SketchUp is one of the most popular 3D modelling software
solutions in the world.
Here are a few key facts:
- 33,500,000 Annual Activations
- Over 1,000,000,000 completed Projects using SketchUp
- 109,000 followers on Twitter
- 759,000 followers on Google +
- 370,000 likes on Facebook
An intuitive and quick to learn 3D conceptual design
modelling platform, SketchUp enables more participation and collaboration
across workflows.
However what is less known is the Layout tool in SketchUp
and I’ve been asked many times recently “What is Layout, what does it do”?
LayOut is a tool for creating documentation from your
SketchUp model and is part of the SketchUp Pro Suite.
Layout combines SketchUp models with text and 2D vector
illustration to help you produce beautiful presentations, permit submittals,
construction documents, and other dimensioned drawings. It allows you to
produce professional drawing sets, provides powerful dimensioning, drawing and
page layout tools to create working drawings and presentations from SketchUp
models.
How it works
You start in SketchUp, draw your project and create scenes
to show the different views. You can send the file to LayOut, add dimensions,
labels, other text, photos and then export a PDF file to send to a client or
use it to do a presentation on screen.
The dynamic link between the SketchUp model and the LayOut
document means that any edits you make in your SketchUp model, will be
reflected in the LayOut document. Drawings can also be exported as DWG/DXF
files for use in any CAD program and you can combine dimensions, text, and
graphics, add logos and title blocks to LayOut templates for brand consistency.
LayOut also has the ability to assign different drawing
scales to SketchUp model views and dimension them without leaving LayOut and
without using a separate CAD tool.
Drawings are dynamically linked to 3D models and SketchUp
models are dynamically linked to your LayOut file so any changes you make in
SketchUp are automatically reflected in your documents.
Lastly, you can link to files in the cloud via Dropbox,
Google Drive or Trimble Connect.
A single LayOut document can be used for both printing and
on-screen presentations as well as to create high-resolution large format
prints which you can export as PDF files for onward distribution, or to present
directly from the application... in 3D.
Explore
LayOutby watching the videos below:
To learn
more about SketchUp, please contact Excitech – https://www.excitech.co.uk/Products/SketchUp-Pro
