The core purpose of the SketchUp Push/Pull tool is to quickly turn flat faces into 3D shapes or remove material from existing 3D models.
Understanding the Push/Pull Tool
The Push/Pull tool ( ) is one of the most fundamental tools in SketchUp for creating three-dimensional geometry. As stated in the reference, "With the Push/Pull tool ( ), you can create a 3D shape from a face or cut a 3D shape out of your model." This means it allows you to extrude a 2D face into a volume (pulling) or indent a face to remove material (pushing).
How it Works
- Select the Tool: Choose the Push/Pull tool from the toolbar.
- Hover: Hover your cursor over a face you want to modify. The face will highlight.
- Click and Drag: Click on the face and drag your mouse. Dragging away from the surface will extrude it, adding volume (creating a 3D shape). Dragging towards the surface (and potentially through it) will remove material (cutting a 3D shape out).
- Specify Distance (Optional): While dragging, you can type a precise distance value and press Enter to set the exact extrusion or indentation depth.
Practical Applications
The versatility of the Push/Pull tool makes it essential for many modeling tasks.
- Building Walls: Extruding the outline of a floor plan to create walls.
- Creating Furniture: Pulling up components like table legs from a base shape.
- Adding Details: Pushing in sections of a wall to create windows or doors.
- Shaping Objects: Modifying parts of complex models by pushing or pulling specific faces.
The reference also highlights its flexibility: "You can push/pull any type of face, including circular, rectangular, and abstract faces." This means whether you have a simple square or a complex, multi-sided shape, you can use Push/Pull to add or subtract volume.
| Action | Result | Example Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Pulling | Creates 3D volume | Extruding a floor plan layout |
| Pushing | Removes 3D volume (cuts) | Creating a window opening |
In essence, the Push/Pull tool simplifies the process of transforming 2D shapes into 3D forms and vice-versa within your model, making it a core tool for basic and complex modeling alike.
