This project introduces one of SketchUp s Sandbox tools: From Contours, which was created to model terrain accurately. But as it happens, From Contours can also be used to make organic shapes - models that don t necessarily follow straight lines or orderly, consistent curves. In this example, you ll use this tool to create a tent: This project will work in any version of SketchUp, including SketchUp 8. For this project, it helps to have some basic knowledge of Google SketchUp (though detailed instructions are provided). In particular, it s important to know how to zoom, rotate, and pan the view. If you need more information on how to get started, and a description of some basic tools, please read 3DVinci s Getting Started Guide (PDF): PC users: go to http://www.3dvinci.net/sketchup_intro_pc.pdf. Mac users: go to http://www.3dvinci.net/sketchup_intro_mac.pdf. 1. Open Google SketchUp. If your file contains a person standing on the ground near the origin, click the Eraser tool and erase him / her. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month February 2011 1
2. Activate the Rectangle tool and draw a rectangle on the ground. 3. Use the Line tool to draw a diagonal line inside this rectangle, from corner to corner. 4. Draw another line from the midpoint of the diagonal line, going straight up (blue direction). The end of the line is where the top of the tent will be. When this line is complete, press the Esc key to end the line drawing. 5. Now activate the Arc tool, which will be used to represent the tent poles. An arc is created with three clicks: the first two establish the endpoints (click two opposite corners of the rectangle), and the third defines the bulge (click the top of the vertical line). 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month February 2011 2
6. Create another arc using the two other corner points, and the same height point. Camping Tent in Google SketchUp 7. Use the Eraser to erase both the diagonal line inside the rectangle and the vertical line. This should leave you with just the rectangle and the two arcs. 8. The tent needs an opening, so activate Arc again and create an arc like this, with two endpoints within one edge, and the bulge point straight up so that the Half Circle popup appears. 9. To remove the face inside this arc, right-click on it and choose Erase. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month February 2011 3
10. Use the Eraser again to remove that small edge at the bottom of the tent opening. Now there are no faces, only edges. 11. Select everything (press Ctrl +A on PC or Cmd + A on Mac). Then from the main menu, choose Draw / Sandbox / From Contours. That s all you need to do - all of the tent faces are filled in automatically. 12. A sandbox is always created as a component, which means it needs to be either edited or exploded before you can make changes to it. We ll use the second option: right-click on the tent and choose Explode. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month February 2011 4
13. Now you can color each of the four faces. Try This: Add a Window If you already did the Hot Air Balloon project from this month, you ll be familiar with the concept of hidden edges. You can take advantage of hidden edges here too, in order to draw a window in one of the tent sides. 1. To see the hidden edges, choose View / Hidden Geometry from the main menu. This shows how the faces are triangulated - the dashed lines are between small, triangular faces that, when combined, look like one, smooth face. 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month February 2011 5
2. To create a window cutout, draw lines within these triangular faces. Then erase the dashed lines within the window face, and the hole is made. 3. Choose the View / Hidden Geometry option again to hide the dashed lines. If you try this project with your children or students, and have a nice tent or other organic model you d like to share, please let me know! I will be happy to blog about it, and maybe feature your models in a future newsletter. Contact me at bonnie@3dvinci.net. Thanks! 3DVinci SketchUp Projects-of-the-Month February 2011 6