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An Important Setup Step for Woodworkers

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Creating a Project Plan in SketchUp

Organizing, Bundling, and Printing Full-size Templates

Tim Killen, contributor

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I've emphasized often, the benefits in the shop of having full-size templates as an output from the SketchUp model. Until now, I've created these templates one-by-one, printing as jpgs or pdfs on a standard printer with 8 1/2 x 11 sheets. This requires several tedious steps of organizing the component on the screen to achieve the best arrangement of multiple sheets. Then it requires taping sheets together to accommodate the full length and width of the components.
Just yesterday I tried a new and  promising method using Layout 2 and a local commercial printing shop.  Here are the steps I used:

1. Start a new file in Layout, using one of the templates with Paper Size to Arch D (24 x 36). This provides a large sheet for bundling all templates for one project.
2. Insert the appropriate SketchUp file - in this example it is a Ladder Back and Windsor Chair
3. In the window on the D size sheet, right click and select the Scene for the first Template
4. Again, right click on the window and select Scale and set to 1:1
5. Adjust size of window to fit the full size component
6. Copy the window using similar method as in SketchUp - that is, tap the Ctrl Key to get the + sign, then move copied window over to the right
7. In copied window, select the Scene for the next Template, Scale, resize, and move
8. Repeat this process for all templates
9. Export drawing to PDF
10. Using email, send the PDF to your local print shop

Here are a couple of my PDF files bundled on "D" size paper, as examples……

I received almost immediate turn-around, and the price was reasonable at less than $ 5.00 per D sheet, black and white. I think this will be my process for templates in the future.

Also, I needed a way to ship templates to students for their printing separately. I believe this will work quite well for my students.

Tim
http://killenwood.com

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