Importing and Using 2D Images

You can import and use 2D images in a SketchUp model in a variety of ways:

  • Import an image as its own image entity. An image entity is similar to a face and can be rotated or resized.
  • Import an image as a texture. Importing as a texture allows you to apply that image to a face in your model and also creates a material for that image.
  • Import the image as a matched photo. Importing an image as a matched photo enables Matched Photo mode. For more information, see Matching a Photo to a Model.

Image Entities

To import an image as an image entity:

  1. Select File > Import.
  2. In the import dialog, locate the image file on your device and select it.
  3. Select Use As Image.
  4. Click Import. The image entity will appear in your model.
  5. Click where you want to place the first corner of the image in your model.
  6. As you move your cursor the image will grow or shrink. Clicking again places the opposite corner and determines the size of the image.
  7. Use the Move, Rotate, and Scale tools to adjust the image as needed.

Image Textures

  1. Select File > Import.
  2. In the import dialog, locate the image file on your device and select it.
  3. Select Use As Texture.
  4. In your model, select the location on the face where you want to apply the image as a texture.
  5. As you move your cursor the image will grow or shrink. Clicking again places the opposite corner and determines the size of the image.

  6. Click again to apply the image as a texture. If you only covered a portion of the face, the image will tile to fill out the rest of it.

  7. To further edit how the texture appears on the face, see Applying Materials and Editing Materials.

Tracing an Image

Tracing an imported image is an easy way to create a floorplan in SketchUp you can turn into a 3D model, or a good way to trace a 2D design that you want to place somewhere. To start tracing an image:

  1. Import your image into SketchUp.
  2. Click where you want to place the top-left corner of the image, and click again to place the lower-right corner, which scales the image.
  3. (Optional) Select Camera > Standard Views > Top to get a top view of your image. You may want to enable Parallel Projection.
  4. Select a drawing tool to start tracing the image.

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