Google Sketchup: Layout Basics

By: Matthew Jourden

Brighton High School
Brighton, MI

Sketchup Layout is designed to take the solid model from Google Sketchup Pro and convert it into orthographic views,
presentation views and other working drawings. The user will use Google Sketchup Pro to create “Scenes” that will be equal t o
the orthographic views of a design (Front, Right Side, Left Side, Rear, etc.)

Set Up Scenes (Views)

1. Open Google Sketchup Pro > Open House Tutorial “Last Name” File > Select Scenes from the Default Tray (Right Side of
the Screen)

Menu
Creates a Snapshot of the
current orientation of the
model
View Shown as
Hide Details
Thumbnails or List

Scene
Details
2. Set the following
a. Set Orientation of House to Top View
NOTE: Be sure the Camera Setting is set to Parallel Projection; this can be found in Camera drop down menu
b. View Pull Down Menu
i. Turn Off Axis
c. Tags
i. Turn ON
1. Walls
2. Plan Dimensions
3. Doors
4. Windows
d. Right Hand Toolbar Select Styles Tab > Set the Following
Styles allow the user to create a series of settings to show the model (i.e. Hidden, Solid, Render, etc.)
Starting we will use the default Style 1
i. Select Create a Drop Down Menu next to In Model > Select Photo Modeling > Photo Modeling Style >
Turn OFF Axis Lines (Drop Down Menu View > Axis (Uncheck it)

Drop Down Menu > Photo Modeling

> Select Photo Modeling Style

ii. Select Down Arrow Next ot Straight Lines > Select In Model

Select Down Arrow >

Select In Model

iii. Sections May Activate > Turn them off

Sections Active
Select Section Icons to Turn OFF Model without Section
 iv. Scene is added to the In Model selection
Keep Straight Photo Modeling Selected

Select Photo Modeling

v. Select Edit Tab

Select Edit

1. Display WireFrame Mode:

Makes all lines Object Lines
(including hidden lines)
2. Display in Hidden Line Mode:
Makes all unseen edges
hidden lines
3. Display in Shaded Mode:
Shows materials/colors on
objects. (Default State for
software)
4. Display Shading with Rendering Options
Textures: Allow user to
simulate material textures
5. Display Shaded Using All
Same: applies same shading
color for all objects

Note: User can Switch Back to Rendered Image by Selecting Scenes > Select > In Model > Select
Architecture Style 1
1. Select Display Wireframe > Change Color to Black

2. Select Face Settings > Style Select Display Wireframe Mode

a. Drawing should look as follows

 3. Select Display in Shaded Mode
a. Do the following
i. Check Ground
ii. Change Color to White (Select the color Box drag the last color option to white)

Select Display
Shaded Mode

Check
Ground Select White Color
Color
Box > Change L color
to White (drag all the
way to the right)

3. Creating a Style (View)

a. Rotate Model to Top View ( )Select Scenes Tab on the Right Hand Toolbox > Select + Sign > Pop-Up
Menu > Select Save as a new style (other options are designed to update views as model is modified) > Select
Create Scene

Select + Sign to
create Scene
1. Select Save as a new style
2. Select Create Scene
 b. Rename Scene
i. Select Scene > At the Bottom of the Scene Menu > Change Name to FLOOR PLAN

4. Repeat the Steps to Create new Scenes for the following Scenes: Total 5
a. Turn On Roof Tag before creation of Scene
b. Turn OFF Plan Dimensions Tag
c. Rename the same for the Elevation that is showing

d. Style will be Display Textures Mode

e. Scenes > Rotate view to proper elevation
before creation of Scene
i. FRONT ELEVATION
ii. RIGHT ELEVATION
iii. LEFT ELEVATION
iv. REAR ELEVATION
v. Pictorial (3D View
 f. Rendered Scene
i. Scenes Tab > Select Tab > In Model Option > Select Architecture Style 02
ii. Add Materials like siding and wood to the fascia board
iii. View setting Isometric or a rotational pictorial view (see below) to show overall features of the house
iv. Axis and Sections Turned OFF
v. Name: Pictorial

vi. Change Background to White

Select Edit

Select Edit

Select Color Box

vii.

NOTE: 6 Total Scenes are created

SAVE File
Sketchup Layout
Scenes created in Sketchup Pro will be imported into Layout. Layout and Sketchup Pro will be linked together so if a
modification of the house in Sketchup Pro will be updated in Layout.

1. Open Layout Program > Select More Templates

Select More
Templates

2.

3. Select Title Blocks

Select More
Templates
 4. Select Contemporary > A3 Landscape

5. Layout Workspace

Tabs shows created sheets

in a packet of plans

Title Block > Edit by double

clicking on Item and Type info or
go to Drop Down Menu File >
Document Setup > Fill in Fields
 Colors: add colors/materials to geometry

Shape Style:

Pattern Fill: Adds 2D Crosshatching to Views

Sketchup Model: Imports Scenes from SketchUp Pro

Scaled Drawing: Create 2D Drawings using 2D Tools

Dimension Style: Dimension 2D Drawings

Text Style: Adjust Text

Pages: Lists Sheets in the Packet of Plans

Layers: Assign 2D Geometry to Layers (Tags)

Scrapbooks: Add Rendering techniques to views

Instructor: Tutorial Guide

6. Document Setup: This will fill out the title block automatically for all sheets
Select Drop Down Menu File > Select Document Setup > Fill out Auto Text
a. Address: BHS Address
b. Author: TYPE “YOUR NAME”
c. PROJECT Name: TUTORIAL SKETCHUP BASICS
Set Units to Inches

7. Creating Sheets
a. Select Tool Tray > Pages
b. Select Inside Pages > Right Click > Select Rename > Rename to FLOOR PLAN

c. Select + Sign (New Sheet) > Rename EXTERIOR ELEVATIONS

d. Select + Sign (New Sheet) > Rename ROOF PLAN
8. Cover Page
a. Adding Views
i. Select Pages > Select Cover Page
ii. Adding View: Select Drop Down Menu File > Select Insert > Navigate to Tutorial Sketchup “Your
Name” > Open

By Default the Layout will Pictorial. Within this window the user can rotate the image by placing cursor in the
window > Hold Middle Mouse Button Down and Rotate
 iii. Setting Info > Select Tab Sketchup Model

Refresh Views from

Sketchup Pro
Set Scene from
Sketchup Pro Lock View

Set Standard Orthographic Views

Front, Top, R.S, L,S, Back

Scale setup to a
measured size.
Add Rendering Options

Line Setup from

Renderd to Wireframe
 iv. Set the Following
1. Scene: Pictorial
2. Scale 3/8” = 1’-0”
3. Adjust Frame as needed
Center Arrows Adjust Size of
View Box > Hold Left Mouse
Key Down and Drag

Corners manually adjust scale

Place View on the left hand side of the workspace

v. Table of Contents

1. Select Table Tool

2. Left Click on the workspace > Drag Mouse to place number of Rows and Columns
a. Set Chart with 2 Columns and 5 Rows
b. Left Click to Place number of columns/rows
c. Drag Mouse to set size of cells

Left Click to start the Table > Drag Cursor to set the
Drag to 2 Columns and 5 Rows size of the cells > Left
> Left Click to Set Click to set size

3. Fill out the Cell with the following

NOTE: Top two cells are merged: Select both cells (Double Click on a cell to activate > Hold
Shift) > Right Click > Select Merge
NOTE: Click on Text Style Tab from the Default Tray to set Center Justification or change font
height/style

vi. Final Cover Page Layout

9. Sheet Floor Plan
a. Select Pages Tab from the Default Tray > Select Floor Plan Sheet
b. Select Drop Down Menu > Insert > Navigate to Tutorial Sketchup Tutorial Basics “Student Name” > Select
Open
c. Set the following
i. Scene: Floor Plan
ii. Scale: 3/8” =1’-0”
iii. Set the following Door and Window Labels
iv. Create Window and Door Schedules as shown.
10. Repeat the Above Steps on Sheet Exterior Elevations
a. Place all Four Elevations on the Page with Titles
11. Roof Plan
a. In Sketchup Pro Create 3 Scenes with the Roof Turned On
i. Top, Right and Front
ii. Display Type Hidden Line Mode

b. Save Adjustments in Sketchup

c. Return to Layout > Insert > Navigate to the File > May have to update file once placed so current settings are
locked in

Update Icon
 Crop View
d. Place the Following SketchUp Model Tab > Select Preserve Scale on Resize >
Views and Dimensions Then resize image

Use Label Tool

1. Left Click feature to point at

2. Left Click Start of Horizontal Line
3. 3. Left Click End of Horizontal Line
4. Type Text

Save Layout

Submission: Print out all four sheets > Staple and Turn In