Are you new to SketchUp and wondering how to navigate around the 3D modeling software? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
In this tutorial, we will walk you through the various ways to move around in SketchUp using different navigation tools. So let’s dive right in!
Zooming In and Out
One of the fundamental actions in SketchUp is zooming in and out to get a better view of your model. To zoom in, use the scroll wheel on your mouse.
Scroll forward to zoom in and scroll backward to zoom out. Alternatively, you can use the Magnifying Glass Tool, which is located on the Toolbar. Click on it, then click anywhere on your model to zoom in or hold down Shift while clicking to zoom out.
Panning the View
If you want to move your view without changing the distance from your model, panning is the way to go. To pan, press and hold down the middle mouse button.
Move your mouse in any direction, and your view will smoothly follow. Alternatively, you can use the Pan Tool, which is located on the Toolbar. Click on it, then click and drag anywhere on your model to pan.
Navigating with Orbit Tool
The Orbit tool allows you to rotate around your model freely. You can access it by clicking on the Orbit Tool icon located on the Toolbar – it looks like a circle with an arrow at its top-right corner. Once selected, click and drag anywhere on your model to orbit around it.
Navigating with Navigation Cube
The Navigation Cube provides an interactive way to navigate around your model quickly. It is located in the top-right corner of the SketchUp interface.
The cube represents your model from different angles – front, back, top, bottom, left, and right. To change your view, simply click on any face of the cube corresponding to the desired angle.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
If you prefer using keyboard shortcuts to navigate in SketchUp, there are a few handy options available:
- Orbit Shortcut: Press and hold down the Ctrl key (Command key on Mac) and use the middle mouse button to orbit.
- Pan Shortcut: Press and hold down the Shift key and use the middle mouse button to pan.
- Zoo