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Layout
New for SketchUp 6 Pro is a layout feature. The Layout feature offers the SketchUp user the opportunity to send finished designs and models to a template that can then be arranged and organized for a final presentation. The final presentation can be viewed either on-screen or printed as a paper document. You may also export as a PDF file to send to clients, other designers, or contractors.
Contained in Layout are a set of default templates. These templates are available when models are sent from SketchUp to Layout. Templates include cover pages and title blocks that can be useful when starting. Custom templates can be created and saved for future use.
Layout also has its own set of tools for drawing, adding text, and leader lines. Several image file types can be inserted, text documents, or draw directly from scratch. Once the final presentation is complete; it can be printed, exported as a PDF, or viewed as a full-screen slide-show.
In addition to the above features, Layout also behaves very similar to SketchUp giving users to ability to use inference lines to match up objects within the document. Also, like SketchUp, Layout has layers which enable users to display objects on all or certain pages. And because SketchUp and Layout are directly linked, users can double click on the model window and orbit the model to change its current view.
Scenes that were created in SketchUp are available in Layout’s context menu so users can choose which view best fits their presentation. For printing or presenting your model to a certain scale, there are multiple ones to choose from. To begin, there are two ways to add models to Layout:
1. Directly from SketchUp File Send to Layout
2. From within Layout File Insert
By using the insert command, you can also insert text documents and image files.
To set up a template for use, begin by opening Layout. When Layout opens, a dialogue box, ‘getting started’ opens and the options of selecting a new template or using one previously created. If a previous made one isn’t available, select ‘default templates’. There are a number of templates to choose from (Figure 23).
Figure 23. Layout - Default Templates in Layout
Choose a template by double clicking on it. Each template has a default paper and if you want to change the document size to something other than the default size (Figure 24):
Figure 24. Layout - Document Setup
Use the drop down menu to select a paper size and choose your printer margins. Check the specifications for your printer since margins can vary between them (Figure 25).
Figure 25. Layout – Selecting Paper Size
The document will resize itself, but the title bar remains the same size. To resize the title bar, first unlock the layer it’s on. To the right of the document are different menus. Scroll down to the layers menu and to the right of the layer titles are little locks. These are so that items don’t get moved around. Unlock the layers by clicking the lock. Now select the entire title bar and move the curser to one corner. While holding the shift key down, click and drag the title bar to resize. Holding the shift key resizes the title bar proportionately. It’s also a good idea to have the margin lines displayed so that the title bar doesn’t become oversized. To turn on the margin lines, check the margin box in the document setup menu (Figure 26).
Figure 26. Layout – Adding Margins Box
Using the square tool, borders for your model can be created. The line weight of the border or title bar and color can also be changed. To alter the line weights or colors, use the color and shape style menu to the right. Double click the text boxes to edit them. Once the template is set-up, it can be used over and over again. To save the template for future use:
Now the model can be inserted into Layout (Figure 27). To insert models:
The model will appear and in the SketchUp Model menu, there is a drop-down menu for choosing scenes. Select a scene for viewing.
Figure 27. Layout – Inserted SketchUp Model
To add pages, in the pages menu, click the plus sign to add more pages. Double click the default page title to edit the name to reflect the function of the page.
Planting Plan (Preparing the Planting Plan)
Planting plans are essentially construction documents that are required for the installation of all plant material. The base sheet for a planting plan is usually the same as the grading plan. The plan should also show all site structures, pavements and existing plant material. Utility placements and proposed contour changes are not necessary if they have no relevance to the placement of plant material. However, they might be useful to the installer if there are slope issues with the site or if utilities placements are required. The planting plan is used to show the location of all new plant material. Proposed plants are drawn with a symbol that designates their center. Several size circles representing different sized plant material can be created with a ‘+’ used to designate circle centers using the centerpoint.rb plug-in. Each size circle is then grouped with the center point for easy placement. You may choose to make each a component and add a definition name and save it into you components folder. Since this is a construction document, foliage details do not need to be shown, only circles.
Construction Documents (Construction Documents)
Installation of hardscape material will require construction drawings and details. Hardscape is defined as, “the inanimate elements of landscaping, especially any masonry work or woodwork. For instance, stone walls, concrete or brick patios, tile paths, wooden decks and wooden arbors would all be considered part of the hardscape. But by extension, anything used in landscaping that is not part of the softscape can be considered a hardscape element…” (http://landscaping.about.com/cs/lazylandscaping/g/hardscape.htm). Construction drawings and details may be required for but not limited to:
Throughout the design process, groups and layers have been created and should also be used when creating construction details. Groups and layers will help to keep your model organized and make it easier to select and move objects in the construction detail or drawing. Several types of drawing or details may be required:
Plan enlargements (details) are a small part of the overall drawing. They are details that highlight certain aspects of a particular drawing (Figure 28). They might focus on a particular joint assembly or the attachment of one object to another.
Figure 28. Construction Documents – Detail View
Elevations are straight on views of the front, left, or right side of an object (Figure 29). Elevations will show the overall dimensions of the object and will indicate if any details exist. Details are indicated by a circle divided in half horizontally. The top number indicates elevation, wall section, or detail number and the bottom number indicated the sheet reference.
Figure 29. Construction Documents – Elevation View
Sections are details that have been sliced in half (Figure 30).
Figure 30. Construction Documents – Section View
Isometric views are 3 dimensional views of the entire model (Figure 31).
Figure 31. Construction Documents – Isometric View
The construction drawings and details should be legible and easy to read. Notes should be organized and completely define the scope of work required. They should also describe any materials used or finishes required. Drawings should also include dimensions if not printed-to-scale. Dimensions will eliminate the need to scale the drawing.
SketchUp provides the necessary tools to easily toggle between the different views. Isometric, top, front, right, back, and left are standard tools. Another unique feature that SketchUp provides is the ability to toggle between parallel projection (simulated 2D) and perspective views (3D). Switching between the two allows you to view your model in perspective and non-perspective views (Figures 32, 33).
Figure 32. Construction Documents – Perspective View, 3D
Figure 33. Construction Documents – Parallel Projection View, Simulated 2D
To toggle between the two (Figure 34):
Figure 34. Construction Documents – Toggling Views (Perspective vs. Parallel Projection)
Use the leader line and dimension tools to add notes and dimensions to your drawings. Scenes can be used to switch between the different views. Leader lines and dimensions can be grouped in each scene and added to a layer for visibility. Since Layout gives you the ability to view your scenes, this will very helpful when organizing your drawings and details for presentation.
Contained in Layout are a set of default templates. These templates are available when models are sent from SketchUp to Layout. Templates include cover pages and title blocks that can be useful when starting. Custom templates can be created and saved for future use.
Layout also has its own set of tools for drawing, adding text, and leader lines. Several image file types can be inserted, text documents, or draw directly from scratch. Once the final presentation is complete; it can be printed, exported as a PDF, or viewed as a full-screen slide-show.
In addition to the above features, Layout also behaves very similar to SketchUp giving users to ability to use inference lines to match up objects within the document. Also, like SketchUp, Layout has layers which enable users to display objects on all or certain pages. And because SketchUp and Layout are directly linked, users can double click on the model window and orbit the model to change its current view.
Scenes that were created in SketchUp are available in Layout’s context menu so users can choose which view best fits their presentation. For printing or presenting your model to a certain scale, there are multiple ones to choose from. To begin, there are two ways to add models to Layout:
1. Directly from SketchUp File Send to Layout
2. From within Layout File Insert
By using the insert command, you can also insert text documents and image files.
To set up a template for use, begin by opening Layout. When Layout opens, a dialogue box, ‘getting started’ opens and the options of selecting a new template or using one previously created. If a previous made one isn’t available, select ‘default templates’. There are a number of templates to choose from (Figure 23).
Figure 23. Layout - Default Templates in Layout
Choose a template by double clicking on it. Each template has a default paper and if you want to change the document size to something other than the default size (Figure 24):
- File
- Document Setup
- Small dialogue window opens with options
- Select paper
Figure 24. Layout - Document Setup
Use the drop down menu to select a paper size and choose your printer margins. Check the specifications for your printer since margins can vary between them (Figure 25).
Figure 25. Layout – Selecting Paper Size
The document will resize itself, but the title bar remains the same size. To resize the title bar, first unlock the layer it’s on. To the right of the document are different menus. Scroll down to the layers menu and to the right of the layer titles are little locks. These are so that items don’t get moved around. Unlock the layers by clicking the lock. Now select the entire title bar and move the curser to one corner. While holding the shift key down, click and drag the title bar to resize. Holding the shift key resizes the title bar proportionately. It’s also a good idea to have the margin lines displayed so that the title bar doesn’t become oversized. To turn on the margin lines, check the margin box in the document setup menu (Figure 26).
Figure 26. Layout – Adding Margins Box
Using the square tool, borders for your model can be created. The line weight of the border or title bar and color can also be changed. To alter the line weights or colors, use the color and shape style menu to the right. Double click the text boxes to edit them. Once the template is set-up, it can be used over and over again. To save the template for future use:
- File
- Choose ‘Save as Template’
- Small dialogue box appears
- Type name of template
- Click ‘ok’
Now the model can be inserted into Layout (Figure 27). To insert models:
- File
- Choose ‘insert’
- Navigate to the model
- Click ‘open’
The model will appear and in the SketchUp Model menu, there is a drop-down menu for choosing scenes. Select a scene for viewing.
Figure 27. Layout – Inserted SketchUp Model
To add pages, in the pages menu, click the plus sign to add more pages. Double click the default page title to edit the name to reflect the function of the page.
Planting Plan (Preparing the Planting Plan)
Planting plans are essentially construction documents that are required for the installation of all plant material. The base sheet for a planting plan is usually the same as the grading plan. The plan should also show all site structures, pavements and existing plant material. Utility placements and proposed contour changes are not necessary if they have no relevance to the placement of plant material. However, they might be useful to the installer if there are slope issues with the site or if utilities placements are required. The planting plan is used to show the location of all new plant material. Proposed plants are drawn with a symbol that designates their center. Several size circles representing different sized plant material can be created with a ‘+’ used to designate circle centers using the centerpoint.rb plug-in. Each size circle is then grouped with the center point for easy placement. You may choose to make each a component and add a definition name and save it into you components folder. Since this is a construction document, foliage details do not need to be shown, only circles.
Construction Documents (Construction Documents)
Installation of hardscape material will require construction drawings and details. Hardscape is defined as, “the inanimate elements of landscaping, especially any masonry work or woodwork. For instance, stone walls, concrete or brick patios, tile paths, wooden decks and wooden arbors would all be considered part of the hardscape. But by extension, anything used in landscaping that is not part of the softscape can be considered a hardscape element…” (http://landscaping.about.com/cs/lazylandscaping/g/hardscape.htm). Construction drawings and details may be required for but not limited to:
- Side walks
- Brick pavers
- Patios and decks
- Retaining walls
- Plant installation
Throughout the design process, groups and layers have been created and should also be used when creating construction details. Groups and layers will help to keep your model organized and make it easier to select and move objects in the construction detail or drawing. Several types of drawing or details may be required:
- Plan enlargements
- Elevations
- Sections
- Isometric
Plan enlargements (details) are a small part of the overall drawing. They are details that highlight certain aspects of a particular drawing (Figure 28). They might focus on a particular joint assembly or the attachment of one object to another.
Figure 28. Construction Documents – Detail View
Elevations are straight on views of the front, left, or right side of an object (Figure 29). Elevations will show the overall dimensions of the object and will indicate if any details exist. Details are indicated by a circle divided in half horizontally. The top number indicates elevation, wall section, or detail number and the bottom number indicated the sheet reference.
Figure 29. Construction Documents – Elevation View
Sections are details that have been sliced in half (Figure 30).
Figure 30. Construction Documents – Section View
Isometric views are 3 dimensional views of the entire model (Figure 31).
Figure 31. Construction Documents – Isometric View
The construction drawings and details should be legible and easy to read. Notes should be organized and completely define the scope of work required. They should also describe any materials used or finishes required. Drawings should also include dimensions if not printed-to-scale. Dimensions will eliminate the need to scale the drawing.
SketchUp provides the necessary tools to easily toggle between the different views. Isometric, top, front, right, back, and left are standard tools. Another unique feature that SketchUp provides is the ability to toggle between parallel projection (simulated 2D) and perspective views (3D). Switching between the two allows you to view your model in perspective and non-perspective views (Figures 32, 33).
Figure 32. Construction Documents – Perspective View, 3D
Figure 33. Construction Documents – Parallel Projection View, Simulated 2D
To toggle between the two (Figure 34):
- Camera
- Select parallel projection
- Select perspective
Figure 34. Construction Documents – Toggling Views (Perspective vs. Parallel Projection)
Use the leader line and dimension tools to add notes and dimensions to your drawings. Scenes can be used to switch between the different views. Leader lines and dimensions can be grouped in each scene and added to a layer for visibility. Since Layout gives you the ability to view your scenes, this will very helpful when organizing your drawings and details for presentation.
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