Creating interior elevations in Sketchup can be a powerful tool for designers and architects to communicate their vision. With the ability to display detailed views of specific areas within a space, interior elevations provide valuable information about materials, dimensions, and design elements. In this tutorial, we will explore step by step how to create interior elevations in Sketchup.
Step 1: Model your space
Before creating an interior elevation, it is essential to have a well-built 3D model of your space. Take the time to accurately model walls, floors, ceilings, doors, windows, and any other relevant architectural elements. Pay attention to details such as thicknesses and heights to ensure accuracy in your elevation views.
Step 2: Set up scenes
To create interior elevations efficiently, it is crucial to set up scenes that capture different viewpoints within your model. Scenes allow you to save specific camera positions, view angles, and settings for later use. Use the Scenes tab in the Default Tray or go to View > Animation > Add Scene.
Tips:
- Create scenes for each area or room you want to show in an elevation.
- Name your scenes descriptively for easy identification.
- Remember to include relevant section cuts if needed.
Step 3: Create section cuts
In order to generate accurate interior elevations, you need to create section cuts that define where the view will be taken from. Section cuts are like virtual slices that allow you to see what’s inside your model without physically cutting through it.
To create a section cut:
- Select the Section Plane tool from the Tools menu or use the shortcut key “P”.
- Click on a surface to place the section cut.
- Move and rotate the section cut as needed to align with your desired interior elevation view.
- Double-click on the section cut to activate it.
Tips:
- To edit a section cut, simply double-click on it and make adjustments.
- You can hide or show a section cut using the right-click context menu.
Step 4: Adjust visibility settings
To ensure that your interior elevation views are clear and focused, you may need to adjust the visibility settings of your model. Sketchup provides various options for controlling what is displayed in each scene, such as hiding or showing specific layers or components.
To adjust visibility settings:
- Select a scene from the Scenes tab or go to View > Animation > Select Scene.
- In the Default Tray, go to the Layers tab and toggle layer visibility as needed.
- If necessary, hide or show specific components using the right-click context menu.
Tips:
- Create separate layers for different elements in your model (e.g., walls, furniture, fixtures) for better control over visibility.
- You can save visibility presets for different scenes by creating layer states in Sketchup Pro.
Step 5: Export or print your interior elevations
Once you have set up your scenes, section cuts, and visibility settings, you are ready to export or print your interior elevations. Sketchup provides several options for exporting images or creating high-quality prints directly from the software.
To export or print your interior elevations:
- Select the desired scene from the Scenes tab.
- Go to File > Export > 2D Graphic to save the elevation as an image file (e., JPEG or PNG).
- If printing, go to File > Print and adjust settings such as paper size, scale, and orientation before printing.
Tips:
- To enhance the visual appeal of your interior elevations, consider adding annotations or dimensions using Sketchup’s labeling tools.
- If exporting images, experiment with different styles and rendering settings to achieve the desired look.
Congratulations! You now know how to create interior elevations in Sketchup. By following these steps and utilizing Sketchup’s powerful features, you can effectively communicate and showcase your design ideas with detailed and visually engaging interior elevation views.