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Designers of all types use pencil and paper sketching to focus their thoughts. But can CAD tools allow the same type of experimental freedom?
When it comes to 3D sketching, they do. And they're getting better.

SketchUp is a premier 3D design software that truly makes 3D modeling for everyone, with a simple to learn yet robust toolset that empowers you to create whatever you can imagine. New in Sketch 69. Color Variables We're excited to introduce this long-requested feature and one of the final building blocks for a comprehensive design system in Sketch. When you apply a Color Variable to a fill, border or anywhere you can apply solid colors, they'll stay linked.

• 598 Free images of Pencil Sketch. Related Images: sketch pencil drawing graphic design draw pencil drawing pen hand design write. Architecture Blueprint. School Pencil Pen. Panoramic Fog Nature. Doll Modellpuppe. Pencil Drawing Girl.
• Take your SketchUp 3D model into 2D space with LayOut. Annotate, document, and communicate clearly so you can move your project forward.

When it comes to nearly every CAD model, sketching is the basis for creating a 3D object.

While 2D sketching can ably define extrusions, holes, paths and other features, its uniplanar restriction is cumbersome, if not unworkable, when drawing some complex shapes.
SOLIDWORKS includes a 3D sketch tool to make the process of creating geometry that snakes or slides through 3D dimensions.

Just like its 2D counterpart, the 3D sketch tool creates geometry by using points, lines, splines and any other sketchable shape to define a profile. What's different about 3D sketching is that instead of drawing on a single plane, 3D sketching can exist on multiple planes simultaneously.

SOLIDWORKS allows users to toggle through the XY, YZ and ZX dimensions of the drawing environment by hitting the tab key. Epubor ultimate 3 0 7 9. Once in a desired spatial alignment, geometry can be added to any area that falls within that dimension.

Wire Routing: 3D Sketches Greatest Feat

So, how does 3D sketching actually help designers? One of its biggest assets is its ability to quickly create wires, pipes and tubing that can to snake through space in three dimensions.
Modeling a cable or any other off the shelf part may seem like a waste of a designer's time, but they can be valuable.

Looking to find the most efficient route to connect two electrical systems within a product? With 3D sketching users can build that wire, connect the systems and measure the length of product they'll need to wire up their device.

With that info in hand users can order more efficiently and reduce the overall cost of a product by not wasting wire or having to stock more material than needed.

In addition, CAD models of wires can also be used to create wiring diagrams. Those diagrams can then be used to instruct field technicians or customers on how to properly install components.

Complex Surface Shapes

But beyond wiring are there other uses for 3D sketching?

In normal 2D modeling, complex surfaces can be made by drawing multiple sketches that are then related to one another by guide curves.

To union all of these sketches and guides into a shape, designers have to invoke commands like boundary surfaces, lofts and sweeps.

Even after all of that work, sometimes SOLIDWORKS finds fault with your geometry and can't build a surface from a compilation of sketches. In those instances, 3D sketching can be the only way to create the geometry you require.

Or is it?

A 3D Sketchbook

Recently, Dassault decided to add its Natural Sketch program (once solely available in CATIA) to SOLIDWORKS's Industrial Design Package.

Unlike SOLIDWORKS's parametric approach to sketching, Natural Sketch is a drawing program that's controlled via stylus and touchscreen, which allows designers to create shapes from lines that are sketched more naturally.

What's most impressive about Natural Sketch is that with a few simple strokes a designer can generate a 3-dimensional conceptual model built from a series of 2D sketches. That model can then be used to interrogate a design, refine a concept or form the basis for a 3D CAD model that can be built using a parametric surface.

Apart from being a tool for generating new models, Natural Sketch also has the ability to sketch directly onto previously create products making it an ideal tool for redesigning a line.
Similar to the way an original sketch can be transformed into parametric geometry, added surfaces can be knit onto older models to update a product quickly.

Today, 3D sketching tools are becoming easier to use and more useful when it comes to design.

While both 3D Sketching and Natural Sketch have advantages over the other, Natural Sketch looks like it's method for creating geometry is likely to win out over other 3D sketching tools.
Why?

Simply put, Natural Sketch provides a more intuitive way to create geometry than the 3D Sketch tool does. Sketching has always been important to design. Photogenie 1 5 – fun photo stitching software. The closer 3D sketching tools come to imitating a pen and paper interaction, the better they become at serving their core purpose, creating and expressing an idea in the most efficient manner possible.

About the Author

Kyle Maxey is a mechanical designer and writer from Austin, TX. He earned a degree in Film at Bard College and has since studied Mechanical and Architectural drafting at Austin Community College. As a designer Kyle has had vast experience with CAD software and rapid prototyping. One day he dreams of becoming a toy designer.

Drawing a model in 3D is different from drawing an image in 2D. This introduction to drawing basics and concepts explains a few ways you can create edges and faces (the basic entities of any SketchUp model). You also discover how the SketchUp inference engine helps you place those lines and faces on your desired axis.

Drawing a line

Use the Line tool to draw edges (also called line entities). Edges form the structural foundation of all models. Here's how to draw a line:

1. Select the Line tool () on the toolbar (or press the L key). The cursor changes to a pencil.
2. Click to set the starting point of your line. If you click the wrong place, press the Esc key to start over. As you move your cursor around the drawing area, notice the following:
   
   • A line follows your cursor.
   • The line length is displayed dynamically in the Measurements box. (The Measurements box uses the units specified in your template.)
   • The line that's following your cursor turns red, green, or blue whenever the line is parallel with the red, green, or blue axis, respectively. If you hover for a moment, a ScreenTip appears, like the On Blue Axis tip shown in the figure. There is no ghost in your machine; that's the SketchUp inference engine, which you learn more about later in this article.
3. Click to set the line's end point. This end point can also be the starting point of another line. Press Esc or select a different tool when you're done drawing lines. After you set the end point, you can press Ctrl+Z (Microsoft Windows) or Command+Z (macOS) to undo your line and start over.
   
4. (Optional) To make your line a precise length, type a value and press Enter (Microsoft Windows) or Return (macOS). You can repeat this process as many times as you like until you draw a new line or select another tool. If you don't specify a unit, SketchUp uses the unit specified in your template. However, you can type any imperial or metric unit for your line. So you can type 3mm or 5'2' for example. Your value appears in the Measurements box as you type.

• An absolute coordinate, such as [3', 5', 7'], places the end of the line relative to the current axes. Square brackets indicate an absolute coordinate.
• A relative coordinate, such as <1.5m, 4m, 2.75m>, places the end of the line relative to the starting point of your line. Angle brackets indicate a relative coordinate.

You can edit the length of a line as long as it doesn't bound a face. Here's how to edit a line:

1. Select the Move tool ().
2. Hover the Move tool cursor over one of the line's end points.
3. Click and drag the end point to change the line's length.

Creating a face

When you join several lines into a shape, they form a face.

Not a funny face, or a scary clown face, or even a cute puppy face. By default, faces are plain, but super important: They're the other half of the duo, edges and faces, which enable every SketchUp model ever made to exist.

Dividing faces

When you draw a line (or a curve) on an existing face, you split the face.

Opening 3D shapes by erasing edges and faces

You can erase an edge or face to create an opening in a shape. To see how erasing an edge affects your model, first select the Eraser tool () in the toolbar or press the E key, and then click an edge:

• Clicking an edge erases the edge and any face that touched that edge. As Billy Idol almost sang, you can have lines without a face. However, a face must be completely bound by edges.
• Context-clicking a face and choosing Erase deletes only the face.

In the figure, you see the original cube and how erasing an edge or face changes the cube.

Healing deleted faces

If you accidentally delete a face, here's how to bring it back:

• If you haven't made any other changes that you'd like to keep, simply select Edit > Undo from the menu bar. Or press the keyboard shortcut for Undo, Ctrl+Z (Microsoft Windows) or Command+Z (macOS).
• Redraw the line that caused the faces to disappear, and SketchUp will re-create the faces.

Knowing your inference types

SketchUp displays several types of inferences: point, linear, and shape. SketchUp often combines inferences together to form a complex inference. Also, components and dynamic components have their own inference types.

A point inference is based on the exact point of your cursor in your model. The following table lists the point inference types.

A linear inference snaps along a line or direction in space. In addition to a ScreenTip, a linear inference sometimes displays a temporary dotted line while you draw.

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Shape inferences help you pinpoint the moment when a rectangle becomes a square, for example. The following table lists all the shape inferences.

Finding and locking an inference

SketchUp has an inference engine that helps you work in 3D space. For example, when the Line tool cursor is hovering over the midpoint of another line, the inference engine tells you by displaying a light blue dot and ScreenTip that says, 'Midpoint,' as shown here. Every inference has its own color and ScreenTip. (See Knowing your inference types for a full list.)

The inference engine can also help you find geometric relationships between lines. For example, it tells you when a line you're drawing is perpendicular to another line. In the following figure, notice that a colored dot also appears at the start point of the line, giving you a few bits of information all at once.

Linear Inferencing Toggle

Inferencing is a fundamental feature of SketchUp with most tools depending on it in some manner. However, inferencing can sometimes get in your way, especially when working in a busy area of a model. With the Line tool, you can turn linear inferencing off and back on using a simple modifier action.

To toggle linear inferencing in the Line tool, you'll need to click once to start drawing your line. Once you've started your line, but before clicking to finish it, simply press the COMMAND key on the Mac or ALT key on Windows which will toggle through the following states:

• All Inferences On
• All Inferences Off
• Parallel and Perpendicular Only

All Inferences On

This is the default behavior and what you've experienced in SketchUp since Version 1. The Line tool will snap to the red, green, and blue axes, as well as the magenta axis (parallel/perpendicular to a specified edge.)

All Inferences Off

In this state, the Line tool will ignore all linear inferences. Notice that your cursor will move more freely around the screen as you complete edge segments. Note that you can still find other inference types such as On face, Guide points, Midpoints, and more. Use these other inference types to make sure your lines are drawn on the planes you want.

Parallel and Perpendicular Only

When you join several lines into a shape, they form a face.

Not a funny face, or a scary clown face, or even a cute puppy face. By default, faces are plain, but super important: They're the other half of the duo, edges and faces, which enable every SketchUp model ever made to exist.

Dividing faces

When you draw a line (or a curve) on an existing face, you split the face.

Opening 3D shapes by erasing edges and faces

You can erase an edge or face to create an opening in a shape. To see how erasing an edge affects your model, first select the Eraser tool () in the toolbar or press the E key, and then click an edge:

• Clicking an edge erases the edge and any face that touched that edge. As Billy Idol almost sang, you can have lines without a face. However, a face must be completely bound by edges.
• Context-clicking a face and choosing Erase deletes only the face.

In the figure, you see the original cube and how erasing an edge or face changes the cube.

Healing deleted faces

If you accidentally delete a face, here's how to bring it back:

• If you haven't made any other changes that you'd like to keep, simply select Edit > Undo from the menu bar. Or press the keyboard shortcut for Undo, Ctrl+Z (Microsoft Windows) or Command+Z (macOS).
• Redraw the line that caused the faces to disappear, and SketchUp will re-create the faces.

Knowing your inference types

SketchUp displays several types of inferences: point, linear, and shape. SketchUp often combines inferences together to form a complex inference. Also, components and dynamic components have their own inference types.

A point inference is based on the exact point of your cursor in your model. The following table lists the point inference types.

A linear inference snaps along a line or direction in space. In addition to a ScreenTip, a linear inference sometimes displays a temporary dotted line while you draw.

Sketch 53 2d Shapes

Shape inferences help you pinpoint the moment when a rectangle becomes a square, for example. The following table lists all the shape inferences.

Finding and locking an inference

SketchUp has an inference engine that helps you work in 3D space. For example, when the Line tool cursor is hovering over the midpoint of another line, the inference engine tells you by displaying a light blue dot and ScreenTip that says, 'Midpoint,' as shown here. Every inference has its own color and ScreenTip. (See Knowing your inference types for a full list.)

The inference engine can also help you find geometric relationships between lines. For example, it tells you when a line you're drawing is perpendicular to another line. In the following figure, notice that a colored dot also appears at the start point of the line, giving you a few bits of information all at once.

Linear Inferencing Toggle

Inferencing is a fundamental feature of SketchUp with most tools depending on it in some manner. However, inferencing can sometimes get in your way, especially when working in a busy area of a model. With the Line tool, you can turn linear inferencing off and back on using a simple modifier action.

To toggle linear inferencing in the Line tool, you'll need to click once to start drawing your line. Once you've started your line, but before clicking to finish it, simply press the COMMAND key on the Mac or ALT key on Windows which will toggle through the following states:

• All Inferences On
• All Inferences Off
• Parallel and Perpendicular Only

All Inferences On

This is the default behavior and what you've experienced in SketchUp since Version 1. The Line tool will snap to the red, green, and blue axes, as well as the magenta axis (parallel/perpendicular to a specified edge.)

All Inferences Off

In this state, the Line tool will ignore all linear inferences. Notice that your cursor will move more freely around the screen as you complete edge segments. Note that you can still find other inference types such as On face, Guide points, Midpoints, and more. Use these other inference types to make sure your lines are drawn on the planes you want.

Parallel and Perpendicular Only

This state shows only parallel and perpendicular linear inferences when using the Line tool. Selecting this option will allow you to draw your line, making sure it is parallel or perpendicular to other geometry, while not getting distracted by other linear inferences that might be tempted to steal your line.

Locking inferences with a keyboard

By locking inferences, you can confidently draw along the direction you intend to draw. Another reason to lock an inference is to maintain one drawing direction while you reference geometry from another part of the model. That's a more advanced move, but very helpful. The easiest way to lock an inference to the default axes directions is to use the arrow keys:

Ensuring edges are aligned to axes

To ensure your edges align to axes, you may find it helpful to change the cursor to the axes colors. Or if you need to check the alignment of existing geometry, change your edges to the axes colors.

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To change your cursor to axes colors, follow these steps:

• Select Window > Preferences (Microsoft Windows) or SketchUp > Preferences (macOS). The SketchUp Preferences' dialog box appears.
• Select the Drawing item on the left.
• In the Miscellaneous area of the Drawing panel, select the Display cross hairs checkbox.
• Click OK to close the SketchUp Preferences dialog box. The cursor displays cross hairs that are the color of the axes, as shown here.
  

To make the edges in your model reflect the axis color to which it is aligned, follow these steps:

1. Select Window > Styles.
2. In the Styles dialog box, select In Model from the drop-down list of styles libraries.
3. Click the Edit tab.
4. Click the Edge Settings icon, shown in the figure.
5. From the Color drop-down list, select By axis. The colors of the edges in your model change to reflect their alignment to the axes (unless an edge isn't aligned to an axis, and then the edge color does not change). The following figure shows which edges are (and are not) aligned to the three axes.
   

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