Editing a SketchUp model can involve various actions, from modifying its geometry and components within the SketchUp software itself to changing how the model is displayed when it's placed or imported into another document or drawing. This answer focuses on how to adjust the visual appearance of a SketchUp model entity after it has been inserted into a drawing space, using the specific method described in the provided information.
Editing the Appearance of a Placed SketchUp Model
When a SketchUp model is brought into another drawing environment (like LayOut or another SketchUp file), you often need to control its look without changing the original model file. This type of "editing" involves modifying its display settings, particularly its visual style.
Changing Styles Using the SketchUp Model Panel
The primary way to control the appearance of a placed SketchUp model, according to the reference, is by using the dedicated panel and adjusting its styles. Follow these steps:
- Select the SketchUp model entity in your drawing area. This highlights the imported model instance.
- Open the SketchUp Model panel. This panel typically appears in the interface when a SketchUp model is selected, providing access to its specific properties and settings.
- Select the Styles tab within the SketchUp Model panel. This tab is dedicated to controlling the visual style used to display the model.
- By default, you will see the In Model styles. These are the styles that were saved within the original SketchUp model file itself.
- To apply a new style to the selected model entity, click one of the other In Model styles, if the model file contains more than one saved style. Selecting a different style instantly updates how the model appears in your drawing.
Understanding SketchUp Model Styles
In this context, "styles" refer to the visual settings applied to the model's display. These settings dictate how edges, faces, backgrounds, watermarks, and other graphical elements are shown. By switching styles via the SketchUp Model panel, you can quickly change the model's representation, for example, from a shaded view with textures to a simple wireframe or a hidden line drawing, without altering the underlying 3D geometry.
| Panel | Tab | Function |
|---|---|---|
| SketchUp Model | Styles | Control the visual style of the selected SketchUp model entity |
Where This Editing is Typically Done
This method of editing SketchUp model styles is commonly used in applications where SketchUp models are inserted into 2D documents or presentations, such as:
- LayOut: SketchUp's companion 2D documentation tool, where you build drawing sets from SketchUp models.
- Imported Models: When one SketchUp model is imported or referenced within another SketchUp model file.
This process provides control over the model's presentation within the consuming document, separate from the detailed geometric modeling work done within the primary SketchUp environment.
