How Do I Create a Custom Shape in Sketchup?

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Are you looking to take your SketchUp skills to the next level? Creating custom shapes can add a unique touch to your designs and give you more creative freedom.

In this tutorial, we will explore how to create custom shapes in SketchUp using a few simple techniques. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Drawing the Base Shape

To start, open SketchUp and create a new project. Choose the shape tool from the toolbar on the left-hand side of the screen. You can select from various shape options such as rectangle, circle, polygon, or even freehand drawing.

Tip: Press L on your keyboard to quickly access the Line tool.

Click and drag on the canvas to create your base shape. You can use the measurements box at the bottom-right corner of the screen to specify exact dimensions for precision.

Step 2: Manipulating Edges and Vertices

To create a custom shape, we need to manipulate the edges and vertices of our base shape. Select the Move tool from the toolbar or press M on your keyboard.

Tips:

  • If you want to move an entire edge, select it by clicking on it once.
  • If you want to move a single vertex point, double-click on it.
  • To move multiple vertices or edges at once, hold down Shift while selecting them with a single click.

Step 3: Creating Additional Geometry

In some cases, you may need to add extra geometry to achieve your desired custom shape. To do this:

  1. Select the Line tool from the toolbar or press L on your keyboard.
  2. Click on an existing vertex or edge to start drawing a new line.
  3. Click on another vertex or edge to complete the line and create a new face.
  4. Repeat this process as needed to add more geometry.

Step 4: Smoothing and Softening Edges

If you want to create a more organic or rounded shape, you can smooth and soften the edges of your custom shape. Here’s how:

  1. Select the entire shape by triple-clicking on it with the Select tool (Spacebar).
  2. Right-click on the selection and choose Soften/Smooth Edges.
  3. In the dialog box that appears, adjust the angle slider to control how much smoothing is applied. A higher angle will result in more smoothing.
  4. Click “OK” to apply the changes.

Note: Smoothing edges can affect rendering times, so use this feature sparingly if you’re working on complex models.

Step 5: Adding Depth with Push/Pull Tool

If you want your custom shape to have depth, use SketchUp’s Push/Pull tool. This allows you to extrude your shape in the z-axis. Here’s how:

  1. Select the face(s) of your shape that you want to extrude using the Select tool (Spacebar) or by triple-clicking on it.
  2. Select the Push/Pull tool from the toolbar or press P on your keyboard.
  3. Click and drag the selected face(s) in the direction you want to extrude them.
  4. Release the mouse button to complete the extrusion.

Tips:

  • To specify an exact depth, type in a value while extruding.
  • To create multiple extrusions at once, hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Option (Mac) while extruding.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve learned how to create custom shapes in SketchUp using a variety of techniques.

By manipulating edges, vertices, and adding extra geometry, you can achieve virtually any shape you desire. Experiment with different tools and features to further enhance your designs. Happy modeling!