SketchUp for Interior Design

Introduction to LayOut
Files
We will use the files in the J:\Student
Shared\skid\student project files folder from last
session. You can copy it to your Flash drive or
Online Storage.

Inside the Layout

folder are files for
the lecture.
Layout is a professional version only tool. It is a
page creation program. In SketchUp you work on
the model in full size, 3D. In LayOut you place the
model on a page to print.

The following slides are examples from

professionals of what can be done using Layout.
Mario Chabot

http://www.formation-sketchup-quebec.com/Formation_SketchUP/Bienvenu_%21.html
Dan Tyree

http://sketchupdate.blogspot.in/search/label/LayOut?updated-max=2011-06-23T12:51:00-06:00&max-results=20&start=6&by-date=false
Peter Wells

http://sketchupdate.blogspot.in/search/label/LayOut?updated-max=2011-06-23T12:51:00-06:00&max-results=20&start=6&by-
date=false
Robertson Walsh

http://sketchupdate.blogspot.in/search/label/LayOut?updated-max=2011-06-23T12:51:00-06:00&max-results=20&start=6&by-
d t f l
Nick Sonders -
Video Files can be located in LayOut folder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnHrdUCenzs
Our biggest task before starting to put the
SketchUp file in LayOut is to set up the different
scenes. We will be using a unique style. Copy the
My Styles Folder into the default location in the
SketchUp program: C:\Program Files
(x86)\SketchUp\SketchUp 2014\Styles. Inside My
Styles are two styles called Working Drawings and
Working Drawings Textured.
Copy My Scrapbooks, and My Templates Folders
into the default location in the SketchUp program:
C:\Users\your k-number\
AppData\Roaming\SketchUp\SketchUp
2014\LayOut.

The copied files are special styles and materials

that will help us put together the LayOut file.
We need to set up the SketchUp file first to bring it into
LayOut. Open the cabin file with kitchen. If you don't
have one to date, there is one in j:\student
shared\skid\student project files. We will use this file to
generate the views in Layout.
We will want to cut a section view looking down.
Click the section plane tool and position the plane
on the walk in closet.
A plane is created cutting through the top of the
model. Use the move tool to position it about 4'
from the ground. We want to be below the upper
cabs but above the kitchen window sill.
Toggle off the visibility of the cutting plane using
the Display Section Planes Tool. Click the Display
Section Cut Tool to not cut the model.
Use this setting for the plan
Click on plan view, zoom extents and camera >
parallel projection.
Click Window>Styles and select the My Styles
folder we copied in at the beginning of the class.
Click Working Drawing. You might need to click
display section cuts again.
Make a new scene called Floor Plan. Do not include
it in the animation. Check off all the bottom
settings.
Our goal is to make the kitchen portion of the
SketchUp file match the CAD drawing.
Make the door layer not visible. This opens the
doorways. Update the scene.
Make the style xray. This will help us locate the
dishwasher. Create a new scene named
undercounter. Save as a new style if asked.

Make it a new
style if asked.
Save the file. All these steps
were to needed make the
SketchUp model ready for
LayOut.

It is usually best to make

scenes and layers as desired
in the SketchUp model before
putting it in Layout.

We will still need to go back

to the SketchUp model as we
work on the project in
LayOut.
Now we can begin to set
up LayOut. Minimize
SketchUp. Open Layout.

Click the Start Button

Scroll Down to the

SketchUp 2014 folder

Click on the folder to

open. Click on Layout.
Select My Templates> KCC-11x17. Save as
Kitchen Project-your initials.
In the student project files
folder that was copied, there
is a Set Up LayOut handout
(this can also be found on
the Resource Page in Angel.)

You can follow the steps if

you ever purchase the full
SketchUp program at home. Some Toolbars will not
be available at home.

For this lecture we will use They are for the Pro
version only or for
the default settings. another software that
will be used later this
semester.
Click Edit>Preferences>Folders to set up the
location of the copied files. Click the + symbol to set
the My Scrapbook file location.

Some Toolbars will not

be available at home.

They are for the Pro

version only or for
another software that
will be used later this
semester.
Click Window>Show tray. After you get
comfortable with the program, you can deselect
Instructor from the list. The trays have helpful
tools.

Click the titles to

expand the tray.
Look at the options.
Notice the Sheet Info box in Layers. It is designed
to have long sheet names. Click Layers in the Tray
and make TTB-Sheet Names-2 lines not visible.
Click on the title
block info and
revise the text.

It works similarly to
a text box in Word.
Use CAD Standards for sheet naming
 Open layers and create a new layer named
viewport. We'll bring all the views into this layer.

The pencil icon notes

the current layer.
Click File>Insert and go to the location where you
have the cabin plan. It will come in with the last
saved view.
Three different ways to insert a SketchUp model:
raster, vector and hybrid:
Raster will generate an image of the scene and save
that as what you see in the viewport, showing all
textures and sketchy edges from the SketchUp style.
This is the fastest setting for a viewport, but you
loose quality when you zoom in and the viewport
can appear pixelated.

Vector will replace all sketchy edge styles and

textures for solid colors, but will produce accurate,
crisp edges even when zoomed up. Clipping planes
and X-ray styles will not work in vector mode and it
can take more processing power to generate .

Hybrid will produce vector edges, but will generate a

raster image of the textures. This is also processor
intensive.

p. 110-111,Matt Donley, SketchUp to LayOut, 2014

http://www.sketchuptolayout.com/
Click on SketchUp Model tray and select the
Undercounter scene. Change scale to 1/2" = 1'-0".

The default is raster.

Here we can change
it if we want.
The viewport comes in with a center node and a
rotation circle. Click and drag to rotate 90°. Click
the grips to focus the view on the kitchen. Lock the
Viewport Layer.

Leave some space at the

bottom for dimensions
and the title.
Make a layer Graphics. Make it current. Click the
rectangles tool and then the Shape Style tray.
Change as below. Draw a rectangle to represent
the dishwasher. We may need to draw the shape
first then adjust with the grips. Use the
undercounter info as a guide.
The way the layers are stacked is important. Imagine layers
as sheets of paper on top of each other. Click and drag the
Graphics layer below the Viewport layer and the med cab is
not visible - the med cab is below the viewport. Dragging a
layer moves all items on that layer.
Dragging the layer moves everything on that layer.
We can also right click and select Arrange to move
items that are in the same layer on top of another.
Keep the Graphics layer just above the Viewport
Layer.
A dot appears beside the layer text if you click on
an object on that layer.
Use the Line Tool to trace lines for the cabinets
under the counter. Take care not to snap to
drawers or toe kick. Don’t forget the island.
Let's add graphic lines to represent the vaulted
ceiling as well as locate the dishwasher under the
counter. Minimize LayOut. Open the Cabin
SketchUp file. Click on Floor Plan Scene tab.

DO NOT
MOVE OR
PAN THE
VIEW!
Remove the section cut and make the ceiling layer
visible. Create a scene named Ceiling.

Make it a new
style if asked.
If you need to adjust the plan slightly, when you go
into LayOut again, click File>Document setup. Items
that have been changed or are not found are in red.
Click on the red file and either update or unlink. This
is also where to purge the document of items no
longer used. Clicking here will
make checking the
document
automatic but
relinking does take
some time. By
checking the
document manually
you can determine
when to take the
time to relink.
Make the Viewport layer unlocked. Click on the
viewport then the SketchUp Model Tray. Select
Ceiling as the view.
Click the lines tool and then the Shape Style tray.
Set as below. Set Graphics Layer current. Trace
over the vault.
Now that all the lines are traced, click the viewport
and change the scene to floor plan. Lock the
viewport layer.
We will add dimensions next. Up to this point we
had grid snap on. This helped us arrange items on
the page. We want to only snap to the model for
dimensions, though. Click Arrange>Grid Snap to
turn it off! The pulldown shows the current state.
We want it to be Grid Snap Off.

Grid Snap is on Grid Snap is off

Create a Layer
for our
dimensions and
annotations.
Make the Anno-
dims layer
current. Click on
the dimension
tool first then
the Text Style
Tray, Dimension
Style Tray,
Shape Style
Tray. Use the
settings shown.
Make Anno-dims layer current. Zoom up to the
model and place the dimension on the row of
cabinets to the wall. The dimension noted will be
what is on the model.
After the first dimension is placed, double click the
next spot on the model. It continues the dimension
string.
Double click on a dimension to move it. Zoom up
and use the arc tool, solid line to make a 3 point
arc.
The dimension style is set to Auto Scale which means
that the dimension added will match the scale of the
viewport. Occasionally the dimension reverts to actual
size (distance on the paper). When that happens,
select the dimension and click on the dimension style
tray and select the correct dimension. This forces the
dimension scale to not change.
If a dimension is not correct, you can click and
override it (not recommended!) or adjust the
precision and redo the dimension (not
recommended!) or you can correct the model (yes!).
Add an overall dimension and a vertical one. Some
sites recommend placing trim, baseboard, casing
and such on a layer and make it non-visible so that
the dimension does not snap to it.
Make the Anno-text layer current. Click the text
tool. On Text style, make sure it is set for 9 pt.
Make sure fill and stroke is turned off in the Shape
Style tray.
Make Anno-text layer current and add notes. Rotate
to align. A red arrow when making text denotes that
the text box is not big enough. Click and drag the
grips to resize or right click and make unbounded.
Bounded text will be bounded by the text box. It is
good for paragraph type text.

OR
Add text with a leader. Click on the label tool. Set
the Shape Style as below. Click the start of the
leader then where you want the note. Type the text
and press Enter. You may want to adjust the text to
match your firebox and hearth. The leader and note
can be repositioned as needed.
If necessary, click on the leader to adjust the curve
of the arc.

I find clean arcs are

made nicely when
these points meet.
To create a straight leader, click to establish a start
point then move the mouse away. Click again to
begin the note. Click to set. The problem with this
is that notes with straight lines usually have a little
straight line segment. You can move the leader a
bit and manually draw this in.
Add the rest of the text in the Kitchen (look at
architectural floor plan, sheet 2 on pdf). Once the
first text is made, we can copy and change the text.
Keep text horizontal to the page unless in a tight
vertical space or noting a vertical object.
Let's add more
symbols. Select
the jal scrapbook.

Select
References01
page.

Drag the North

Arrow into the
Layout.

Double click inside

the arrow and use
the grip to rotate.
Click to the References02 page and drag the
drawing title. Double click the text to change.

Click to change
pages

Scroll thru the

pages to see a lot
of options
Click Plan03 in scrapbook and drag the room
designation into the Kitchen. Double click to adjust
the text. Drag a window reference as well.
If you see a red arrow when adjusting the text of a
text box - just click on the grips and stretch.

Or you can right click on the

box and select Make
Unbounded. This will also
remove any word wrapping.
Unbounded text can be made
bounded by right clicking the
text box. It will then word wrap.
Complete the Kitchen Floor Plan with notes and
dimensions. Finished example shown below:
Open the Cabin SketchUp file. Click on Floor Plan
Scene tab.
Let's make an
interior elevation of
the kitchen. This
time, instead of Place on this
using a cutting side of the
island.
plane as we did for
the plan, let's use a
clipping plane. Use
the Position Camera
Tool to place the
clipping plane
between the ref and
the island. Then
drag towards the
ref. Turn off the
section cuts.
Select Working Drawing Textured
style. Make the ceiling layer visible.
Save the scene as Kitchen Elev 1.
Notice the back bedroom door is visible through
the opening in the Great room. This is somewhat
confusing in the elevation. We can add a fog to
this scene. Click window>fog and play with the
slider until the door either disappears or looks as if
far away and not so misleading. Update the scene.

Don't worry about the floor or sink cab.

The parts of the fog dialog box:
1. To turn fog on/off
2. Where the fog will begin
3. Where the model will not be visible.

p.47, Matt Donley, SketchUp to LayOut, 2014

http://www.sketchuptolayout.com/
We could have also created a floating plane with
the same background color and placed it in the
model on it's own separate layer. We would then
make it visible when needed.
Edges of plane
can be made
larger than view
or made hidden.
If the Interior elevation view needed has
components that we do not want visible, place
those components on a separate layer and toggle
the visibility off or redo the clipping plane to not
include the component (that is what we did).

Some items will be cropped in LayOut

Switch to LayOut.
Click File>Document Setup. The Cabin file should
note that it is out of date. Click the file, then click
update to include the most recent changes.
Add a page to create the interior
elevations. Add another for the
perspective drawing. New pages are
added to the Pages tray. Notice some
parts of the titleblock copy over to the
new page because of how the layers
are set up.
Click on page one
and select the
parts of the
titleblock that did
not copy over (use
SHIFT to select
more than one text
at a time). Copy the
items then switch
to page 2 and
paste. Change the
text.

Repeat for page 3.

Change the name of the pages so we can quickly
identify what is on each sheet.

These buttons can

navigate between pages.
Click on sheet I4.01 to make it current. Unlock the
viewport Layer. Make it current. Insert the
SketchUp Model. Select the Kitchen Elev1.
Make it 1/2" = 1'-0".
Although the kitchen elevation came in per the
SketchUp model, we need to cover some of the
view that isn't correct - namely the inside of the
sink cab and the way the floor is represented.

LayOut view Cabin PDF

Use the line tool to create a clipping mask. Use the
Line tool to draw over the edges.
Select the shape and the viewport (use SHIFT).
Right click and select Create Clipping Mask.
Use the Line tool to trace
a line for the edges.
Make Anno-dims active. Add dimensions to the top
of the cabinets. It is tricky to snap to exactly what
we want because of the crown molding. It is
recommended that SketchUp models have trim and
molding placed on a separate layer so that it can
be made not visible and the LayOut dimension will
not snap to an unwanted spot.
Switch to the SketchUp model. Make a new layer
called trim. Double click inside the kitchen cabinets
component. Select the trim, right click and select
Entity info. Place it on the trim layer. You may want
to use the Kitchen tab to make sure to get all the
crown molding.
Click on the Kitchen Elev1 scene and make the trim
layer not visible. DO NOT PAN OR ZOOM TO
REPOSITION VIEW. Save as a new scene: Kitchen
Elev1-no trim. Save the SketchUp file.
In LayOut, right click to update model reference.
Click on the SketchUp model tray and select
Kitchen Elev1-no trim. Add the dimensions (make
sure to be in anno-dims layer). Then switch the
viewport back to the Kitchen-Elev1 scene to show
the trim.

No trim scene
selected. Add
dimensions.

Original scene
selected after
dimensions are in
place.
Add the vertical dimensions.
Occasionally dimensions will revert to paper scale
(1:1). If this happens click the dimension tray and
set the dimension for the appropriate scale.
Use the JAL scrapbook to label the view.
Alternate: We could have used the other drawing title
symbol. We would then need to redo the other titles to
match.
Use the label tool to add notes showing the material
information. Match your color design.
Switch to page 1. Click References01 in scrapbook
and drag the interior elevation designation into the
Kitchen.
Copy it to the island view. Double click to adjust
the text. Delete parts of the elevation that are not
needed. Select the shape and deselect the fill
portion in the Shape Tray to get rid of the black.
Let’s finish by creating a perspective view. Switch
to SketchUp. Click the Kitchen Elev 1 scene. Click
the Iso view. Deselect the fog. Zoom extents. Click
camera>perspective.
Make the ceiling layer not visible. Use position
camera tool and click inside the Great Room.
Use Camera>Field of view to set the field to 45 mm.
Use pan, orbit and zoom to position the view to see
the best angle of the kitchen. Make door and
ceiling layers visible.
Switch to Page 3 in
LayOut. Click on
sheet I7.01 to make
it current. Unlock the
viewport Layer.
Make it current.
Insert the SketchUp
Model. Select the
perspective scene.
Rotate and scale to
fit best on page.

Make Anno-text
layer current. Add
title.
Let’s add an appliance schedule to this page. We
can make the schedule a bunch of text boxes
similar to the schedules example in the jal
Scrapbook. An easier way would be to input the
info in Excel and copy/paste. Open appliance-
schedule.xlsx in the LayOut folder.
Select only the text
not the title (the
title doesn’t copy
across the cells).
Copy the text.
Switch to LayOut.

Make the Anno-text

layer current and
paste.
Use the grips to
position it on the
page.

If it needs to be
edited in the future,
you can double
click on the table
and change text or
re-copy/paste from
Excel.
Add the title by clicking on the Text Tool. Then
clicking and dragging a rectangle to make a text
box. Set it with the following Shape Style and Text
Style.
Move the textbox into position and use the grips to
resize. Make two rectangles with no fill but the
same stroke to get the thicker border.
Table complete.
Layout can also be used for presentations such as
PowerPoint. Click View>Start Presentation to begin
the slideshow. The good thing about Layout is you
can mark it up and save the presentation notes.
The presentation notes come in at their own layer
with a date and time. Save the Cabin LayOut file.
Assignment:

Complete Page 1 as
shown.

You need to create

new scenes in the
SketchUp model for
the kitchen island
cab.

Lock the viewport

layer when done.
Assignment:

Complete Page 2 as
shown.

You need to create

new scenes in the
SketchUp model for
the other interior
elevation.

Lock the viewport

layer when done.
Assignment:

Complete Page 3 as
shown.

Lock the viewport

layer when done.
A complete Layout of the final set can be
located on the Resource Page online.
When finished print all the pages as one PDF.
Save to Flash drive or online storage.
These books are helpful for additional information
and techniques.

http://www.amazon.com/The-SketchUp-Workflow-Architecture-
Construction/dp/1118290143/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=138446 http://www.sketchuptolayout.com/
6836&sr=8-2&keywords=architectural+design+with+SketchUp