Select a tool and it will tell you what you can do with it, and which keyboard shortcuts work with it. The Inspector for instance is particularly useful if you’re starting out. The options on the right have multiple purposes. The arrow keys are also useful to lock yourself in a particular plane as you’re drawing. But SketchUp has a few handy tricks to help you out, such as the line or area you’re creating taking on the colour of the plane it’s being drawn in (red, blue or green). Working in 3D can be tricky though as it’s all too easy to think you’re working in one plane while you’re actually building in another.

That tool is incredibly versatile and is the go-to option for cutting out doors and windows, or even shave off circular edges off a rectangular block, for instance.Īs you get into this app you’ll find yourself appreciating the versatility mixed with complexity that offers limitless potential. Click on that offset you just created, move the cursor up, and all of a sudden you’ve erected walls around your home. The Push/Pull tool has many uses - in this case, you can erect walls in seconds (Image credit: Trimble)įollowing on from that is the Push/Pull tool.

Trimble sketchup free