The SketchUp Workflow for Architecture: Modeling Buildings, Visualizing Design, and Creating Construction Documents with SketchUp Pro and LayOut

Chapter 7

SketchUp Collections

When using SketchUp, people frequently miss the opportunity to fully organize and even use collections. That is a big mistake. Collections are notoriously messy. Whether you’re working with a collection of components, styles, or textures, it is easy to be lazy and not keep the collections clean and organized—but now there is no excuse for laziness. This section will show you all of the rules and resources you need to build extensive, high-resolution, organized collections. Adhering to these standards will ensure that you always have the files you need right when you need them.

Material Collection

You may have noticed that almost every amateur SketchUp model has the same shingles, bricks, and grass. Avoid using the materials that are preloaded in SketchUp. These materials are easily recognizable and will make your models look elementary. Diligently search for texture images to find ones that best represent the materials you have chosen for your design. This section contains several strategies for finding, creating, and organizing your professional material collection.

The Materials Browser

Before you begin in earnest, take a moment to explore the Materials browser. Launch it by activating the Paint Bucket tool, or by clicking on the Window drop-down menu and choosing Materials. The Materials browser has two separate tabs: Select and Edit (Figure 7-1). The Select tab displays preloaded collections, favorite collections, and the materials in your model. ...