Tips and Tricks for Using Round Corner for Sketchup Effectively
Round Corner for Sketchup: A Plugin to Create Smooth Edges and Corners
If you are a Sketchup user, you probably know how tedious it can be to create rounded edges and corners in your 3D models. You have to use multiple Follow Me operations, copying, flipping, moving, and other tricks to achieve the desired effect. But what if there was a simpler and faster way to do it?
Round Corner For Sketchup
Well, there is! It's called Round Corner for Sketchup, a plugin that allows you to round off sharp corners and edges in your models with just a few clicks. In this article, we will explain what Round Corner for Sketchup is, what are its benefits and features, how to install and use it, and show you some examples of what you can do with it. Let's get started!
What is Round Corner for Sketchup?
Round Corner for Sketchup is a plugin developed by Fredo6, a well-known Sketchup plugin creator. It is part of his Fredo6 Collection, which includes other useful plugins such as FredoScale, Tools on Surface, Curviloft, HoverSelect, and more.
Round Corner for Sketchup is designed to help you add rounded edges and bevels to your Sketchup models. It works by rounding the edges and corners of 3D shapes along a 2D profile, in three modes: Round corners, Sharp corners, and Bevel. It also supports concave corners (always rendered as Round) and non-orthogonal edge faces.
Round Corner for Sketchup is a simple tool with a few (sort of) complicated settings. You activate the tool, pick the edges you want to round (or fillet), specify a couple of parameters, and hit Enter. That's it! You can also adjust the settings and options in the toolbar that appears in your modeling window when you activate the tool.
The benefits of using Round Corner for Sketchup
Why should you use Round Corner for Sketchup? Here are some of the benefits:
It saves you time and effort. You don't have to spend hours creating rounded edges and corners manually. You can do it in minutes with Round Corner for Sketchup.
It improves your model quality. Rounded edges and corners make your models look more realistic, smooth, and elegant. They also reduce the polygon count and improve the performance of your models.
It enhances your creativity. You can experiment with different modes, parameters, and settings to create various effects and styles. You can also combine Round Corner for Sketchup with other plugins to create more complex shapes and forms.
The features of Round Corner for Sketchup
Round Corner for Sketchup has many features that make it a powerful and versatile tool. Here are some of them:
Three modes: Round, Sharp, and Bevel
Round Corner for Sketchup can make rounded edges with round corners, sharp edges with chamfers, or beveled edges with flat faces. You can choose the mode you want from the toolbar or by pressing R, S, or B on your keyboard. Each mode has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the shape and style of your model.
Support for concave corners and non-orthogonal edge faces
Round Corner for Sketchup can handle concave corners, which are corners that curve inward. Concave corners are always rounded, regardless of the mode you choose. Round Corner for Sketchup can also handle non-orthogonal edge faces, which are faces that are not perpendicular to the edges. Non-orthogonal edge faces are treated as if they were orthogonal, and the rounding is applied accordingly.
Parameters dialog box to adjust offset and number of sides
Round Corner for Sketchup allows you to adjust two main parameters: offset and number of sides. Offset is the distance from the original edge to the rounded edge. Number of sides is the number of segments that make up the rounded edge. You can change these parameters in the dialog box that appears when you activate the tool, or by typing them in the VCB (value control box) at the bottom right corner of your screen. You can also use the mouse wheel to increase or decrease the offset and number of sides.
Toolbar with various settings and options
Round Corner for Sketchup has a toolbar that appears in your modeling window when you activate the tool. The toolbar has several buttons and icons that allow you to access different settings and options. Here are some of them:
The mode buttons: R, S, and B. These buttons let you switch between the three modes: Round, Sharp, and Bevel.
The selection buttons: E, F, and V. These buttons let you select edges, faces, or vertices to round. You can also use the E, F, and V keys on your keyboard.
The parameters button: P. This button opens the parameters dialog box where you can adjust the offset and number of sides.
The settings button: S. This button opens the settings dialog box where you can change various options such as smoothing, coloring, erasing original geometry, grouping result, etc.
The undo button: U. This button lets you undo the last rounding operation.
The help button: H. This button opens a web page with detailed instructions and tutorials on how to use Round Corner for Sketchup.
How to install and use Round Corner for Sketchup?
Installing and using Round Corner for Sketchup is easy and straightforward. Here are the steps:
Installation steps
Download Round Corner for Sketchup from SketchUcation Plugin Store. You will need to create a free account to download it.
Extract the ZIP file to a folder on your computer.
Copy the folder named "Fredo6_RoundCorner" to your Sketchup plugins folder. The location of this folder may vary depending on your operating system and Sketchup version. For example, on Windows 10 with Sketchup 2021, it is usually located at C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\SketchUp\SketchUp 2021\SketchUp\Plugins.
Restart Sketchup if it was already running.
You should see a new toolbar named "Fredo6 Collection - RoundCorner" in your Sketchup window. If not, go to View > Toolbars and check it.
Usage steps
Select one or more edges, faces, or vertices that you want to round in your model.
Click on one of the mode buttons (R, S, or B) in the toolbar to activate Round Corner for Sketchup.
A dialog box will appear where you can adjust the offset and number of sides. You can also use the mouse wheel or type in the VCB to change these parameters.
You can also click on the settings button (S) in the toolbar to access more options such as smoothing, coloring, erasing original geometry, grouping result, etc.
When you are satisfied with the preview, press Enter or click on any empty space in your model to run the script and apply the rounding.
You can undo the last operation by clicking on the undo button (U) in the toolbar or pressing Ctrl+Z on your keyboard.
You can get more help by clicking on the help button (H) in the toolbar or visiting the Fredo6 RoundCorner User Manual online.
Examples of using Round Corner for Sketchup
To give you some ideas of what you can do with Round Corner for Sketchup, here are some examples of models that have been rounded using the plugin. You can also find more examples and tutorials on the SketchUcation Forum or on YouTube.
A sofa with rounded edges and corners
This is a simple sofa model that has been rounded using Round Corner for Sketchup. The edges and corners of the cushions, arms, and legs have been smoothed using the Round mode with a small offset and a high number of sides. The result is a more realistic and comfortable-looking sofa.
A text with smooth edges
This is a text model that has been rounded using Round Corner for Sketchup. The edges of the letters have been smoothed using the Round mode with a medium offset and a low number of sides. The result is a more elegant and stylish text.
A ship with beveled edges and corners
This is a ship model that has been rounded using Round Corner for Sketchup. The edges and corners of the hull, deck, cabin, and mast have been beveled using the Bevel mode with a large offset and a low number of sides. The result is a more sleek and modern ship.
Conclusion
Round Corner for Sketchup is a plugin that allows you to create smooth edges and corners in your 3D models. It has three modes: Round, Sharp, and Bevel, and supports concave corners and non-orthogonal edge faces. It also has a parameters dialog box and a toolbar with various settings and options. It is easy to install and use, and it can improve your model quality, save you time and effort, and enhance your creativity.
If you want to try Round Corner for Sketchup, you can download it from SketchUcation Plugin Store. You will need to create a free account to download it. You can also find more information, examples, and tutorials on the Fredo6 RoundCorner User Manual, the SketchUcation Forum, or on YouTube.
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about Round Corner for Sketchup. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave them in the comments section below. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
What is the difference between Round Corner for Sketchup and Follow Me?
Follow Me is a native Sketchup tool that allows you to extrude a face along a path. Round Corner for Sketchup is a plugin that allows you to round off sharp corners and edges in your models. They are different tools that serve different purposes.
Can I use Round Corner for Sketchup on curved surfaces?
Yes, you can use Round Corner for Sketchup on curved surfaces, as long as they are made of flat faces. However, you may need to adjust the offset and number of sides to avoid overlapping or gaps.
Can I use Round Corner for Sketchup on groups or components?
Yes, you can use Round Corner for Sketchup on groups or components, as long as they are not locked or hidden. However, you may need to explode them first if they contain nested groups or components.
How can I undo or redo a rounding operation?
You can undo or redo a rounding operation by clicking on the undo button (U) in the toolbar or pressing Ctrl+Z or Ctrl+Y on your keyboard.
How can I get more help or support for Round Corner for Sketchup?
You can get more help or support for Round Corner for Sketchup by clicking on the help button (H) in the toolbar or visiting the Fredo6 RoundCorner User Manual online. You can also post your questions or feedback on the SketchUcation Forum or contact Fredo6 directly.
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