Yes. You need to use a reference line running in the desired direction to set the guidelines. If an axis is going your way, grab it.
How about adding some additional guidelines as references for drawing the rectangle.
The gray or blue gray is the back face color. It’s not a problem at that stage because extruding with Push/Pull will correct the face orientation. You should keep the correct face orientation on 3D objects. White faces out.
That sounds right. Practice is what you need to improve it. That and becoming familiar with using the tools. It will come.
Just trying now with a load of grid lines… That helps a lot, but I am ending up with loads (Horizontal and Vertical)… But at the end of the day, they can be deleted so I guess its not a problem.
In the case of my grey rectangle, how do I draw a white one… I have only ever seen Grey or Blue Grey (Depending on what side I look at)… What does white actually mean? And how do you create it?
You’ll learn how to minimize the number of guidelines. Make it a habit to delete them when they’ve done their job.
Don’t worry about the face orientation when you make a single face like the rectangle. When you extrude the shape, the face orientation will take care of itself. Blue is the back side of the face while white is the front face. When you have 3D shapes, you should see only white faces out. If there are blue ones showing, reverse them. Either right click on the blue face and choose Reverse Faces or right click on a white face and choose Orient Faces.
Face orientation is important with some tools and it can be critical for 3D printing as well as rendering with some programs so it’s a good idea to stay on top of the face orientation. Take care of the reversed faces as they appear to make it easier to take care of them.
Again, don’t go chasing the face orientation on a single face. It’ll be alright once you make it 3D.
I am still curious how you create the rectangle with just one guideline…
I went back to basics and tried to work out how to draw a rectangle if you want it to span a middle guideline and the only way I can work out how to do it is to draw one rectangle on one side of the line (1/2 of what you want to end up with)… And an EXACT copy the same to the other side…
But this seems a bit clumsy and I am sure there is a better way…
In my case the extra guidelines makes it much easier anyway, so I think I will stick with that method for now…
To draw it with a single guideline, use the Line tool. Start on the center front to back guideline, draw a horizontal line half the width of the required rectangle making sure you enter the exact distance. Then draw down the required distance, right the width of the rectangle, back up and then back to join the first line.
Will finish this tomorrow… Thanks Dave… You have been a huge help.
My next challenge is indented text… Thats something I have tried a few times and failed, but since its a similar process, I am going to have a crack at that on a completely different project…
I too am failing to complete a hole using published clues. Using the push/pull tool merely extends the cylinder, not deleting, Some “holes” act/appear differently than others. Attached is my .skp ToTammy#2(2).skp (131.9 KB)
Your model is a bit messy, you have a lot of unnecessary lines and reversed faces, you should take a look at the free courses from the sketchup website.
