Working with Textures in SketchUp for Woodworking – The SketchUp Essentials Tutorial #55
In this SketchUp woodworking tutorial video, we’re going to talk about some tips to help woodworkers work with materials in SketchUp.
Links to Example Models
– Work Bench by Elliot L.
– Sofa Table Bookcase by Devin M.
1. Use the built in material library
SketchUp comes with a built in material library that you can quickly and easily apply to a model. Simply click on a material in your tray, then click on an object to paint it in your model
2. Resize materials
In addition to being able to use materials, you can also re-size those materials in the material section’s edit tab. Just select the material using the eye dropper tool, then adjust the dimensions of the material texture size to adjust the way it looks.
For more info on resizing materials in SketchUp, check out this video
3. Import new materials
You can easily import new materials from an outside source and use them in your model. You can import textures using the import tool in your file menu, then place them in your model. Some great places to get new textures include websites like SketchUp texture club, pictures you’ve taken, and the 3D warehouse.
For more info on importing images as materials in SketchUp, check out this video.
For more info on importing textures from the 3D warehouse in SketchUp, check out this video.
4. Position textures using the position texture tool
SketchUp makes editing textures easy with the position texture tool. Simply right click on a face, then use the pins of the position texture tool to resize, rotate, and skew textures as needed to make them fit in your model.
For more info on positioning textures in SketchUp using the position texture tool, check out this video.
5. Use seamless textures
SketchUp creates textures by tiling different images on faces. If you use a texture image that isn’t “Seamless,” the tiles will look very jarring and unrealistic. Make sure when looking for new textures, you include the word “Seamless” in your search.
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About Justin Geis
Hi, I'm Justin Geis, and I'm the founder of The SketchUp Essentials. I started using SketchUp as part of my work as a general contractor in 2008. I quickly realized the power of the software and started using it for personal projects. I started The SketchUp Essentials as a place to share easy to follow SketchUp tutorials and tips to help everyone harness the power of 3D Modeling in their lives. When not working with SketchUp, I enjoy playing soccer and spending time with my wife and our two dogs.
