Drawing Axes

SketchUp's drawing axes consist of three colored lines, perpendicular to each other, displayed in the drawing area. These axes are helpful in providing a sense of direction in 3D space while you work.

Note - The Drawing Axes will be automatically hidden in any images exported from SketchUp.

Moving the Drawing Axes

The drawing axes can be manipulated (moved, moved and rotated, and hidden) through their context menu. To move the drawing axes:

1. Context-click on the Drawing Axes and select Place from the context menu. The cursor changes to a collection of axes.
2. Move your cursor to the point in your model to be the new coordinate origin. You will see the axes snap to inferred alignments and points as you move around your model.
3. Click to accept the new coordinate origin.
4. Drag your cursor away from the origin to set an alignment for the red axis. Use the inference  s to make sure you are aligned precisely.
5. Click to accept the alignment.
6. Move your cursor away from the origin to set an alignment for the green axis. Use inference tooltips again to make sure you are aligned precisely.
7. Click again to accept the alignment.

Moving and Rotating the Drawing Axes Relative to Current Position

You can quickly and accurately move and rotate the drawing axes relative to their current position using the Move Sketching Context dialog box. To move and rotate the drawing axes:

1. Context-click on the drawing axes. The drawing axes context menu is displayed.
2. Select Move from the context menu. The Move Sketching Context dialog box is displayed.

3. Specify displacement and rotation values in the units specified under the Units panel of the Model Info dialog box.
4. Click OK.

Aligning the Point of View to the Current View

You can align SketchUp's point of view to be perfectly aligned with the current view. To align the point of view to the current view:

1. Context-click on the drawing axes. The drawing axes context menu is displayed.
2. Select Align View from the context menu.

Hiding the Drawing Axes

You can display or hide the drawing axes from the View menu. You can also hide the drawing axes from the drawing axes's context menu (when the drawing axes are visible).