Introducing the Blue Axis
When you open a new SketchUp document using the "Architectural Design - Feet and Inches" template, you see Sang, the faceless SketchUp model standing next to a blue line that rises up into infinity. Meet the blue axis, as shown in Figure 3-1. When you create 2-D works of art, like those in Chapter 2, the blue axis is there, but it's irrelevant. You have the green axis, which appears to run up and down the drawing area, and the red axis, which runs left to right. The blue axis runs perpendicular to that plane, but you never draw lines or move objects along that axis. When SketchUp opens a new document with the "Architectural Design - Feet and Inches" template, you start off in an angled view that gives you a better feeling for the three axes and the three-dimensional world. As you work in SketchUp, you'll find it helpful to use one of the head-on views—Top or Front—when you want to draw on a particular plane. Then use the Orbit tool to see an angled view, where it's easier to visualize all three dimensions and inspect your project, as shown in Figure 3-2.
Note: If you need a refresher course on setting up templates, see page 23.
Front view is a head-on view, similar to Top view. In Front view, the blue and red axes rule, and the green axis isn't really available. The thing to remember is that if you want to make sure a line runs along a particular axis, use one of the head-on views that presents the axis you need.
Figure 3-2:
Select the Orbit tool, and then drag to change your view of the model. With a three-button mouse, drag the middle button to orbit. Probably the most entertaining view tool, the Orbit tool makes your model come alive in three dimensions.
The model for this classic 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B came from the Google 3D Warehouse.
Hint
As you've seen in the earlier chapters, SketchUp helps you draw with its snapping action, making it easy to draw lines along a particular axis. To get a feel for drawing lines in 3-D, follow these quick steps.
Figure 3-2:
Select the Orbit tool, and then drag to change your view of the model. With a three-button mouse, drag the middle button to orbit. Probably the most entertaining view tool, the Orbit tool makes your model come alive in three dimensions.
The model for this classic 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B came from the Google 3D Warehouse.
Hint
Orbit toolbutton
Orbit toolbutton
1. Go to Top view Camera ^ Standard Views ^ Top.
Your drawing area changes to look like Figure 3-3.
2. With the Line (L) tool, draw a line parallel to the green axis, and then press Esc.
When you click the first point, a rubber band line stretches from that point to the Line cursor. When you're on the green axis, the rubber band line turns green and a tooltip says "On Green Axis". When you click a second time, you set the endpoint for the line. The rubber band line is replaced by your newly drawn line, and a new rubber band line connects your cursor to the last clicked point. When you press Esc, the rubber band line disappears.
3. Draw a second line (not connected to the first) parallel to the red axis, and then press Esc.
Your two lines are on the same plane. In Top view, you can't position objects up and down the blue axis, but you can see a diagonal blue line that represents the blue axis.
■First line on green axis
-Second line on red axis
Sang looking two dimensional
Figure 3-3:
When you're in Top view, it's easy to draw lines or move objects along the red and green axes. Because the Top view is one of the head-on views, everything feels very two-dimensional. The blue axis isn't available until you change views.
4. Change to the Front view Camera ^ Standard Views ^ Front, and use the Line (L) tool to draw two more unconnected lines parallel to the blue and red axes.
In Front view it's easy to snap your lines to the blue and red axes, but you can't draw on the green axis.
5. Change to the Iso view (Camera ^ Standard Views ^ Iso).
In this view you have a better 3-D view of the drawing area. The line you drew in the blue axis is obviously in a different plane from the first two lines you drew. In Iso view you can draw along all three axes, but it takes a little more patience to get the right angle to show the "on axis" tooltip.
Architect's Glossary: Isometric projection is a drawing method that provides an accurate scale for measurements. It's a useful design tool, but it doesn't simulate the way we see objects in perspective. SketchUp's Iso view is simply an angled view, not an isometric projection. You can get an approximate sense of an isometric projection by clicking Iso and then choosing Camera ^ Parallel Projection. To switch back from Parallel projection, choose Camera ^ Perspective.
6. With the Line tool, draw a line parallel to the blue axis, and then (without pressing Esc) draw a connected line parallel to the green axis.
The two lines create an L shape. If you find it difficult to draw a line on the blue axis, press the up arrow key. This key forces the line to be drawn on the blue axis. (Use the right arrow for the red axis and the left arrow for green.)
7. Draw a third connected line parallel to the red axis, and then press Esc.
Remember, when the lines are on axis, they change to the color of the axis. This three-part line clearly lives in 3-D space.
8. Use the Orbit (O or middle mouse button) tool to examine your creation, Sticks in Space (Figure 3-4).
Move around so you can see this abstract masterpiece from top, bottom, front, back, left, and right. As you move, you get a sense of the spatial relationship between the lines.
As you work in 3-D, remember that if you want to draw on a single plane, you can use one of the head-on views: Front, Back, Top, Bottom, Left, or Right. These views make it easy to draw on two axes and prevent you from accidentally spilling over into another plane. If you want to understand the 3-D relationship of objects, the Iso view and the Orbit tool are your friends.
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