CBSE Notes for Class 8 Computer in Action – Sketchup

CBSE Notes for Class 8 Computer in Action – Sketchup

SKETCHUP is a computer program that lets you create simple as well as complex 3D models of  objects and buildings in a fast and easy way.
It can be used for creating models to learn architecture, design a car, house, furniture, playground and so on.
It was developed by @Last Software company of Boulder, Colorado, co-founded in 1999 by Brad Schell and Joe Esch.
It is presently owned by Trimble Navigation, a navigation equipment company. In this chapter, we will use SketchUp Make 2016 software.

STARTING SKETCHUP
To start SketchUp, type SketchUp in the Search box on the Taskbar and choose the SketchUp option.
The welcome screen appears as shown in Figure 9.1.
This is the first screen that appears when we first run SketchUp. The Welcome dialog box is the starting point for creating a model.

SELECTING A TEMPLATE
A template has a predefined setting of a model’s background and measurement units.
Let us learn how to select a template in the Welcome Screen dialog box.
Step 1: By default, the template ‘Simple Template – Meters? is selected. To change the template, click the Choose Template button in the upper- right corner of the screen.
Step 2: Scroll down the list of given templates and select your desired template.
Step 3: Click on Start using SketchUp for opening the selected template. The SketchUp Window as shown in Figure 9.4 appears.

SKETCHUP INTERFACE
The following are the main components present in SketchUp Window.

Menu Bar: This bar consists of commands and settings such as File, Edit, View, Window and so on.
Tool Bar: This bar consists of basic tools required for creating 3D models.
DrawingArea: This is the area where models are created. The 3D space is recognized by the axes.
Dialog Boxes: There are eight dialog boxes in SketchUp such as Components, Materials, Instructor and so on.
Status Bar: There are two important parts of the Status bar. It provides you with the tips in the middle and the Measurement box on the right.

Practice Zone
Fill in the blanks.

1. _____________is a computer program that lets you create simple as well as complex 3D models of objects and buildings in a fast and easy way.
2. ___________ is the area where models are created.
3. Status bar has two important parts, they are _____________ and ____________.
4. ____________tool measures distances and guidelines.
5. A_______________has a predefined setting with the model’s background and measurement units.

EXPLORING MORE ABOUT THE TOOLS

Line Tool is used to draw edges. Follow the given steps to draw a line.
Step 1: Select the Line Tool. You will notice the cursor will change to a pencil. As you move around the drawing
area, a line follows the cursor. The length of the line is displayed in the Measurement box.
Step 2: Click to set the start and end points of the line.


Rectangle Tool is used for drawing rectangular entities. Follow the given steps to draw a rectangle.
Step 1: Select the Rectangle Tool. The cursor will change to a rectangle with a pencil.
Step 2: Click to set the first corner of the rectangle and then move the cursor diagonally to shape your rectangle. The output of these two steps is shown in Figure 9.8.



This tool is used to pull or push any flat surface to give it a 3D shape. Follow the given steps to use Push/Pull Tool.
Step 1: Select the Push/Pull Tool. The
cursor will change to a 3D rectangle with an up arrow.
Step 2: With the Push/Pull selected, click on any face that you wish to expand. The selected face becomes shaded.
Step 3: Move the cursor so that selection expands.



It is used to copy or move different objects or entities. Follow the given steps to use Move Tool.
Step 1: Click on the Select Tool, and select the object you want to move.
Step 2: Select the Move Tool.
Step 3: Click the object you want to move and place it at the desired position.

It is used to create a slightly bigger or smaller version of shape that can be placed at equal distance from the original shape. Follow the given steps to use the Offset Tool.
Step 1: Select the Offset Tool.
Step 2: Click the selected line or face you want to offset.
Step 3: Move the cursor inwards or outwards to set the offset dimension and click to finish the offset.


It is used to measure distances between two points. Follow the given steps to use Tape Measure Tool.
Step 1: Select the Tape Measure Tool. Notice that the cursor changes to a tape measure.
Step 2: To measure the distance between the two lines, follow the steps given below.

• Click one end of the line segment to mark it as the starting point of the measurement.
• Move the cursor to the end point of the same line segment. As the cursor is moved over the line, it will draw a temporary measuring tape line.
• Click the other end of the line segment as shown in the figure below. The distance from the start point appears in the Measurement box.

CREATING 3D MODELS
Let us create a 3D model of a hut using the tools discussed above. Follow the steps given below.
Step 1: Select the Rectangle Tool and drag it on the drawing area.

Step 2: Using the Push/Pull Tool, drag it upwards.

Step 3: Using the Line Tool, draw a line splitting the rectangle into two halves.

Step 4: Using the Move Tool, drag it upwards to make a roof.

Step 5: Now add windows and a door using the Rectangle Tool.

Step 6: Using the Offset Tool, add frames to the door and windows.

Now, let us improve the appearance of the hut using Materials.
Step 7: Choose Materials from the dialog boxes on the right side of the window.
Step 8: Select a color/pattern/ texture of your choice for the faces of the hut.

Step 9: Use the Paint Bucket Tool for painting different faces of the hut. Repeat these steps for adding a different material to the roof of the hut.


TIPs and TRICKs

• To activate the Material dialog box, follow the steps:
  Windows →Default Tray→Materials
• To copy materials from one surface to another, use the Paint Bucket Tool and click on the surface from where the materials is to be copied. This will sample the pattern/texture/colour. Now use the Paint Bucket Tool on the surface where the same meterials is required.
  Use the Paint Bucket Tool for painting different faces of the hut. Repeat these steps for adding a different material to the roof of the hut.

Practices Zone
Fill in the blanks

1. ___________tool will push/pull on any flat surface.
2. ___________tool is used to creating copies of lines and objects at an identical distance from
   the originals.
3. The shortcut key is used to select Line tool ________________.
4. ___________are surfaces in an object.
5. ____________ tool is used for copying an object.

Inserting 3D Text
You can use the 3D text command to give title/messages for your shapes in SketchUp. Let us give an address to the hut created earlier. Follow the steps given below.
Step 1: Select the 3D text option from the Tools menu. The Place 3D text dialog box will appear on the screen.

Step 2: Type the text you wish to enter and select the settings given below, like Font, Align and so on.
Step 3: Click on the Place button to close the dialog box.
Step 4: Use the Move/ScaleTool to place the text on the hut and click outside the textbox to complete the text entry.

Navigation Tools
Navigation Tools help us to view the model in a better manner. Let us learn to use some of the Navigation Tools.

This tool is used to view the model from all sides. Follow the given steps to use Orbit Tool.
Step 1: Select the Orbit Tool.
Step 2: Click in the drawing area and move the cursor in different directions to rotate and view different angles of the model.


This tool is used for moving the camera vertically or horizontally. Follow the given steps to use Pan Tool.
Step 1: Select the Pan Tool.
Step 2: In the drawing area, click and drag the cursor to view the model from different angles.


You can use the Zoom Tool to zoom in (increase the magnification) or zoom out (decrease the magnification) of the model. Follow the given steps to use Zoom Tool.
Step 1: Select the Zoom Tool.
Step 2: Click and drag up to zoom in.
Step 3: Click and drag down to zoom out.

CREATING A 3D MODEL OF A TABLE
Let us learn to use the tools to create 3D model of table. Follow the steps given below for designing a table.
Step 1: Draw a rectangle using the Rectangle Tool.

Step 2: Use the Push/Pull Tool to lift the surface of the rectangle to make the table top.

Step 3: Create a group to isolate the table top from the rest of the model. For this, click thrice on the object using the Select Tool. You will notice that the object gets highlighted in blue. Now, right-click and choose the Make Group option.

Step 4: Double-click on the table to activate it for editing. Use the Offset Tool for creating another rectangle. Hover over the face you want to draw on.

Step 5: Use the Push/Pull Toll on the second rectangle as shown in Figure 9.33


Step 6: Let us now create the legs of the table. For this, we will create a leg component. (A component will help you to copy each leg of the table). Use the Rectangle Tool for creating a leg of the table (Fig. 9.34).
Step 7: Double-click the rectangle using the Select Tool and then right-click and choose the Make Component option.


Step 8: Use the Push/Pull Tool to pull the rectangle to create a leg of the table.

Step 9: Select the leg created and choose the Move Tool for creating a copy of it. Press the Ctrl key from the keyboard; this will let SketchUp know that you want to copy the leg component.

Step 10: Follow the above step for creating the remaining legs of the table.
Step 11: To rotate the table, you will first have to make a group out of the table.
Step 12: Now, using the Orbit Tool, turn the table upside down to have a complete look of the table created.