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A Look at the Rotate Tool

David Richards, contributor

11 users recommend

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Like the Move tool, the Rotate tool is fundamental in SketchUp. Being able to use it easily and correctly will help make your experience with SketchUp more enjoyable. Here's a little video demo I threw together to show you how to use it.

As always, let me know if you have questions about using it.

Dave

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Comments (6)

Artl writes: Thank you, It worked for me this time. I think that it is real;ly generous to do what you guys do for us learning the program. Many thanks

Art L
Posted: 2:03 pm on October 31st

DaveRichards writes: Art, I'm sorry it wasn't working for you. It is running for me right now as I type. Could you please try again?

Dave
Posted: 6:26 am on October 28th

Artl writes: The video does not come up....previous and after ones do?????
Art
Posted: 12:11 am on October 28th

DaveRichards writes: Jonas, I'm happy that there was some clarification but I'm sorry if that wasn't clear enough. If there isn't a good surface to reference off of as in rotating the single plane. It is click and hold as you click on the the center of rotation and drag along the rotation axis. Then click for the start of the rotation and drag around to the desired angle or at least in the right direction before entering the rotation angle. It is still really a two-click operation. Note that the axis of rotation doesn't have to be along an edge on the thing being rotated.

Jake, thank you. I'm glad that helped. I really don't want there to be any mystery to these tools. With the combination of the Tape Measure and yellow Protractor tool, you can work out some really cool things using the rotate tool.

Dave
Posted: 8:16 pm on October 17th

jakegest writes: What a great video! I really didn't understand the rotate tool very well before watching this.
Posted: 7:55 pm on October 17th

JonasMac writes: Dave
I have never found the rotate tool very intuitive unlike most of the other tools. I had always wondered why some objects seemed to be easier to rotate than others ( requiring less mouse clicks ).
From your rotation exercise above I am now clearer about the initial steps of selecting /encouraging the axis of rotation for objects with faces parallel to the red, green and blue axes.

My reading of the next step is that if you select a protractor( axis ) color as red ,green or blue after that you just need two mouse clicks to rotate an object ,one to be the centre of rotation and two to indicate the line of rotation .
With objects that are not square on with the red,green or where you want the axis of rotation of a "square on "object not to be in line with the red ,green or blue axis , the protractor turns black after which you need 3 clicks ,one to start the required axis , two to complete the axis line and three to indicate the line of rotation .
Is this your reading of how the tool works ?





Posted: 7:22 pm on October 17th

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