Copying geometry in SketchUp is a fundamental task that allows you to duplicate elements of your model. The primary method involves selecting the desired geometry and using the standard copy function.
Steps to Copy Geometry in SketchUp
To copy geometry, you follow a simple two-step process: selecting the geometry and then executing the copy command.
1. Select the Geometry
First, you need to tell SketchUp which parts of your model you want to copy. You can do this using selection tools:
- Select Tool ( ): This is the default tool. Click on individual edges or faces to select them. Double-click on a face to select the face and its bounding edges. Triple-click on an entity to select all connected geometry.
- Lasso Select Tool ( ): Draw a freehand shape around the geometry you want to select.
See SketchUp's documentation on Selecting Geometry for more tips on making precise selections.
2. Execute the Copy Command
Once your geometry is selected, you can use the copy function. The provided reference details the following methods:
- Menu Bar: Choose Edit > Copy from the menu at the top of the SketchUp window.
- Keyboard Shortcuts:
- For Windows users, press Ctrl+C.
- For macOS users, press Command+C.
Using either the menu command or the keyboard shortcut will place a copy of your selected geometry onto the clipboard.
What Happens Next?
After copying, the geometry is held on your computer's clipboard. To place the copied geometry into your model, you typically use the Paste command (Edit > Paste or Ctrl+V/Command+V). You can paste the geometry multiple times or in different locations.
This standard copy-and-paste method is straightforward and works like copying elements in many other software applications.
