TIEBIAOJI SketchUp Tutorials

View CrossSections with Section Planes

In the previous section, you learned how to walk through walls by using the Walk tool. That's nothing compared with what you can do with the Section tool. Using SketchUp Windows" href="/windows/section-cut-effects.html">section planes, you can slice into a model like it's a layer cake, displaying a cross-section of its innards. The effect is cool in a still image, but it's especially impressive in an animation.

Note: You don't have to be working with scenes to use section cuts and section planes. They're available anytime you're working in SketchUp.

1. Open a fresh copy of modern_house_scenes_begin.skp.

You can find a copy of this SketchUp document at http://missingmanuals.com/cds.

2. Choose Window ^ Outliner.

The Outliner shows that this document has three groups: house, landing, and steps.

3. Double-click the "steps" group.

The "steps" group opens for editing. You aren't really editing when you use section planes to create section cuts in your model. However, you can't apply a section plane to a closed group.

4. Click the Section Plane button (or choose Tools ^ Section Plane).

The cursor changes to a green square with a diamond in the center. As you move the cursor, the square snaps to align with faces and surfaces.

5. Click a vertical face of the stair stringer.

A section plane appears at the point where you clicked. After you add a section plane, usually the first thing you want to do is move the plane; however, you can't just click it with the Move tool. If you try, you end up moving parts of your model. Instead you need to explicitly select the section plane before you move it.

6. Using the Select (space bar) tool, click the section plane.

The section plane displays blue highlights, as shown in Figure 12-16.

7. Using the Move (M) tool, click the section plane. Then move the plane back toward the house and click again.

As the section plane moves back toward the house, it hides the front portion of the stairs, creating a cutaway view of the stairs.

8. Right-click the section plane, and choose Reverse from the shortcut menu. Again right-click the section plane, and choose Reverse from the shortcut menu.

The portion of the stairs that was visible is hidden, and vice versa. The command reverses what is visible and what is hidden by the section plane. After your double-reverse, the portion of the stairs closest to the house is visible.

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plane button

Figure 12-16:

The section plane is an imaginary plane that you can move to reveal the innards of your model. Here the blue frame and arrows indicate that the section plane is selected.

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plane in ^ model

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plane button

Figure 12-16:

The section plane is an imaginary plane that you can move to reveal the innards of your model. Here the blue frame and arrows indicate that the section plane is selected.

9. Right-click away from the section plane and choose Close Group.

The "stairs" group closes and you see the entire house model in its full glory. The section plane and the section cut are still visible.

Note: section plane refers to the selectable object that controls the cutaway effect. section cut refers to the visual cutaway effect created by the section plane.

10. Go to View ^ Section Planes.

In the View menu the checkmark next to Section Planes disappears. In the modeling window the section plane disappears, too.

11. Go to View ^ Section Cuts.

In the View menu, Section Cuts is deselected. In the modeling window, all traces of the section plane and the section cut are gone. You can bring them back anytime using the same commands.

Section planes, like animations, are one of those SketchUp effects that are bound to get oohs and aahs from an audience. They're not only cool, but they're also a great way to provide extra information about your model, whether it's a building, a piece of furniture, or the latest hydrogen fuel cell-powered automobile.

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