How Do You Unfill in SketchUp?

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SketchUp is a powerful 3D modeling software that allows users to create and manipulate objects in a virtual space. One of the common tasks in SketchUp is filling shapes with colors or textures to give them a realistic appearance.

However, there may be instances where you want to remove the fill from a shape or object. In this tutorial, we will explore different methods to unfill in SketchUp.

Method 1: Using the Eraser Tool

If you want to remove the fill from a specific face or surface, you can use the Eraser tool in SketchUp. Here’s how:

  1. Select the Eraser tool from the toolbar on the left side of the screen.
  2. Click on the face or surface that you want to unfill. The fill will be removed, and you will be left with an unfilled shape.

Tips:

  • If you accidentally erase more than you intended, simply use the Undo button (Ctrl+Z) to revert back.
  • You can also use the Shift key while using the Eraser tool to constrain your movements vertically or horizontally.

Method 2: Applying Transparent Material

If you have multiple faces or surfaces that need to be unfilled, using the Eraser tool for each one can be time-consuming. An alternative method is applying a transparent material to achieve an unfilled appearance:

  1. Select all the faces or surfaces that you want to unfill. You can do this by clicking and dragging your cursor over them or by holding down Shift and selecting each one individually.
  2. Right-click on one of the selected faces and choose “Entity Info” from the context menu.
  3. In the Entity Info window, click on “Material” and then click on the “In Model” tab.
  4. Scroll through the list of materials and select “Glass” or any other transparent material.
  5. The selected faces will now appear unfilled with a transparent appearance.

Tips:

  • You can create your own custom transparent material by clicking on the “Create Material” button in the Materials window.
  • If you want to remove the transparency later, simply select the faces again and choose a solid material from the Materials window.

Method 3: Using Plugins

In addition to the built-in tools, SketchUp also offers numerous plugins that can enhance its functionality. Some of these plugins allow users to unfill shapes with more advanced options. Here are a couple of popular plugins for unfilling in SketchUp:

Color by Layer:

This plugin allows you to assign colors or materials to layers instead of individual faces. By placing your unfilled shapes on a specific layer, you can easily remove or change their fill by modifying the layer’s color or material.

Unfill:

This plugin specifically focuses on unfilling objects in SketchUp. It provides more control over how fills are removed and offers additional features such as batch processing multiple objects at once.

Conclusion

Removing fills in SketchUp is essential when you want to achieve certain effects or make modifications to your models. Whether you choose to use the Eraser tool, apply transparent materials, or utilize plugins, it’s important to familiarize yourself with these methods for efficient modeling.

Experiment with different techniques and find what works best for your specific projects. Happy unfilling!