In this tutorial, we will learn how to share a web model in SketchUp. Sharing your 3D models is a great way to get feedback, collaborate with others, or showcase your work. With SketchUp’s built-in web sharing feature, you can easily share your models with just a few clicks.
Step 1: Prepare Your Model
Before sharing your model, make sure it is ready for presentation. This includes cleaning up the geometry, organizing components and groups, and applying materials and textures.
Cleaning Up the Geometry
To clean up your model’s geometry:
- Delete unnecessary lines and faces: Use the eraser tool (E) to remove any unwanted geometry.
- Merge coplanar faces: Select the faces you want to merge and right-click on them. Choose ‘Merge Coplanar’ from the context menu.
- Fix reversed faces: Select the face(s) that are facing the wrong way and right-click on them. Choose ‘Reverse Faces’ from the context menu.
Organizing Components and Groups
Organizing your model using components and groups makes it easier to navigate and manipulate. To organize your model:
- Create components or groups: Select the geometry you want to group or make into a component. Right-click on it and choose either ‘Make Group’ or ‘Make Component’ from the context menu.
- Name components or groups: Double-click on a component or group to open its Entity Info window. In the Name field, enter a descriptive name for better organization.
Applying Materials and Textures
To give your model a more realistic look:
- Apply materials: Select the faces or groups you want to apply materials to. Open the Materials window and choose a material from the library.
Click on the faces or groups to apply the selected material.
- Add textures: If you have custom textures, you can import them into SketchUp. Open the Materials window, click on the Create Material button, and choose ‘Edit’ in the Texture section. Browse for your texture file and apply it to the desired faces or groups.
Step 2: Share Your Model
Once your model is prepared, it’s time to share it with others. To share your model in SketchUp:
- Click on File: In the top menu of SketchUp, click on ‘File’.
- Select ‘Share Model’: From the drop-down menu, select ‘Share Model’.
- Sign in to your Trimble account: If you’re not already signed in, enter your Trimble account credentials.
- Create a new project or choose an existing one: You can create a new project by clicking on ‘Create Project’ or select an existing project from your list of projects.
- Choose sharing settings: Select who can view and edit your model by adjusting the sharing settings. You can share with specific people or make it publicly accessible.
- Click on ‘Share’: Once you’ve set up your sharing preferences, click on ‘Share’ to generate a web link.
- Copy the web link: After generating the web link, copy it and share it with others via email, social media, or any other method you prefer.
That’s it! You have successfully shared your SketchUp model on the web. Now others can view and interact with your 3D model using just a web browser.
Remember to keep your model up to date by re-sharing whenever you make changes. This ensures that everyone sees the latest version of your work.
By following these steps, you can easily share your SketchUp models and collaborate with others in an efficient and visually engaging way.