Rendering in SketchUp

Fig. 14.6: 
Components and the layer names for those components
Draft with Layer 0
When you’re drafting in SketchUp (adding faces, drawing lines, extruding faces), Layer 0 
should be the active layer. Keep Layer 0 active and activate other layers only when you’re 
placing or inserting components into the model. Keeping the geometry on Layer 0 keeps the 
model clean (Fig. 14.7). Only the component itself, as a selected whole, should be placed on a 
layer. 

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Part 3: Modeling Detail
Fig. 14.7: 
Layers 0 is highlighted at the top of the layer list.
Create Layers 
Before you insert any premade components into the model, create layers. Create a layer for 
every component types you will insert. Use a logical naming convention, such as one based on 
the model typology (Fig. 14.8). Separate and name the layers by types: place cars on the Car 
layer, people on the People layer, light fixtures on the Light Fixture layer, etc. The exception to 
this rule is vegetation, which you will learn about in a moment. 
00 - Layer Prefix 
Add a 
00 –
before layer names (two zeros), especially if you insert linework and objects from 
CAD programs. Imported CAD files contain their layers when they are inserted into SketchUp. 
Mixing component layer lists with CAD layer lists can cause layer lists to be long and cluttered. 
Including the 
00 -
prefix in front of the layer name will help you keep the model component 
layers sorted. Clicking on the Name tab in the Layer menu will sort layers alphabetically. The 
00
designation will usually be listed in front (on top) of any imported CAD layers, allowing the 
component details layers to be sorted easily. 
Some premade components will already have their own layers. These layers were added 
when the model was made (by whoever created it). If additional layers were used, those layers 
will insert into the model with the component. This convention will ensure that they appear 
below layers with 00 convention. 

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