TUTORIAL: Working with 3d warehouse components; copy and paste functions

Hi guys

I know it has been a while since I updated my blog (a month, in fact) but uni has been bogging me down and I haven’t had time to update Gold Coast Stadium. I have been working on a few other projects which will have pictures coming soon. 

Anyway, I received a question today and I feel this is the best way to answer it. I was asked about working with 3d warehouse components and how to make multiple copies of each component. This is the perfect area for a tutorial as it covers several key commands within Sketchup. In this tutorial, we will explore downloading from the 3d warehouse, copying, pasting, mathematical functions and the component window by working with a row of trees. 

Firstly, open up Sketchup and go to the 3d warehouse search tool. Alternatively, this can be done with a web browser at www.sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse and following the prompts.

 

Search for ‘tree’ in the search box and pick one you like. I took the bamboo tree by Google for this. Click download, and click yes if asked to automatically add to model, before clicking in your workspace to place the tree. For those using a browser, click open instead of save.

 

If you want to create multiple trees in different locations, not along any fixed path, click the copy button at the top-left of your workspace, then click the paste button (located to the right of the copy button) and then click where in your workspace you would like the tree.

 

Keep clicking paste, and clicking on your workspace, until you have the assortment of trees you want as illustrated below.

 

Let’s say, however, that you want a row of trees which are located 8m apart. Click the back button until you have your original tree. Click on the move tool (a red 4-directional arrow) and press the CTRL key (command on Mac). Drag the tree in whatever direction you want. Type in the number 8 and you will see, in the bottom left corner, the measurement toolbar shows 8.

 

Hit enter, then before clicking anything else, type in *5 and hit enter.

 

If you click the zoom extents button (4 blue arrows extending away from a magnifying glass, you will see something like this.

 

What you have just done is use the mathematical functions. These allow you to save a lot of time in performing repetitive tasks. The key to using these is to press the CTRL key. You will notice that when you do this, the cursor gets a little + sign next to it. This indicates, essentially, you are adding to your model. The same technique works when selecting objects; press the CTRL key and click on multiple objects, and all of them will be selected. If you are working on a model, and cannot find the original component, it is easy to get another one. Go to Window – Components and click the In Model (home) button. Click on the component you would like, and then click on the workspace to add it again.

I hope this tutorial has helped you all when working with 3d warehouse components. Feel free to add a question in the comments section below. 

PompeY2J