How to Add a New Scene in LayOut

To add a new scene view to your LayOut document, you actually create the new scene in your linked SketchUp model and then update the viewport in LayOut to display it.

Here's the process:

Step-by-Step Guide

Adding a new scene visible in LayOut involves modifying the original SketchUp model. LayOut uses scenes from the linked SketchUp file to define the views displayed in your viewports.

1. Open the SketchUp Model from LayOut: In LayOut, right-click on the model viewport you want to base the new view on. From the context menu that appears, choose Open with SketchUp. This launches or switches to SketchUp with your model loaded.
2. Frame the Desired View: In SketchUp, use the navigation tools (Orbit, Pan, Zoom) to adjust the camera angle and position until you have the exact view you want to capture for your new scene.
3. Add a New Scene in SketchUp: With the view framed, you need to save this perspective as a new scene. Go to the SketchUp menu bar and navigate to View > Animation > Add Scene. This action adds a new tab above your drawing area representing the newly created scene (e.g., "Scene 2", "Scene 3", etc.).
4. Name the Scene (Optional but Recommended): It's a good practice to rename your scenes for clarity. You can do this in the Scenes panel (usually accessible via Window > Default Tray > Scenes). Double-click the scene tab or name in the panel to rename it (e.g., "New Elevation View", "Detail Area").
5. Save Your SketchUp Model: Save your model in SketchUp (File > Save or Ctrl+S / Cmd+S). This step is crucial, as LayOut reads the scenes directly from the saved SketchUp file.
6. Update the Model Reference in LayOut: Return to your LayOut document. You might see a notification that the model reference is out of date. You can update it by going to File > Document Setup > References and clicking Update next to the SketchUp file, or by right-clicking the viewport and choosing Update Model Reference.
7. Display the New Scene in LayOut: Now that the LayOut document knows about the new scene, select the LayOut viewport where you want to display it. In the SketchUp Model panel (usually accessible via Window > SketchUp Model), find the Scenes dropdown menu. Click the dropdown and select the name of the new scene you created in SketchUp. The viewport will update to show that view.

You can then duplicate this viewport (Ctrl+C / Cmd+C, then Ctrl+V / Cmd+V) if you want to place the same view multiple times, or create a new viewport (File > Insert) and select the SketchUp model again, choosing your new scene from the panel.

Summary Steps

For a quick reference, here are the essential steps:

Step	Action in SketchUp	Action in LayOut (After SketchUp)
1. Open Model		Right-click viewport > Open with SketchUp
2. Frame View	Use navigation tools to set the desired perspective.
3. Add Scene	View > Animation > Add Scene
4. Name Scene	Use Scenes panel (Window > Default Tray > Scenes).
5. Save Model	File > Save
6. Update Reference		File > Document Setup > References > Update
7. Display Scene		Select viewport > SketchUp Model panel > Select new scene from dropdown.

By following this workflow, you leverage the power of SketchUp scenes to manage specific views of your model within your LayOut presentation documents.