# Roof layout, convert 3D model to 2D model, unfold the roof **URL:** \ **Category:** LayOut\ **Tags:** 2d, advice, import, layout, roof\ **Created:** [May 11, 2023, 5:58am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678 "2023-05-11T05:58:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BenSol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@BenSol](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/BenSol)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 5:58am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678/1 "2023-05-11T05:58:29Z")
Hello, if this issue has been addressed before, I can only say that my English is not good enough to find it. My question is about my work in the solar industry where I have to create roof plans. Therefore, we first create a 3D model and export it to the layout, but with the created scenes, it is only possible to create a top view. Is there a way to unfold the roof so that the correct measurements can be shown from both sides of the roof? Otherwise, it will be distorted by the roof pitch. Thank you for your support. Kind regards. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2023, 6:50am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678/2 "2023-05-11T06:50:28Z")
You can align the view to the roof plane. Select the rectangle tool. Hold the down arrow while hovering over the roof to lock the inference to the roof plane. ![Screen Shot 2023-05-11 at 08.48.12](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/1/8/180d85f41c797aefb6713351d7b4a1d8a657286e.jpeg) Draw the rectangle. Right click on the rectangle and ‘Align View’ ![Screen Shot 2023-05-11 at 08.48.24](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/c/b/cb9e8bded19ba4c6180f859d15a0a9e94e7db1a7.jpeg) Make sure the camera is in parallel projection. ![Screen Shot 2023-05-11 at 08.49.53](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/8/8/88dbec849a6fc5ab3857dc286a7b31dfb4da7f54.jpeg) Zoom Extents. Create new scene. Repeat for the other side (or other roof planes). Save the model, in the LayOut file you can select the scenes and arrange them as needed. ---
**Author:** ![rtches](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/rtches/32/131827_2.png) [@rtches](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/rtches)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 6:53am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678/3 "2023-05-11T06:53:39Z")
@bmike was faster than me… ![ScreenFlow](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/3/b/3bd3fae37286c5264c70e2119c93ecd6cf016066.gif) ---
**Author:** ![BenSol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@BenSol](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/BenSol)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 7:17am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678/4 "2023-05-11T07:17:44Z")
So is it not possible to display both halves of the roof at their original size on LayOut, so that I can enter the correct measurements for the construction? This means showing both halves of the roof separately. Thank you for your quick response and help. Kind regards. ---
**Author:** ![Anssi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/anssi/32/105_2.png) [@Anssi](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Anssi)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 7:27am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678/5 "2023-05-11T07:27:36Z")
> [@BenSol](#): > > This means showing both halves of the roof separatel You can put the views together on the LayOut page. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2023, 7:32am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678/6 "2023-05-11T07:32:14Z")
I have never shown both halves or the roof unfolded in the same view, even for roof framing shop drawings, but if you have a different process or a need to do this you can align 2 SketchUp views: Setup your scenes and bring into LayOut: ![Screen Shot 2023-05-11 at 09.25.38](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/c/f/cfe188e2a3c3409920e0106252946338d1ba9e46.jpeg) ![Screen Shot 2023-05-11 at 09.25.45](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/d/6/d6f58b27fba89703ec054f1a83c09488285346bf.jpeg) Set scale and then align the views. You may need to flip or rotate one of the views to have it aligned properly. ![Screen Shot 2023-05-11 at 09.26.01](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/e/2/e2507d8e9a890645a4393ec70d81065ea9f7fce3.jpeg) Dimension ![Screen Shot 2023-05-11 at 09.27.44](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/9/6/965fbabc90cba3ad2a0a1965ef5be221ea732f19.jpeg) But if you are just focusing on the roof, and you have built a component with all of the panels / etc. - perhaps it would be easier to just copy the roof components off to the side in the model, then rotate them so they are lying on the ground plane, and align the ridges to each other, and create a top view scene. If you do not make them unique, any changes you make to the roof components still at the proper pitch would be made to these ‘flat’ components. ![Screen Shot 2023-05-11 at 09.31.34](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/3/0/30f9a25669221ae789215cf99e10cee32d9b7c89.jpeg) ![Screen Shot 2023-05-11 at 09.31.52](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/3/d/3d4e112c6dd48fc388e85b88b7e3d6369ccc850f.jpeg) ![Screen Shot 2023-05-11 at 09.31.58](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/0/0/0022fa3dbe4840c165b6babdbab3a71cf7e34c81.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![BenSol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@BenSol](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/BenSol)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 9:24am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678/7 "2023-05-11T09:24:23Z")
Thank you guys! ---
**Author:** ![Sonder](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/sonder/32/27173_2.png) [@Sonder](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Sonder)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2023, 7:07pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678/8 "2023-05-15T19:07:54Z")
Just curious why you would want to do this? No contractor I know of wants to see the roof in this manner. Typically roof plans are shown as a 2d representation looking down with the pitch in place. Doing this will likely confuse most contractors. ---
**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:** [May 16, 2023, 8:27pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678/9 "2023-05-16T20:27:28Z")
I’m curious as well, although if it is for solar layout I could see that as being helpful - although having both on the same sheet ridge to ridge would be confusing. But I never worked a solar install, but have done plenty of timber frame installations. I have done flat to plane drawings for timber layout, SIP layout and to coordinate specific details though. ---
**Author:** ![francisquitof](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/francisquitof/32/191263_2.png) [@francisquitof](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/francisquitof)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 4:32am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678/10 "2023-05-17T04:32:18Z")
If you want to show the real dimensions of a roof you just need to create different views of it, the top view will give you some dimensions and an elevation will show other dimensions. You can even make an isometric view and add dimensions on layout. Making plans of every part of the roof separately is more confusing than helpful, and I’ve never seen something like that during my career. ---
**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:** [May 17, 2023, 7:58am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678/11 "2023-05-17T07:58:05Z")
> [@francisquitof](#): > > Making plans of every part of the roof separately is more confusing than helpful, and I’ve never seen something like that during my career. For architecture? No. For shop drawings / engineering drawings - yes. It can be helpful - SIP panel layout, framing / heavy timber system roof layout (when using common purlins or working out ■■■■■■■ valley framing, etc.), and I could see it being useful for solar - imagine you are the guys standing out on that roof and you have to flip to 2 or 3 different drawings to do your layout properly - when it can be handled with 1 plan view, perpendicular to the plane of the roof, where the crew will be measuring and doing layout for an installation. ---
**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:** [May 17, 2023, 7:59am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/roof-layout-convert-3d-model-to-2d-model-unfold-the-roof/229678/12 "2023-05-17T07:59:14Z")
Ha, apparently bas\*tard is a naughty word here.