SketchUp for Schools

Touring the SketchUp for Schools interface

SketchUp for Schools looks and works a lot like SketchUp on your desktop, but the web- and desktop-based programs have fairly different interfaces. Whether you’re totally new to creating 3D models or an experienced SketchUp user who’s trying SketchUp for Schools for the first time, this section can help you find your way around the SketchUp for Schools interface.

In the following figure, you see how SketchUp for Schools looks when you first open the program in your web browser. The callouts in the figure correspond to the numbers in the following list.

1. Open/Model Preferences icon: When you click this icon, a sidebar opens, where you will find an About SketchUp section, your account info, templates for creating new models, your saved files in Google Drive, a geolocation tool, the Model Info panel, and a link to upload your model to SketchUp’s 3D Warehouse.

2. Model name: Click Untitled to save your model to Google Drive.

3. File operations icon: Click this icon to download the open a new or existing model or save your model as a new file. You also find options for inserting .skp, .jpg, or .png files or downloading your model as an .skp or .stl file.

4. Toolbar: This toolbar contains the tools you need to create 3D models. For the most part, these tools work just like their counterparts in the desktop version of SketchUp. In SketchUp for Schools, some tools have a flyout menu that holds additional tools. For details about the toolbar and links for more information about using each tool, see Creating and Editing Models.

5. Status bar: From left to right, you find the Undo/Redo buttons, a link to the Help Center, a language menu, a link to the SketchUp Forums, tips and options for the selected tool, and the Measurements box for modeling accurately.

6. Panels: Click these icons to access panels for entity info, the Instructor, components, materials, styles, layers, scenes, and display. For details about these panels and links to more information about each one, see Creating and Editing Models.

Tip: If you’re not certain what a tool is, hover over the tool and a ScreenTip appears. When you select a tool, a brief note about what it does or the options available for that tool appear in the status bar. You can also find help by opening the Instructor panel.