5.1.9 Create a model from photographs

It is sometimes useful to create a SketchUp model based on a photograph(s) that you have taken. In this project, we will use SketchUp to create a model based on the image below.

Here are some instructions: 

1. Open Google SketchUp.
2. Open the "Camera" menu.
3. Click "Match New Photo..."
4. Browse to and select the photo you want to match, then click "Open."
5. Five major tools will open: an Axis Origin, Perspective Bars, Vanishing Point Grips, a yellow Horizon line and the Match Photo dialog box.

Perspective Bar. Vanishing Point Grip. Yellow Horizon line. Axis Origin.

6. 
7. Click and drag the Axis Origin to a point on the photo ground plane. In most instances, the ground plane is the floor or the ground shown in the picture.
8. Look for perspective lines that are pointing towards vanishing points in the photo. Examples of these vanishing points are stairs, counter tops, door frames, and floor tiles.
9. Click and drag one of the red Perspective Bars so that it follows one of the perspective lines in the photo. You can change the orientation of the bar using the endpoint grips.
10. Repeat step 8 for the second red Perspective Bar. Align the two green Perspective Bars in the same way. Refer to the image below for an example of how to align the Perspective Bars. Notice how the perspective bars use the tile, desk, and back wall:

10. Zoom into each end point grip on the Perspective Bars. Click and drag the end point grip to follow the perspective in the photo as close as possible.
11. To finish matching a photo and start drawing, right-click (on Mac, Ctrl+click) on the photo and select "Done" from the drop-down menu.
12. Start drawing using the Line tool. Use the SketchUp inferencing system often to correctly draw in the 3D space.
    
    • We recommend you start drawing from the Axis Origin, noted by the red arrow.
    • When adding new geometry, start drawing from existing geometry. For example, it'll be difficult to draw part a cabinet near the foreground, then build a door frame in the background. Adding new geometry on existing geometry helps keep the model in correct proportion.
    • In the example below, it's best to draw surface 1 first, then draw surface 2 second, then draw surface 3.

14. If you use the Orbit tool, the matched photo will disappear. To return to the photo for reference, click the Scene tab with the photo name.
15. 
16. If you need to edit a matched photo:
    
    1. Click the Scene tab with the photo name.
    2. Right-click (on Mac, Ctrl+click) on the photo and click "Edit Matched Photo."
17. When your model is nearly complete:
    
    1. Click the Scene tab with the photo name.
    2. If the Match Photo dialog box is closed, "Window" > "Match Photo."
    3. Click the "Project textures from photo" button. You may need to adjust the projected texture manually. To learn how to reposition textures, visit this article.

• Due to a natural curvature in photographs caused by lenses, it's impossible to match the perspective perfectly. To best combat the natural curvature in a photo, arrange your Perspective Bars so that they are as long as possible. This arrangement creates a more accurate average of the perspective.
• Matching a cropped photo isn't supported.
• Remember to model portions of the geometry not seen in the picture.