Google - SketchUp

Lesson 13: 3D Drawing (2)

3D drawing with the Line tool (2)

Finishing the cube further is actually the same.

First, determine a reference point by placing the mouse pointer on this.
Move the mouse pointer up. As long as you remain on the axis of the reference point, the black dotted line is visible.

 

When you reach the point from where you are going to draw a parallel line, click the red guideline.

However, if you know the correct distance from the bottom edge on the base, you can use the mouse to move parallel to the red axis, type a number such as 200, and press the Enter key.

 

This will automatically place the new edge in parallel with the bottom edge, and thus they are of the same size.

 

Do the same for the vertical edge, just follow the blue axis, but I think, you had already understood that.

When you have clicked the final endpoint of the second axis, this plane is automatically filled.

 

For the third level we do the same:
You click the first endpoint

 

You move the mouse pointer over the reference point.

 

This moves the cursor vertically, a black dotted guideline appears.
When you’ve reached the correct endpoint a green guideline appears, which means that the line you are about to draw is parallel to the green axis.
And you click.

 

The second line is drawn.

Then we add a vertical line to close the area.
Click the mouse pointer downwards horizontally, and when you’ve reached the end point.

 

The plane is closed, and is automatically filled.

 

And finally we need to draw a line, and this is a line between the two end points of the top corners.

 

Both planes are filled for the simple reason that by drawing this last border, both surfaces are closed.

It may seem difficult initially, but once you’ve practiced, it will run very smoothly and easily.

If you wish to open a plane back, right click the filling area and choose “Delete” from the drop-down menu.

 

Tip!

I had told you in previous lessons that there are two reasons why a plane is not filled. One was if the surface was not closed, and the second was because the border is not parallel to the axis.

A quick way to know which edge is not diagonal with one of the axes, blue, red or green, is to click the “Window” button in the menu bar and selecting “Styles” in the drop-down menu.
In the dialog that appears, choose the “Edit” tab in the box and choose “By axis” in “Color” box. This will paint the color of all the axes which are parallel with one of the axis.
If an edge is not parallel to one of the three axis, it is colored black.
Remove this edge with the eraser and draw it again.

For all edges back to a black color, which was the default option, select “All Identical” in the drop-down menu of the “Color” box in the dialog.

Awesome!
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