smaller than the Google ads return) that I may consider dropping them. Thanks for the feedback.
Joe…..
Gerry says:
Hi Joe,
Thanks for the clarity! I kind of figured the ads were in that category. (must pay if you want to play) That being said, I LOVE what you have done, and the endeavor and hard work that you have undertaken for those of us who are newbies, like me, or simply less than proficient with the application, is GREATLY appreciated.
That said, I think there is a market for you work, and the indication that you’re not getting much from it has given me an idea.( I’m a retired marketing and sales type) If you
are interested, let me know by email, so we can talk. BTW, I’m from New England, too,(Boston) and really appreciate the feeling of home from you.
CHEERS!
Gerry
Joe says:
Hi Gerry,
Thanks again for the kind words and the interest. Interestingly, I worked (and lived) my whole career in the eastern Massachusetts area; in a rectangle formed by routes 2, 495, 9 and 128. I worked in the computer and graphics fields as a design engineer and corporate executive. I moved to stern Massachusetts to enjoy the quiet and less hectic life and to pursue my hobby, woodworking. But I find I am busier now than ever in my career. But I do appreciate that I don’t have to run to Logan to catch a plane several times a week.
Joe…..
Sergei says:
Thanks a lot for clear and very comprehensive. I’ve done quite a few of them but yours are the best. Really appreciate your commitment to doing this and helping others
Joe says:
Sergei,
Thank you very much for the feedback and kind words. I am glad you are finding the videos informative. Stick with them and I think you will find yourself becoming very comfortable with SketchUp.
Joe…..
TOMMY JOE says:
Thanx again for your tutorial. Question: you zoom in on area you are working on without changing to zoom. You are still in tool mode you are going to use once zoom is accomplished and you zoom into exact area you are going to work on. How do I do this? Did I miss something?
Joe says:
Tommy Joe,
I am doing that with the wheel on my mouse. If you don’t have a mouse with a wheel I highly suggest you get one. They are cheap and very useful.
Glad you like the tutorial and thanks.
Joe….
Kevin McCormick says:
Thank you, thank you! I have not been able to make sense of this tool in the past, you are providing me with the understanding to finally be able to use this software. Once again thank you.
Joe says:
Kevin,
You are very welcome. And thank you for your interest and kind words. I am glad you find the tutorials useful. If you need help or have a problem you can’t solve send me email at jpz@srww.com and if applicable a copy of the SketchUp file you are working on. I’ll look at it and get back to you with suggestions or fixes.
Joe…..
Alexandra says:
Thanks for your great videos! I’ve just looked at part 1, and am starting part 2. I like the pace – slow enough that I can think about what you’re doing. Also I like that you didn’t edit out when you click the wrong tool, but we see how you undo any mistakes.
What I would really like in addition is a short outline of each video. Here’s why. I’m starting video 2, then I notice that I forgot to push-pull the top part of the leg in video 1 (I’m building along with you). I’d like to start over. Now I could use an outline, including your dimensions, to practice what I’ve learned.
Thanks!
Joe Zeh says:
Hi Alexandra
You are most welcome and I hope you find they provide the learning you are after.
I am not quite sure what you mean by an outline. The completed drawing, with dimensions and texturing, is available at http://www.srww.com/downloads/Bedside%20Table.pdf
for download. Are you looking for something in addition? I am working on writing a book that describes how to draw this table in SketchUp. I would be happy to send you a copy with the understanding that it is a work in progress and has numerous errors and is not complete.
Joe…..
Teresa Jones says:
Best SketchUp tutorials I’ve seen to date. Nice job, easy to follow, right length, just very well done.
Thank you for your generosity in sharing your knowledge.
TJ
Joe says:
Hi TJ,
Thank you for the compliments. I really appreciate them. I am glad the tutorials are working out for you. If you have any problems and need help don’t hesitate to write me at jpz@srww.com.
Joe….
Bernie Owen says:
I’ve tried a couple of times to get to grips with sketchup and given up. I found your videos by chance and decided to have one last attempt. What a revelation! I can’t thank you enough for the videos.I’m now a sketchup addict. Brilliant
Joe says:
Hi Bernie,
Welcome to the SketchUp tutorials and thank you for the compliments. I am glad they helped. Stick with SketchUp. It is a great tool and when you have mastered it you will be thanking yourself that you persevered.
Joe….
Ed says:
this tutorial is one of the best I’ve ever used! Very thorough and productive.
Joe says:
Thanks Ed. I appreciate your comments.
Joe….
Peter Boyd says:
I am more used to using Autocad and have been trying to use Sketchup like Autocad, it does not work. I am having to sit down and go over your training videos to “correct” my errors. I am getting there. As you say, the more you use it the more intuitive it becomes. Still a long way to go but that is only time and patience.
Joe says:
Hi Peter,
Yes, SketchUp is quite different and you have to shed your AutoCAD training and think differently. But once you do it is quite intuitive and very powerful – not to mention a lot of fun too!
Joe….
Jerry Robinson says:
Joe–I am trying to draw the mortises and have what looks like a face for it drawn in component edit mode. However, I cannot select it as a face. When I try, I get a selection that includes the leg face down to the taper. I have tried redrawing the face of the mortise using the rectangle tool as well as the pencil tool. Any thoughts on why this is happening will be welcomed. Thanks, Jerry
Joe says:
Hi Jerry,
Yes I have a good idea as to the problem. My first guess is that the rectangle you placed on you leg is not exactly on the surface of the leg. In this case I suspect the leg is drawn so that its surface is not aligned with a major plane.
My second guess is that you put the rectangle on the leg but not while you were in Edit Component mode. In this case you should be able to select the rectangle outside of Edit Component mode and pull it with Push/Pull.
If you want a definite answer email me your .skp file and I will tell you exactly what is wrong. My email address is jpz@srww.com.
Joe…
Gary says:
WOW,
This is my fourth or fifth attempt at trying to “get” sketchup. I have purchased paper books, online tutorials and everything else you can think of since, I think v2 for sketchup. I have also done the same with rhino – books and tutorials, also tried silo and several others. Two years ago I purchased v2 of moi3d. Of all of them I have got to the point of actually creating an abacus and a couple of pieces of fit together small stands for notebook computers and cookbooks. I just don’t and didn’t get any of them. Moi3d has a plethora of docs that will explain all kinds of stuff. It’s a way over my head. I am finding lately that it really isn’t useful for assembling real 3d components in 3d.
I have a large format cnc router table. I have been using Corel Draw (2d vector format) since v2, I’m now on v15(x5).
I found your site and tutorials from Woodworkers journal #318. I thought “Here we go again”. I still have v8 of sketchup loaded and I ended up trying your bedside table tutorial #1. After this one tutorial I feel that I can actually use this package. Where you started and what you covered in this first go has never been touched on in any other training that I have seen, not just in sketchup, but in all of them. Well done. It’s too bad the other programs don’t know how to deal with newbies as far as training goes!
I am amazed. This is the clearest, most thorough lesson that I have ever experienced in any 3d program.
I only hope that your other videos are of the same quality.
Thank you for your time, experience and talent!
Joe says:
Hi Gary,
I’m glad you stuck with SketchUp and find my tutorials useful. If you have any problems learning SketchUp or with the tutorials you can reach me at jpz@srww.com. I’m always willing to help.
By the way, I didn’t realize that Woodworkers Journal had any mention of my tutorials. Was that in their print magazine or their online magazine?
Joe….
Thomas says:
Hey Joe
this one gave me fits on the mortises, for some reason it would not draw the rectangle on the outside face of the leg. Anyway, I built and deleted the legs 4 times before I had it right
Again.. Thank you for you time providing these videos
Thomas
Joe says:
Hi Thomas,
This is a common problem that students have and it is caused by components that are not precisely aligned. Typically the legs are in the right place, but when the apron is moved in 1/8″ for the offset the student places the apron near but not on the leg’s face. The problem is often that they don’t remain on the axis while moving the leg.
My practice is to move the leg a great deal (much more than an 1/8″ in this case) while observing that I am on the axis. Without clicking leave the mouse alone and then type 1/8″ into the VCB (Value Control Box – usually located in the lower left hand corner).
Coincidentally, at the same time I received your comment on this blog post, I got an email from another student with exactly the same problem. I will forward you my response to him (via email)and the .skp file to demonstrate the problem.
Let me know if you are still having problems.
Joe….