Layout Tutorials

Layout is a supplementary program to Sketchup, and is included when you purchase Sketchup PRO. It incorporates a different set a features that help you take your models you create in Sketchup, and turn them into beautiful looking 2D “Layouts” that can be printed out and shared with other people. This is the most common format for construction professions to share ideas and plans, as it is not easy to carry around a computer where ever you go, to show people your model.

Layout also allows you to arrange the perspective view of you model in a way that helps you communicate different features. There are many note taking tools, including shape tools, text boxes, dimensions, and some commonly used architectural stamps.

You don’t do any actual modeling in Layout, it’s really just a presentation tool. But it is packed with a bunch of tools that will make your models look great on paper. Here you’ll find our compilation of Layout tutorials, pointing out some shortcomings of the program, and helping you make the most of its great features.

How To Set Up Your Sketchup Model For Layout – (VIDEO)

If you have Sketchup Pro, you have Layout. It’s the companion software package for Sketchup that helps you prepare your model in 2D perspective views for printing out on paper. One of the most common tasks you’ll have to do for Layout is prepare your model for importing. It’s easy, and it’s best to spend a little more time in Sketchup to configure your scenes before you even open Layout.

Prepare Scenes in Sketchup FIRST, then import into Layout

Layout does have some built in camera tools, allowing you to “open” your imported Sketchup model right from Layout and orbit the model. But you just don’t have as much control as you do from Sketchup. So as you’re planning out your Layout document, think about what types of views you’ll want to get, then open your model in Sketchup to find those views and save them as scenes.

When you are using Sketchup for architecture or construction, you’ll find there are many views you need to capture from each model. Make sure you label each scene as you create it so you can reference the name when selecting it in Layout. These are some typical views I like to configure, then save as scenes in Sketchup.

Modeling View – This is just a scene to save my default modeling settings. As you start configuring your other scenes, you’ll want to go back to modeling and this scene will get you back there fast.
Top View – Bird’s eye view from directly over head. You can just select the preset top view button in Sketchup. Don’t worry if the view is not rotated correctly. You can easily rotate it in Layout.
Perspective View – I like to put a nice 3D “Sketchy” perspective view right on the front page of the drawings. I usually crank the field of view up to 60 to get a nice perspective view. (Camera --> Field of View --> 60)
Elevation views – Most of the pages will be elevation views. (Elevation views are the perspectives as if you are standing directly in front of something, looking straight at it.) You’ll typically have multiple elevations in a drawing set.