How Do I Hide the Section Plane in SketchUp?

by

In SketchUp, the section plane is a powerful tool that allows you to cut through your 3D models and view the interior details. However, there may be times when you want to hide the section plane to get a clear view of your model without any obstructions. In this tutorial, we will explore different methods to hide the section plane in SketchUp.

Method 1: Using the Hide Section Plane Command

If you want to temporarily hide the section plane without deleting it, you can use the “Hide Section Plane” command. Here’s how:

  1. Select the section plane by clicking on it.
  2. Right-click on the selected section plane to open the context menu.
  3. In the context menu, hover over “Section Plane” and select “Hide Section Plane”.

Note: Hiding a section plane using this method only hides it temporarily. The section plane will reappear if you orbit around your model or perform certain actions like cutting a new section.

Method 2: Turning off Section Plane Display

If you want to permanently hide all section planes in your SketchUp model, you can turn off their display. Here’s how:

  1. Go to the “View” menu at the top of SketchUp.
  2. In the drop-down menu, navigate to “Section Planes”.
  3. Uncheck the “Section Planes” option.

Note: Disabling section planes using this method hides all existing and future section planes in your model until you turn on their display again.

Method 3: Using Layers

If you want more control over hiding and showing section planes selectively, you can utilize SketchUp’s layers feature. Here’s how:

  1. Select the section plane you want to hide.
  2. Open the “Entity Info” window by going to “Window” > “Entity Info”.
  3. In the “Entity Info” window, find the “Layer” field.
  4. Click on the drop-down arrow next to the layer name and select a different layer or create a new one.

Note: Placing section planes on different layers allows you to control their visibility by toggling the layer visibility. You can hide all section planes on a specific layer by turning off that layer’s visibility in the “Layers” window.

Method 4: Using Scenes

If you want to quickly switch between different views of your model with or without section planes, you can use SketchUp’s scenes feature. Here’s how:

  1. Create a new scene by going to “View” > “Animation” > “Add Scene”.
  2. In the new scene, show or hide section planes as desired.
  3. Repeat step 1 and step 2 for each view of your model with different section plane visibility.

Note: Switching between scenes allows you to instantly change your perspective and control which section planes are visible in each scene. You can access scenes from the “Scenes” window or use keyboard shortcuts.

In Conclusion

Hiding section planes in SketchUp is essential when you want an unobstructed view of your model. Whether you prefer temporary hiding, permanent disabling, utilizing layers, or using scenes, SketchUp offers various methods to suit your specific needs. Experiment with these techniques to enhance your modeling workflow and presentation capabilities.