Love for LayOut: An Introduction

In our humble opinion, LayOut is vastly underused in SketchUp Pro, and we’re not entirely sure why. We’re hoping to shine a light on LayOut with this blog post and give it the love it deserves.

If you’re not using LayOut – you’re missing out. LayOut and SketchUp Pro are designed to work together. Obviously we use 2D drawings to convey design and details when presenting work to clients. However, LayOut is the most efficient way to turn SketchUp models into diagrams, drawings, CD sets, presentations, or even just scaled prints.

After you insert a SketchUp model into a LayOut document, you can design the document to highlight your 3D model’s best features. If you ever need to change or update your original SketchUp model, you can update the model in LayOut so that all the details are synced automatically.

If you’re like us, and you get a bit jittery about delivering presentations, then that’s where LayOut really comes into its own. Its super-simple and intuitive presentation can immediately put you at ease.

To access LayOut’s presentation features, select View > Start Presentation or click the Start Presentation tool () on the default toolbar. Your document becomes full screen, and you have access to the following presentation features:

  • Navigate among the pages in your presentation.
  • Draw annotations.
  • Change the view of inserted SketchUp model entities.
  • Play animations.

Still need convincing it’s time to start loving LayOut? Well, a picture speaks a thousand words, so check out these LayOut examples below for inspiration.

LayOut Example 1

 

LayOut Example 2
LayOut Example 3

Ready to get going with LayOut? Check out the tutorial below.

Already a LayOut Lover? Leave a comment with your tips and tricks!

Even more LayOut infomation

 

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