Are you looking to edit a section plane in SketchUp? Section planes are a powerful tool that allow you to cut through your model and view its interior.
They are extremely handy for creating detailed drawings, presentations, or simply for better understanding the structure of your design. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of editing section planes in SketchUp.
Step 1: Selecting the Section Plane
To begin with, you need to select the section plane that you want to edit. You can do this by either clicking on the section plane directly or by using the “Outliner” window to locate and select it.
Step 2: Activating the Edit Mode
Once you have selected the desired section plane, activate the edit mode by right-clicking on it and selecting “Edit Section Plane” from the context menu. Alternatively, you can also double-click on the section plane to enter edit mode.
Step 3: Adjusting the Section Line
Now that you are in edit mode, you can adjust the position and orientation of the section line. To do this:
- To move: Click and drag either of the blue endpoints of the section line to a new location within your model.
- To rotate: Click and drag the green protractor handle at either end of the section line to rotate it.
Note:
If snapping is enabled in SketchUp, your section line will automatically snap to existing geometry as you move or rotate it. This can be useful for aligning your section with specific edges or points in your model.
Step 4: Adjusting Section Depth
By default, section planes in SketchUp cut through your model indefinitely. However, you can adjust the depth of the section to control how much of your model is visible. To do this:
- To increase depth: Click and drag the blue arrow handle that extends from the section plane to increase its depth.
- To decrease depth: Click and drag the blue arrow handle in the opposite direction to decrease its depth.
Note:
The depth of your section plane is represented by a gray translucent box that appears as you adjust it. This box indicates which portions of your model will be visible or hidden when the section cut is applied.
Step 5: Exiting Edit Mode
Once you have made all the necessary adjustments to your section plane, simply click outside of it or press the “Esc” key to exit edit mode. Your changes will be automatically applied to your model.
And that’s it! You have successfully edited a section plane in SketchUp.
Section planes are a fantastic feature that can greatly enhance your workflow and provide valuable insights into your design. So go ahead, experiment with different section cuts, and unleash the full potential of SketchUp!