In SketchUp, the extrude tool is a powerful feature that allows you to create 3D objects by extending 2D shapes in various directions. Whether you’re designing buildings, furniture, or any other object that requires depth, mastering the art of extrusion is essential.
Step 1: Select Your Shape
To begin the extrusion process, you first need to select the shape you want to work with. SketchUp offers a wide range of drawing tools such as the line tool, rectangle tool, and circle tool to help you create your desired shape. Once you’ve drawn your shape on the canvas, make sure it’s selected before moving on to the next step.
Step 2: Activate the Extrude Tool
After selecting your shape, it’s time to activate the extrude tool. You can find this tool in SketchUp’s toolbar or by navigating to Tools > Solid Tools > Extrude. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut “E” to quickly access this handy tool.
Step 3: Define Your Extrusion Height
With the extrude tool active, click on one of the edges of your selected shape. This will define the direction in which you want to extrude your shape.
After clicking on an edge, move your cursor vertically and click again to set the height at which you want to extrude your shape. For precise measurements, you can enter specific values in SketchUp’s measurement box located at the bottom-right corner of your screen.
Tips:
- Hold Shift: While dragging vertically after clicking on an edge, holding down Shift will lock your movement along one axis (either X or Y), allowing for easier and more controlled extrusions.
- Use the Push/Pull Tool: The extrude tool is essentially SketchUp’s push/pull tool in action. You can access it by clicking on the “Push/Pull” icon in SketchUp’s toolbar or by pressing “P” on your keyboard. This versatile tool enables you to both extrude and push/pull faces, edges, and even groups or components.
Step 4: Modify Your Extrusion
Now that you’ve successfully extruded your shape, you can further modify it to suit your design needs. SketchUp provides several options to help you refine your extrusion:
- Push/Pull: As mentioned earlier, the push/pull tool is an excellent way to modify your extrusion after it’s been created. By activating this tool and clicking on a face or edge of your extruded shape, you can easily add or subtract material from it.
- Edit Group/Component: If you’ve created a group or component out of your shape before extruding, you can enter its edit mode by double-clicking on it.
This allows you to make changes to the original shape, which will automatically update the extruded version.
- Delete/Add Geometry: To remove or add specific parts of your extrusion, use SketchUp’s editing tools such as eraser, line, and polygon tools. These tools enable you to manipulate the geometry of your model with precision.
In Conclusion
The ability to extrude shapes in SketchUp opens up a world of possibilities for creating intricate 3D designs. By following these steps and using SketchUp’s powerful set of tools, you’ll be able to extrude all sorts of shapes and bring your designs to life.