Cartoon Bones Shapes

Many models start with basic shapes. In SketchUp, the shape tools help you draw rectangles, circles, and polygons. You lot find these tools on the Getting Started toolbar, the Cartoon toolbar, and the Large Tool Set toolbar.

Table of Contents
  1. Drawing a rectangle or square
  2. Drawing a rotated rectangle
  3. Drawing a circle or ellipse
  4. Drawing a polygon
  5. Editing shapes

Drawing a rectangle or square

In SketchUp, you tin can draw rectangles pretty much anywhere:

  • On the ground plane
  • On a vertical plane
  • On existing faces
  • Dissever from existing geometry (aligned to an axes airplane)
  • Inferenced from existing geometry

To draw a rectangle with the Rectangle tool, follow these steps:

  1. Select the Rectangle tool () from the toolbar or press the R key. The cursor changes to a pencil with a rectangle.

    Tip: To start over at any signal during these steps, press Esc.

  2. Click to ready the showtime corner indicate of the rectangle. .
  3. Click to set the first corner point of the rectangle. To marshal the aeroplane of your rectangle with a specific drawing centrality or other geometry, printing the arrow cardinal that corresponds your desired alignment, as explained later in this section.
  4. Click to set the starting time corner signal of the rectangle. To align the plane of your rectangle with a specific cartoon axis or other geometry, press the pointer key that corresponds your desired alignment, as explained afterward in this section. If you prefer to draw the rectangle from the center, press the Ctrl key (Windows) or the Option key (macOS).
  5. Move the cursor diagonally to find the desired size and shape for your rectangle. To describe the rectangle with precise dimensions, use the Measurements box, which at this bespeak displays your rectangle'southward dimensions as y'all move the cursor. To help yous identify the rectangle in relation to the drawing axes or other geometry, SketchUp's inference engine displays on-screen cues. When the inference you need appears, move to Stride 4. Both the Measurements box and the Rectangle tool inferences are explained a little later on in this department.
  6. Click again to gear up the second corner point of the rectangle. Your shape appears with a face, as shown in the following effigy.
  7. Click over again to set the second corner point of the rectangle. Or if you're cartoon the rectangle from center, click over again to set up whatever corner point. Your shape appears with a face, as shown in the following figure.
In SketchUp, many 3D models begin with a basic rectangle

As you draw a rectangle, the Measurements box helps you model precisely equally follows:

  • Set the length and width. Type a length value, a comma, a width value, and and so printing Enter. For example, type 8',20' and press Enter. If you lot type only a number or numbers, SketchUp uses the current document units setting. You lot can also override the document units setting by specifying royal (such as 1'6") or metric (such as 3.652m) units.
  • Specify only a length or width. If you enter a value and a comma (3',), the new value is applied to the commencement dimension, and the second dimension doesn't change. Similarly, if you type a comma and and then a value (,iii'), only the second dimension changes.
  • Change the rectangle'due south position with negative numbers. If you enter a negative value (–24, –24), SketchUp applies that value in a direction reverse to the one that you indicated while cartoon.

Tip: Yous don't need to click in the Measurements box before you type a value. As y'all depict, the Measurements box is waiting for you to type precise measurements if yous choose to do so. Also, until yous select another tool or draw another rectangle, you tin can use the Measurements box to change a rectangle's dimensions every bit many times equally yous like.

Note: If you're using a non-English language keyboard, utilize a comma to betoken the decimal place and a semi-colon to separate the dimensions. For instance, you might enter two sides of a rectangle equally: 7,6m;4,3m

As y'all move your cursor with the Rectangle tool selected, the SketchUp inference engine displays the following cues:

  • Square: When the rectangle's proportions are a perfect square, y'all see blueish dots and the Square ScreenTip appear. See Callout 1.
  • Gold section: A golden department is a rectangle in which the ratio of the longer side to the shorter side is a gilded ratio. When a rectangle is a gilt department, blue dots and the Gold Section Screen tip appear. Come across Callout two.

    You can agree down the Shift cardinal to lock this inference while dragging.

When you draw a rectangle in SketchUp, the inference engine tells you when your rectangle is a square or golden section

In the video, you can run across these features of the Rectangle tool in action.

Drawing a rotated rectangle

The Rotated Rectangle Tool can come up in handy when you need to describe a rectangle whose confront is at an bending to SketchUp's default crimson, green, or bluish axes or to other geometry.

Like the Rectangle tool, the Rotated Rectangle tool enables you to create precise rectangles and squares and displays inferences to assist you as you draw. All the same, when you create a rectangle with the Rotated Rectangle tool, y'all position the rectangle at an angle besides. The post-obit figure is an case of a rectangle created with the Rotated Rectangle tool.

A rotated rectangle in SketchUp

To create a rotated rectangle, follow these steps:

  1. On the toolbar, from the Shape Tools card, select the Rotated Rectangle tool (). Or select Draw > Shapes > Rotated Rectangle from the menu bar.
  2. (Optional) Press an arrow cardinal to ready the airplane for your rotated rectangle, per the tabular array that appears earlier in this article. For example, press the left arrow key to constrain the airplane of your rotated rectangle to the green airplane.
  3. Click once to ready the first corner of your rectangle.
  4. Create the first edge of your rotated rectangle. You lot tin can do this in two means:
    • Type a precise measurement and press Enter.
    • Or move the cursor where you lot desire to place the 2d endpoint of this border, using the SketchUp inference engine to position the endpoint in relation to the axes or other geometry, as shown in the following figure, and and then click.

      Tip: You tin use a few modifier keys every bit you complete this step. Hold downwards the Shift fundamental to constrain the first edge to its current direction. The Alt (Windows) or Command (macOS) cardinal locks the protractor plane. Or the pointer keys can again help you align the first edge to an axis. Simply press the arrow fundamental that corresponds your desired alignment, as explained earlier in this section. For example, press the right arrow key to constrain the first edge so it'southward aligned with the blood-red axis.

      Create the first edge of a rotated rectangle in SketchUp
  5. At this point, you set the width and angle of your rectangle. You lot tin can prepare these values in a few unlike ways:
    • Blazon an bending and width into the Measurements box, following the prompt.
    • Blazon a width and angle into the Measurements box, post-obit the prompt.
    • Move around the protractor to ready the angle, and motility your cursor away from the centre of the protractor to set the width, as shown in the following figure. To constrain the angle, hold down the Shift key. Click to finish creating the rotated rectangle.

Tip: Printing the Alt (Windows) or Command (macOS) primal to set the protractor baseline at the cursor's current position so motility the cursor to measure the bending from the baseline you set. This method is helpful if you want to measure out the angle from a betoken other than the baseline set in Footstep 3. A dashed line appears then you can see the new baseline.

Inferences can help you align a rotated rectangle with nearby geometry

Inferences can help you align a rotated rectangle with nearby geometry

Notation: if you lot're using a non-English keyboard, you'll want to use a comma to indicate the decimal place and a semi-colon to separate the values in the Measurements box. For example, you might enter the angle and width of the second edge as 43,two;8,2m to get an angle that's 43,two degrees and 8,2 meters long.

Note: if you lot're using a non-English keyboard, y'all'll desire to use a comma to indicate the decimal place and a semi-colon to separate the values in the Measurements box. For case, yous might enter the width and bending of the 2d border equally 8,2m; 43,two to get a width that's eight,two meters long and angle that'southward 43,2 degrees .

Drawing a circle or ellipse

Before you draw a circle, it's helpful to empathise how SketchUp creates circumvolve entities:

  • Circle entities have a radius and connect multiple line segments.
  • These segments act equally a single line in that they can define the edge of a face and dissever a face. Additionally, selecting one segment selects the entire circle entity.
  • SketchUp'southward inference engine withal sees the segments in the circumvolve. So, if you hover your mouse effectually the circumference of the circumvolve entity, you'll meet endpoint and midpoint inferences.

To describe a circle, follow these steps:

  1. On the toolbar, select the Circle tool () from the drop-downward bill of fare adjacent to the Rectangle tool. Or press the C key. The cursor changes to a pencil with a circle, and the Measurements box indicates the default number of sides: 24, equally shown in the figure. To alter the number of sides, you tin can blazon a value now or expect until after you lot're washed drawing the circumvolve.
  2. Click to place the middle point of the circle. The Measurements box changes to display the circumvolve's radius. You lot can type a radius value now or immediately after you lot depict the circle.
  3. Click to place the center point of the circle. To align the plane of your circle with a specific drawing axis or other geometry, press the pointer fundamental that corresponds your desired alignment. For example, the up arrow aligns the circumvolve's airplane with the blue axis. Run across the table in Cartoon a rectangle or foursquare for details.The Measurements box changes to display the circle's radius. You can type a radius value now or immediately after you lot draw the circle.
  4. Move the cursor out from the center point to define the circle's radius. As you move the cursor, the radius value is displayed dynamically in the Measurements box. Printing Esc at any point to start over.
  5. Click to end the circle. SketchUp creates a circumvolve-shaped face, as shown in the effigy.

  6. (Optional) Until you select a new tool or draw a new circle, you can use the Measurements box to alter the circumvolve'southward radius or the number of sides as follows:
    • To modify the number of sides: Type a number and the letter S (for example, type 5s for 5 sides or 42s for 42 sides). Then printing Enter.
    • To change the number of sides: Type a number and the letter S (for instance, type 5s for 5 sides or 42s for 42 sides). Then press Enter. Alternately, y'all tin concord down the Ctrl central (Microsoft Windows) or the Pick central (macOS) while pressing the + or - to increase or subtract the number of sides, respectively. If you lot're using a French Canadian keyboard, hold downward the Ctrl central (Microsoft Windows) and the +/= central to increment the segments. For macOS, press Command and = to increment segments or - to decrease segments.
    • To change the radius: Type a number and a unit (if desired), such as vi", 8', 34cm, or 7m. Then press Enter or Return.

      Tip: The Entity Info dialog box offers a handy way to edit the sides and radius values anytime. Run across Editing shapes later in this article for details.

To describe an ellipse or oval, follow these steps:

  1. Draw a circle with the Circle tool.
  2. Select the Scale tool ().
  3. Click the circle. A bounding box with 8 greenish grips is displayed around the circle.
  4. Click ane of the middle grips (not one of the corner grips) and move the mouse to pull the circle into an ellipse, every bit shown here.
  5. Click again when y'all're done scaling the circle.

Drawing a polygon

You tin create polygon entities with the Polygon tool. (No surprise there.) However, here are a few facts that you may not know about polygons, merely that are handy to know as you lot draw them:

  • In SketchUp, a polygon has a radius and iii or more sides. So the size of your polygon is measured from a eye signal, and the number of sides determines the type of polygon you draw. A pentagon as 5 sides; an octagon has eight sides.
  • Polygon entities act as a single line in that they can define the edge of a face up and besides split a face up. Selecting 1 side of the polygon selects the unabridged polygon.
  • The SketchUp inference engine interprets each side of a polygon as a segment. As yous hover your cursor over a polygon, you see endpoint, midpoint, and from point inferences.
  • You can draw polygons on faces or separate from existing geometry.

Follow these steps to draw a polygon:

  1. Select the Polygon tool () on the toolbar. The cursor changes to a pencil with a polygon. The Measurements box indicates the current number of sides. To alter the number of sides in your polygon, you lot can blazon a number value now or expect until afterwards y'all're done drawing.
  2. Click to place the center point of the polygon. The Measurements box changes to display the radius. Y'all can type a radius value now or immediately afterwards you draw the polygon.
  3. Click to place the center indicate of the polygon. To align the airplane of your polygon with a specific drawing centrality or other geometry, press the arrow key that corresponds your desired alignment. For example, the up arrow marshal's the polygon'southward plane with the bluish axis. See the earlier table in Drawing a rectangle or square for details.The Measurements box changes to display the radius. You can type a radius value now or immediately later on you draw the polygon.
  4. Move the cursor out from the middle indicate to define the radius of your polygon. As yous motion the cursor, the radius value is displayed dynamically in the Measurements box. To specify the radius, blazon a value and press Enter. You tin can also press Esc to start over.
  5. Click a second time to finish the polygon. Here, you see a 5-sided polygon.
  6. (Optional) Until you select a new tool or draw a new polygon, you tin can use the Measurements box to change the radius or the number of sides as follows:
    • To change the number of sides: Type a number and the letter Southward (for example, type 5s for 5 sides or 42s for 42 sides). And then press Enter.
    • To alter the number of sides: Blazon a number and the letter S (for example, type 5s for v sides or 42s for 42 sides). And so press Enter. Alternately, you lot can agree down the Ctrl cardinal (Microsoft Windows) or the Pick cardinal (macOS) while pressing the + or - to increment or subtract the number of sides, respectively. If y'all're using a French Canadian keyboard, hold downwardly the Ctrl key (Microsoft Windows) and the +/= primal to increment the segments. For macOS, press Command and = to increment segments or - to decrease segments.
    • To change the radius: Type a number and a unit (if desired), such equally 6", viii', 34cm, or 7m. And then press Enter or Return.

    Tip: Although the Polygon tool works similarly to the Circle tool, the difference between the tools becomes apparent when y'all push/pull a circle or polygon into a 3D shape. The circle'southward edges wait smooth, only a polygon's edges show distinct sides, as shown here.


In this live-action video, yous can see the Circle and Polygon tools demonstrate all their stunts.

Editing shapes

The Entity Info dialog box enables you to modify a circumvolve or polygon'south radius or sides anytime after you create the shape. Here'south how:

  1. Context-click an edge (not the confront) of a circle or polygon that y'all desire to edit.
  2. Select Entity Info from the context card that appears, as shown hither.
  3. In the Entity Info panel, click in the Radius or Segments box, change the value, and press Enter (Microsoft Windows) or Return (Mac). After you lot printing Enter or Return, your shape immediately reflects your changes.

SketchUp doesn't enable y'all to modify the width or length of a rectangle at anytime. If you've already selected some other tool or fatigued boosted rectangles, you need to erase the rectangle yous want to change and redraw it. See Drawing a rectangle for details. Or resize the rectangle with the Scale tool if you don't demand to enter precise dimensions.

Of course, you can do much more than just modify a shape'due south size. You can plow a 2D shape into a 3D shape with the Button/Pull tool. Y'all can distort shapes with the Move tool or calibration all or part of your model.