How Do I Offset a Line in Sketchup?

Are you looking to offset a line in SketchUp? You’ve come to the right place!

In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the steps to offset a line in SketchUp and create a visually appealing design. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Select the Line

The first step is to select the line that you want to offset. To do this, simply click on the line with the Select tool (shortcut: Spacebar). The selected line will be highlighted.

Step 2: Activate the Offset Tool

Once you have selected the line, activate the Offset tool by clicking on its icon in the toolbar or by selecting it from the Tools menu. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut key ‘F’ to activate the Offset tool.

Step 3: Set an Offset Distance

After activating the Offset tool, you’ll notice that your cursor changes to a small square. Click on one of the endpoints of your selected line and drag your cursor outward or inward to set an offset distance. You can also type in a specific distance value in SketchUp’s Measurement toolbar.

Tips:

  • Bold Text Tip: Holding down Shift while dragging your cursor will lock it along an axis and ensure a straight offset.
  • Bold Text Tip: If you want to create multiple offsets at once, simply click on another point of your selected line and repeat step 3.

Step 4: Confirm and Complete

Once you have set your desired offset distance, click again to confirm and complete the offset. SketchUp will create a new parallel line at the specified distance from your original line.

Tips:

  • Bold Text Tip: You can further modify the offset by selecting the Move tool (shortcut: M) and clicking and dragging the new line to a different position if needed.
  • Bold Text Tip: To delete the offset, simply select it with the Select tool and press the Delete key on your keyboard.

That’s it! You have successfully offset a line in SketchUp.

By following these steps, you can create intricate designs and add depth to your models. Have fun exploring this powerful tool!

If you found this tutorial helpful, feel free to check out our other SketchUp tutorials for more tips and tricks. Happy designing!