In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a measurement box in SketchUp. A measurement box is a useful tool that allows you to display the dimensions of objects in your SketchUp model.
Step 1: Creating a Rectangle
To start, open SketchUp and create a new project. Select the Rectangle tool from the toolbar or use the shortcut key “R”.
Tip: You can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to lock the direction of your rectangle.
Create a rectangle by clicking and dragging on the canvas. Release the mouse button when you are satisfied with the size of the rectangle.
Step 2: Adding Dimensions
Select the Dimension tool from the toolbar or use the shortcut key “D”. Click on one side of your rectangle and then click on an adjacent side to add dimensions to your shape.
Tip: You can customize the appearance of your dimensions by using different text styles, arrows, and line types. Experiment with these options to find a style that suits your needs.
Step 3: Formatting Text
To make our measurement box more visually appealing, we can format the text using HTML styling elements. Let’s start by making our dimensions bold.
Select one of your dimensions by clicking on it. In SketchUp’s Entity Info panel, you will find an option to change the font style.
Set it to “Bold”. Repeat this step for all other dimensions in your measurement box.
Step 4: Adding Labels
In addition to displaying dimensions, it’s often helpful to add labels to indicate what each dimension represents. To do this, select the Text tool from the toolbar or use the shortcut key “T”. Click on the canvas where you want to add a label, and type in the desired text.
Tip: You can use the formatting options in SketchUp’s Text panel to change the font size, style, and alignment of your labels.
Step 5: Grouping Objects
Now that we have created our measurement box, it’s a good idea to group all the objects together. This way, you can easily move or edit the entire measurement box as a single entity.
To group objects, select all the dimensions and labels by holding down the Shift key and clicking on each one. Right-click on any selected object and choose “Group” from the context menu.
Step 6: Placing the Measurement Box
Finally, position your measurement box next to the object you want to measure. You can use SketchUp’s Move tool (shortcut key “M”) to adjust its position.
Tip: If you need to make any changes to your measurements or labels, simply double-click on the grouped object to enter edit mode. Once you’ve made your edits, click outside of the grouped object to exit edit mode.
Congratulations!
You have successfully created a measurement box in SketchUp. By following these steps and incorporating HTML styling elements like bold text and subheaders, you can create visually engaging tutorials that are easy for readers to follow.