Freehand Tool

With SketchUp for iPad's Freehand tool (), you can create hand-drawn lines. The Freehand tool is handy when you need to trace imported drawings, create a 2D sketch, or decorate your model.

The lines that you draw with the Freehand tool become curve entities. A curve entity contains multiple line segments but can define and divide a face like a single line. Although you select all the segments in a curve entity at once, the SketchUp inference engine displays point and edge inferences for each segment in the entity.

In SketchUp for iPad, the Freehand tool has the following optional tool modes:

  • Increase Details () / Reduce Details () - When activated you'll see each inference point in your curve. You can increase or decrease the amount of points using these options.
  • Inference Locks - Selecting one of these optional tool modes restricts drawing to a specific inference point:
    • Lock X () - The X axis or Red plane.
    • Lock Y () - The Y axis or Green plane.
    • Lock Z () - The Z axis or Blue plane.
Note: Inference Locks are one-time operations. Once you've drawn with an inference lock you'll revert back to the unmodified Freehand tool.

KeyboardShortcut: Pressing ⌘F activates the Circle tool.

iPad Input Methods for the Freehand Tool

After choosing the Freehand tool and activating any optional tool modes, you can use one of the iPad input methods in either Click-Move-Click or Just Draw mode to start drawing.

Apple Pencil - Tap to create your starting point, draw your freehand line or shape, then lift your pencil to complete the operation.

Multitouch - Long press to create your starting point then draw your freehand line or shape. Lift your finger to complete the operation.

Mouse or Trackpad - Click to create your starting point then draw your freehand line or shape. Release to complete the operation.

For more information on using the Freehand tool in your models see Drawing Freehand Shapes.

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