So you’ve created a component in SketchUp and now you need to make some edits to it. But wait, you don’t have the pro version of SketchUp and don’t want to spend any money on it.
No worries! In this tutorial, I will show you how to edit a component in SketchUp for free.
Step 1: Open Your SketchUp Model
First things first, open your SketchUp model that contains the component you want to edit. If you don’t have one yet, create a new model and add the desired component to it.
Step 2: Select the Component
Once your model is open, navigate to the component you want to edit. To select it, simply click on it with your mouse cursor. You should see the component highlighted.
Step 3: Right-click and Choose “Explode”
To be able to edit the component freely, we need to explode it. Right-click on the selected component and choose “Explode” from the context menu that appears. This will break down the component into its individual elements.
Step 4: Make Your Edits
Now that your component is exploded, you can make any edits you desire. You can move, rotate, scale, or delete any of its elements as needed. To select an element, simply click on it with your mouse cursor.
Tips:
- Moving: To move an element, click on it and drag it around.
- Rotating: To rotate an element, click on it and use the rotate handles that appear.
- Scaling: To scale an element, click on it and use the scale handles that appear.
- Deleting: To delete an element, select it and press the “Delete” key on your keyboard.
Step 5: Re-Group the Elements
Once you’re done with your edits, it’s time to re-group the elements back into a component. To do this, simply select all the edited elements by dragging a selection box around them or by holding down the Shift key and clicking on each element individually. Then, right-click on one of the selected elements and choose “Make Component” from the context menu.
Step 6: Define Component Properties
After creating the new component, a dialog box will appear where you can define its properties. Give your component a name and choose any other desired options such as description, behavior, etc. Once you’re satisfied, click on the “Create” button.
Step 7: Apply Edits to Instances
Now that your component has been edited and re-defined, all instances of it in your model will also reflect these changes. This means if you had multiple copies of the original component in your model, they will all update accordingly.
Note:
Editing components in SketchUp for free can be a bit more tedious compared to using the pro version with its dedicated tools and features. However, by following these steps, you can still achieve your desired edits without spending any money.
And there you have it! You now know how to edit a component in SketchUp for free.
Remember to save your work regularly to avoid losing any progress. Happy editing!