Google SketchUp: The Missing Manual

Manipulating Your Model in LayOut

As with any page layout program, working inside of LayOut is a matter of adding and arranging words and graphics on pages. The main difference between LayOut and programs like InDesign or Publisher is the ease with which you can work with SketchUp models. After inserting your model, LayOut's text tools give you everything you need to create callouts, captions, and large blocks of text. You can create new 2-D graphics using the drawing tools on the LayOut toolbar. You fine-tune the entities on the pages using the tray settings. The next few sections describe how to work with LayOut's layers and pages and how to add graphics and text to your document. To begin, create a new LayOut document using the following steps:

1. Start LayOut. In the Getting Started window's New tab, click Titleblock.

   A list of Titleblock templates appears under the Titleblock item, as shown in Figure 16-12. All the Titleblock templates are displayed in the Getting Started window.

2. Click Contemporary.

   The Getting Started window displays only the contemporary-style Titleblock templates.

3. Use the scroll bars to find the Letter Landscape thumbnail, and then double-click it.

   The Getting Started window closes, and a copy of the Letter Landscape template opens.

Tip

Below the template thumbnails is a checkbox called "Always Use Selected Template". Turn on this box if you want SketchUp to open the same template every time you start the program.

Figure 16-12. Templates are organized by style and type ...