# Reason for invisible geometry come about on a layer of water and not being able to cut out a ship shape **URL:** \ **Category:** SketchUp\ **Tags:** sketchup, modeling\ **Created:** [March 15, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262 "2025-03-15T23:08:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Voicefromwithin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/voicefromwithin/32/40716_2.png) [@Voicefromwithin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Voicefromwithin)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/1 "2025-03-15T23:08:43Z")
Hello I had a similar problem last year. I was then told to look for any spec of line or pixel within a face that may stop me from cutting out a space. I had to redo my water and did the “intersection with model” and also tried “intersection with context or selection” Still I was left with major issues I introduced a yacht into my model that is fully decorated inside What I still can’t understand why would an empty cut out space (like the two circles for the building) fill up again fully with the water material just because I try to add another model and want to intersect with the general water surface? They are all different groups and the water was it’s own group and component I can’t seem to get the water to cut out from the shape I have tried so many hours in any way looking for any speck of a pixel I could not delete the part in the center of the shape THEN I drew a line across and suddenly I was able to delete 1/2 then drew I second one and managed to erase the other side still the center will NOT go If I chose it and delete it all fills up again if I delete on line of the triangle face the other half fills up again It took me days again to empty the circles chasing for a tiny speck and locating the exact geometrical position then delete the original that was created with the “intersect with model” but did not allow me to delete the center as the water is not supposed to go through the building that goes down under the water level. It all sounds mad but it is a game building I am working on for years. ![whyINVISIBLEgeometryLINESsometimes2to3onTOPofEACHother_15_03_25](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/a/a/aae99e6d94e2002e621829d22a408027c48779aa.jpeg) [871c\_onlyWaterWITHcutOUTshapes\_15\_03\_25.skp](https://forums.sketchup.com/uploads/short-url/favKHPRig2WmHDimx1N4aObH529.skp) (346.3 KB) I tried to copy a strip of water with the empty space mirror it an reinsert to no avail it will fill up again I also found a huge amount of invisible geometry across the entire water surface! Why would that suddenly be they never were there before I have worked on this file as you see many many times These lines seem to end at the little lamps I put along the side of the yacht submerged body. I have never dragged them across the entire water surface all I did was lower them 5cm just under the water. I never ever dragged or pulled anything across the entire project Meanwhile someone will able to help and explain what I am doing wrong again with this unusual shape (the two circles I managed) I will go an delete these lines one by one. All this happened as I wanted to do some emitter light corrections I have progressed a lot and still hit some SKU roadblocks I have managed to migrate my model to Twinmotion and then onward to Unreal Engine 5.4 which as impossible from SKU 19 directly as an fbx Now I am learning about “collisions” between objects and people walking another huge hurdle. Lucky I have not planned to many doors to open in close in my game …if it ever will become one …time flies Thank yo so much in advance this crazy 55+ hobbyist ![lake_water_postion_problem](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/3/3/33322c1cc38a4099e1d8e21e70c929a44ec146fe.jpeg) ![Image12b](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/a/9/a9dcbdd238f9f4cbaf0be27fb0befc70175c3120.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Box](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/box/32/235164_2.png) [@Box](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Box)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 11:41pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/2 "2025-03-15T23:41:27Z")
Your plane isn’t flat, see how the 4 corners of the plane are not all at 0, so whenever you cut through it will triangulate the surface. You need to start with a flat plane and it has been mentioned many time, you need to Turn Off Length Snapping as this causes this type small unfixable error. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/4/f/4f443e54e475eb880de2949daff0bc38ca2b22eb.png) ---
**Author:** ![Box](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/box/32/235164_2.png) [@Box](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Box)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2025, 11:54pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/3 "2025-03-15T23:54:52Z")
There is also a break in your boat shape. ![GIF 16-03-2025 10-53-36 AM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/b/a/ba03c1afcceefbf1215a7244e8cf4c2a8491ee8b.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Voicefromwithin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/voicefromwithin/32/40716_2.png) [@Voicefromwithin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Voicefromwithin)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/4 "2025-03-16T02:00:11Z")
Hello Thank you so much. Unfortunately never heard about the unchecking the snapping sherbet 2mm over 50m … I guess to often handling the face and re inserting it. For the brake in the line…maybe I need new glasses I have a 4K monitor but set lower as otherwise it doesn’t work well in UE …in need of a more powerful graphic card which means a new PC again due to the size of the new 12VGBR … I was about to implement this work around but now will try to follow your advise but wondering how to I flatten the water? I may not have your extension… Very grateful for your advise At least can have a more peacefull week end this stressed me out a lot Cheers ![A_processTOcutOUTwaterSHAPE](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/0/e/0ed7c936d885877f9aed700d682f549099332841.jpeg) ![B_processTOcutOUTwaterSHAPE](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/9/5/9548cb8a43130a8369ef2a25cce48203db76f73d.jpeg) ![C_processTOcutOUTwaterSHAPE](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/d/b/dbb37d04793bb96177b26302694527ec4aa5c7d6.jpeg) ![D_processTOcutOUTwaterSHAPE](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/9/1/91ff6f98e12c267c2553f10999399ee7b4cc56ce.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Box](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/box/32/235164_2.png) [@Box](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Box)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2025, 3:24am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/5 "2025-03-16T03:24:05Z")
> [@Voicefromwithin](#): > > but wondering how to I flatten the water? > I may not have your extension… It’s pretty pointless to try to flatten it. Turn off length snapping. Create a new flat plane and position it where you want it and make new holes. For example. No extensions, just vanilla sketchup. ![GIF 16-03-2025 2-35-51 PM](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/2/a/2afaaf60c49b19d368e7170fd110a4190bf571c7.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Voicefromwithin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/voicefromwithin/32/40716_2.png) [@Voicefromwithin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Voicefromwithin)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/6 "2025-03-19T03:08:53Z")
Hello thank you very much I will implement like this as the other way around it still I created more havoc I’ll pray will intersect all ---
**Author:** ![Voicefromwithin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/voicefromwithin/32/40716_2.png) [@Voicefromwithin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Voicefromwithin)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 3:18am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/7 "2025-03-19T03:18:09Z")
May I ask Does it matter if I click on the larger area to intersect with the smaller or do I click on each smaller one to intersect with the larger area? Thank you ---
**Author:** ![ateliernab](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/ateliernab/32/198399_2.png) [@ateliernab](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/ateliernab)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 8:40am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/8 "2025-03-19T08:40:56Z")
it does. the thing you select will be cut by its context. if you select the sea, the sea will be cut. if you select each smaller object, they’ll each be cut and the sea will remain intact. considering your goal, select the sea. ---
**Author:** ![Voicefromwithin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/voicefromwithin/32/40716_2.png) [@Voicefromwithin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Voicefromwithin)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/9 "2025-03-19T16:27:46Z")
Thank you very much. I start on this now ---
**Author:** ![Voicefromwithin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/voicefromwithin/32/40716_2.png) [@Voicefromwithin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Voicefromwithin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 1:35am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/10 "2025-03-20T01:35:51Z")
Hi Sorry to bother you again So I now recreated the exact water surface I found out the my square wasn’t square so I had to correct the edges along the sides. I now did the first attempt to cut choosing the water first but even I see the cut lines AGAIN to dismay I can’t erase the corridor area between the center aquarium and the outside lake and therefor revered the cutting My water is a GROUP do you think it is the size of my lake with multiple cuttings? Do I have to UNgroup the water? I am at loss again to achieve this re integration I attach a screenshot so left of the columns is the lake water and right is the aquarium I want to delete de water between the two as it is a very deep and tall corridor I considered also like cheating and painting that ceiling as it can only be seen from the bottom up BUT the paint will run through the cut lines thanks for your opinion kind gratefully regards ![NEWimportedWATERtoCUT_19_03_25](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/6/8/68530ddbf5078cacda3eeebab116b3562bc9fd69.jpeg) ![NEWimportedWATERtoCUT_B_19_03_25](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/6/0/6076ad9723ad11e83fc1ebd59d49d75457bf2fa1.jpeg) PS: Do you think I should try to do the other option intersect with the environment ALTHOUGH now looking for the exact name I can’t see that option is it because the water is a group? I exploded the water but still do not see the other option to my surprise so I regrouped it again Always so afraid something major wont happen again At this stage I re save the project each time in between each attempted action ---
**Author:** ![Box](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/box/32/235164_2.png) [@Box](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Box)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 2:21am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/11 "2025-03-20T02:21:07Z")
> [@Voicefromwithin](#): > > My water is a GROUP Did you open the group for editing before doing the intersect? as I did in my gif. You must select the face itself to intersect, otherwise the edges created will be outside the context of the group and won’t cut the face within the group. ---
**Author:** ![Voicefromwithin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/voicefromwithin/32/40716_2.png) [@Voicefromwithin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Voicefromwithin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 2:26am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/12 "2025-03-20T02:26:28Z")
I think I did as I saw all the dots of chosen face on the water my groups is not open do I explode it? or keep it a groupd ![NEWwaterSELECTEDfromUNDERthe surface](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/7/c/7c2ed29011bf2930a637e2d9990b41b230a78d96.jpeg) I am looking at it now from bottom up and did from top also Is there a difference between OPEN and EDIT group do you mean explode the water group? Now I can see intersect with MODEL or CONTEXT whats the difference? Thank you ---
**Author:** ![Voicefromwithin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/voicefromwithin/32/40716_2.png) [@Voicefromwithin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Voicefromwithin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 2:37am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/13 "2025-03-20T02:37:26Z")
[![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/1/1/113722f135dbd3b7f5766262d2a3d857adb5ad45.jpeg "Intersect with model, context or selection - Skill Builder") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNbZSK1IhQU) this is my go to for tutorial it doesn’t show much of deleting but at the end Did you mean: [_ **what’s** _ the _ **difference** _ between _ **intersection** _ of model or context when I need to delete faces in SketchUp?](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=a9287b5cf37d50af&sxsrf=AHTn8zrnpRqpyYXnW3vCpBKf37pkHpWusg:1742438279052&q=what%27s+the+difference+between+intersection+of+model+or+context+when+I+need+to+delete+faces+in+SketchUp?&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi9u6m10JeMAxXKGjQIHTDsM6QQBSgAegQIDhAB) # AI Overview **AI Overview** [Learn more](https://support.google.com/websearch?p=ai_overviews&hl=en-CA) When using “Intersect Faces” in SketchUp to delete faces, “With Model” checks intersections against the entire model, while “With Context” checks only against the currently open group or component, offering more targeted control for editing. Here’s a breakdown of the differences: - **“With Model”:** - **“With Context”:** - **“With Selection”:** In essence: - Use “With Model” to create intersections across the entire model, potentially affecting multiple parts. - Use “With Context” to focus intersections within a specific group or component, allowing for more localized editing. - Use “With Selection” to intersect a set of faces with themselves MAYBE I should go with SELECTION and only chose my specific areas I feel bad imposing on you THANK YOU so much ---
**Author:** ![Voicefromwithin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/voicefromwithin/32/40716_2.png) [@Voicefromwithin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Voicefromwithin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 2:46am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/14 "2025-03-20T02:46:52Z")
I just went into my boat with the water group open (edit) wanted to chose “intersect with context” Told me there is no intersection (although my boat is ONE big group) so did the intersect with model Yes I see the lines but again I can’t delete the water inside the boat ![NEWimportedWATERtoCUT_insideTHEboat_floor_19_03_25](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/b/6/b6515ba66f73128bff944129e4c488642c1ee6bc.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Box](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/box/32/235164_2.png) [@Box](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Box)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 2:53am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/15 "2025-03-20T02:53:58Z")
You need to find someone who can either sit with you and work with the model, or download it and work with it. I can only guess what is going on. ---
**Author:** ![Voicefromwithin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/voicefromwithin/32/40716_2.png) [@Voicefromwithin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Voicefromwithin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/16 "2025-03-20T02:54:07Z")
![NEWimportedWATERbackOFboatISoneSOLIDbodyNObrakeASinTHEline](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/6/9/695250de6575d15413faafbf63c508ce1e39c7b3.jpeg) In recalled you fixing that line in the back of boat tracing on the previous water. I can NOT zoom in as close as you. For me I see a solid boat and beam no opening in the boat so there couldn’t be a brake in the line created with the intersection ![NEWimportedWATERbackOFboatISoneSOLIDbodyNObrakeASinTHEline](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/6/9/695250de6575d15413faafbf63c508ce1e39c7b3.jpeg) right? Sorry my file is way to big to upload all. All in all its over 2GB as I just wanted to re export all to UE ---
**Author:** ![Voicefromwithin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/voicefromwithin/32/40716_2.png) [@Voicefromwithin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Voicefromwithin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/17 "2025-03-20T02:56:04Z")
yea well I don’t have that someone at all working alone on all this to bring ti to fruition it’s two years of work non stop To maybe bring it to a kickstarter maybe to be able to hire some help THANK YOU again I am Vic thank you ---
**Author:** ![Voicefromwithin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/voicefromwithin/32/40716_2.png) [@Voicefromwithin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Voicefromwithin)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 3:03am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/18 "2025-03-20T03:03:01Z")
I just copy pasted the water outside the model and saw that only half of the water is there like a triangle I did import a square created outside in another SketchUP [000\_water9915by9789.skp](https://forums.sketchup.com/uploads/short-url/cX9DI6QGyYlT4fSVpJQzIe4d9Kn.skp) (183.6 KB) I just don’t understand why does SKU not create a totally horizontal face? I specially created it starting from the little man standing there to make sure it not takes anything from my model that may not be 100% horizontal I don’t know where to look to get hat graphic detailed reading like yours ---
**Author:** ![jean\_lemire\_1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/jean_lemire_1/32/665_2.png) [@jean\_lemire\_1](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/jean_lemire_1)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/19 "2025-03-20T13:28:10Z")
> [@Voicefromwithin](#): > > with the water group open (edit) > wanted to chose “intersect with context” > Told me there is no intersection (although my boat is ONE big group) Click in sequence on the scenes tabs of this SU file for ideas. [Boat in water.skp](https://forums.sketchup.com/uploads/short-url/1rI1I5CbtPqmkUWhaCoh0CenEFN.skp) (321.9 KB) ---
**Author:** ![bmike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/bmike/32/225451_2.png) [@bmike](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/bmike)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262/20 "2025-03-20T15:46:19Z")
> [@Voicefromwithin](#): > > I just don’t understand why does SKU not create a totally horizontal > face? Don’t touch any geometry when you start drawing the large rectangle. Be sure to press the up arrow key to lock the rectangle parallel to the ground plane in with your first point. This is basic SKP stuff, which will make your life easier. [Next page](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/reason-for-invisible-geometry-come-about-on-a-layer-of-water-and-not-being-able-to-cut-out-a-ship-shape/319262.md?page=2)