Measuring Angles
The Protractor tool is great for measuring angles. Suppose you had the object with an angle on one side, as you see in Figure 10.10. Now suppose that you wanted to measure that angle. How could you do it?
FIGURE 10.10 An object with an angle in one face.
You could use the Protractor tool. This tool is to angles what the Tape Measure tool is to lengths—that is, you can measure angles with it.
To see how this works, follow these steps:
1. Click the Start Using SketchUp button.
2. Select the Rectangle tool and draw a horizontal rectangle.
3. Select the Push/Pull tool in the toolbar and pull the rectangle up into a cube.
4. Select the Line tool in the toolbar.
5. Draw a vertical line on the right face of the cube.
6. Select the Move tool in the toolbar.
7. Pull the right-most edge of the cube out until your object looks like Figure 10.11.
FIGURE 10.11 The Protractor tool in use.
8. Select the View menu’s Toolbars item. This opens a submenu.
9. Select the submenu’s Large Tool Set item. This opens the large toolbar.
10. Select the Protractor tool in the toolbar.
11. Click the vertex of the angle you plan to measure. A protractor appears at the location you’ve clicked, as shown in Figure 10.11.
12. Click one of the edges that make up the angle.
13. Click the other edge that makes up the angle. Two dotted lines extend from the protractor, measuring the angle, as you see in Figure 10.12.
You can see the angle the protractor is measuring in the Value Control Box at the lower right: 128.6 degrees.
FIGURE 10.12 Measuring an angle.
That’s great if you need to measure an angle, but what if you want to specify a certain angle instead, and set up guides to match?
Take a look at the next task.
Thanks :
Steven Holzner,
SamsTeachYourself Google SketchUp 8 in 10 Minutes
