Process Plant Design - Google SketchUp Workshop: Modeling, Visualizing, and Illustrating - page 121

Tips about modeling using CAD and image files:

1. It is usually easier and quicker to group the imported file and CAD or

image, and model it. Using the imported geometry is more difficult
because often the geometry is not always complete or accurate.
Therefore SketchUp has problems recognizing CAD line work.

2. In the Style Dialog, set the edge color to “by axis,” so that you can see

if the lines are square to an axis. This is a great reference to ensure that
you are “tracing” the lines correctly.

3. Save these development files (we suggest naming them as “Devo-” and

saving them in a special folder) with the CAD files or images in place.
This file organization allows you to quickly check your work against the
original basis when needed.

Tips for complex models

1. Large models are just collections of many small models. Everything in

your model should be a group or a component. This is the most effective
way to start organizing a SketchUp model, in particular, large models.

2. Large file size and high polygon counts will slow the model response,

increase saving times, and, most importantly, limit the extent of
your model. So, minimize the polygon count whenever possible. For
example, not every circle needs 24 sides. For example, our tanks of
10 m diameter should have 24 sides or more, whereas a 15 cm pipe
should have eight sides. When you build your models, try and limit
the curvature of objects as much as possible to reduce the number
of faces. Another example for many projects is steel beams. Use steel
beams having rectangular shapes and not rounded corners.

FiG 7.4 Simplified versus standard
steel beam model.

Wide flange steel W36 × 588
39 Edges
15 Faces

Wide flange steel W36 × 588
168 Edges
58 Faces