How Do You Edit Edges in SketchUp?

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When working with 3D models in SketchUp, it’s essential to have precise control over the edges of your objects. This allows you to create clean and polished designs. In this tutorial, we will explore various techniques for editing edges in SketchUp, helping you take your modeling skills to the next level.

1. Selecting Edges

Before we can edit edges in SketchUp, we need to select them.

To select an edge, simply click on it with the Select tool (shortcut: Spacebar). If you want to select multiple edges at once, hold down the Shift key while clicking on each edge.

2. Softening Edges

Sometimes, you may want to create a smoother appearance by softening the edges of your model. To soften an edge, follow these steps:

  1. Select the desired edge(s).
  2. Right-click on the selection and choose Soften/Smooth Edges.
  3. In the dialog box that appears, adjust the angle slider to determine how much you want to soften the selected edges.
  4. Click OK.

3. Smoothing Edges

In addition to softening edges globally, you can also selectively smooth specific areas of your model. This technique is useful when you want to maintain some sharp edges while smoothing others:

  1. Select the desired faces that contain the edges you want to smooth.
  2. In the dialog box, uncheck “Soften coplanar” to prevent SketchUp from softening any edges that lie on the same plane as the selected faces.
  3. Adjust the angle slider to specify the threshold for smoothing.

4. Hiding Edges

In some cases, certain edges may clutter your model’s appearance. To hide these edges without deleting them, follow these steps:

  1. Select the edge(s) you want to hide.
  2. Right-click on the selection and choose Hide.

5. Unhiding Edges

If you have previously hidden edges and want to reveal them again, use these steps:

  1. Select a face adjacent to the hidden edge(s).
  2. Right-click on the selection and choose Unhide.

6. Deleting Edges

If you need to remove unwanted edges from your model entirely, you can delete them:

  1. Select the edge(s) you want to delete.
  2. Press the Delete key on your keyboard or right-click on the selection and choose Erase.

With these techniques in your toolkit, you now have a better understanding of how to edit edges in SketchUp. Remember that precise control over your model’s edges is crucial for achieving professional-looking results. Start practicing these techniques, experiment with different edge editing options, and watch your designs come to life!