How Do You Round the Edges of a Rectangle in Sketchup?

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In Sketchup, rounding the edges of a rectangle can add a softer and more polished look to your design. Whether you are creating furniture, architectural models, or any other 3D project, rounding the edges can make a significant difference in the overall appearance.

Method 1: Using the Follow Me Tool

If you are using Sketchup Pro, you can easily round the edges of a rectangle by following these steps:

  1. Create a rectangle by selecting the Rectangle tool from the toolbar or by typing ‘R’ on your keyboard.

  2. Draw the rectangle on your workspace by clicking and dragging.

  3. Select the Arc tool from either the toolbar or by typing ‘A’ on your keyboard.

  4. Click on one of the edges of your rectangle to start drawing an arc.

  5. Move your cursor along the edge until you reach the desired amount of rounding.

  6. Click again to complete the arc and round that edge.

  7. Repeat steps 4-6 for each edge you want to round.

  8. Select all of the rounded edges and faces by either dragging a selection box around them or by triple-clicking on one of them. Alternatively, you can use the Select tool (shortcut: ‘Spacebar’) to individually select each edge and face while holding down SHIFT to add them to your selection.

  9. Right-click on your selection and choose “Intersect Faces” > “With Model” from the context menu.This will create new geometry where the rounded edges intersect.

  10. Delete the original rectangle by selecting it and pressing the Delete key on your keyboard.

By using this method, you can easily round the edges of a rectangle in Sketchup Pro. However, if you are using Sketchup Make (the free version), you can still achieve rounded edges with a slightly different approach.

Method 2: Using Follow Me Tool with Extensions

If you have Sketchup Make and want to round the edges of a rectangle, you can follow these steps:

  1. Create a rectangle by selecting the Rectangle tool from the toolbar or by typing ‘R’ on your keyboard.

  2. Select all four edges of your rectangle by triple-clicking on one of them while holding down SHIFT to add them to your selection.

  3. Right-click on your selection and choose “Make Group” from the context menu. This will group all four edges together.
  4. Now, download and install a free extension called ‘RoundCorner’ from the Sketchup Extension Warehouse.

    You can find this extension by going to Window > Extension Warehouse and searching for ‘RoundCorner’ in the search bar.

  5. Once installed, go to Extensions > RoundCorner > RoundCorners in the menu bar at the top of Sketchup. This will open a dialog box where you can specify the radius for rounding. Enter your desired radius value and click ‘OK’.
  6. The RoundCorner extension will automatically round all corners of your rectangle according to the specified radius.

  7. Delete the original rectangle by selecting it and pressing the Delete key on your keyboard.

Using this method with the RoundCorner extension allows you to round the edges of a rectangle in Sketchup Make. Although it requires an additional step of installing an extension, it offers a similar outcome as using the Follow Me tool in Sketchup Pro.

Conclusion

Rounding the edges of a rectangle can give your designs a more refined and professional look. Whether you are using Sketchup Pro or Sketchup Make, there are methods available to achieve rounded edges. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily add rounded edges to your rectangles and enhance your 3D projects.