The Great Guides Debate | Pros & Cons of SketchUp Guides

You know who never uses guides? Aaron. You know who thinks that guides can be really useful? Aaron. Sit back and enjoy the debate as Aaron runs through the strengths and weaknesses of using guides when you model!
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[@juantorre]

I'm from Spain, I do renovations in kitchens and bathrooms and I couldn't live without the guides, I don't put 100 guides, as soon as they stop working for me I delete them all and do more, it's very convenient ... las guías son lo mejor del mundo, no las elimines del programa por favor, seguro que se pueden mejorar todavía más !!!

[@prbowler]

I've always been surprised that none of the live stream modelers seem to like using guides! They are so handy, and as Aaron shows you can delete or hide them in an instant. Love the content, especially the Friday live streams, always something new to learn. Keep up the great work!

[@daviddickmeyer5231]

I also taught myself how to use SketchUp and I used the guides from the onset. I love them. After a while you get used to seeing (or not seeing) them as you work. If they start to pile up, just delete them or toggle them off as you said. Good video.

[@daver425]

I find guides invaluable. I also have a keyboard shortcut for Edit>Delete Guides and use it frequently.

[@_SYDNA_]

Wowee Zowee! What cool interface for drawing guides. I've been using Sketchup for a day, but Im totally impressed with how it seems to be seek the most direct, intuitive way to implement a tool in 3D space. I'm sure that at some point Ill be pulling my hair out over something, but very impressed so far with this tool. Thanks!

[@keggyification]

OMG what is happening, Aaron is using guides and isn't convinced that they're a bad thing! I never thought it would happen 😂 Thanks for the video Aaron it was informative as usual.

[@goyde]

In a circle if you split it with a guide the come down on that line say 5mm then you can open a new circle from the center snapping up to the guide point you know your inner circle it 5mm from the edge. I use guides mostly to visualize a line before I apply it to the geometry.

[@transom4114]

Yes, I have been using guides since I started using SketchUp around 2014. We had to use guides in Technical Drawing class in the 1970’s so it seemed natural to continue to use them in SU. At that time it was pencil or ink on paper or vellum using a T square and triangles. Lots of plastic templates and french curves too. Circles were drawn with a compass. Very convenient to be able to hide and delete guides. I put them on tags and save them in the model. Or sometimes save one with guides and one without. They can be added to Scenes too. Being a carpenter we find it is good to use the best tool for the job. Aaron’s way of modeling seems faster a lot of the time though so maybe it is good to use a combination of both techniques.

[@taqarii2456]

from this video you'll understand that guides are for some of the work,not for all of it. thank you for the informative content.

[@milankrepelka6760]

Guides are one of the key reasons that SketchUp is more than a hobby software. I've been teaching a CAD class with SketchUp since 2008 and I wouldn't ever tell someone not to use them. The only point that needed to be made was that guides don't break geometry, faces or edges, full stop. Even when trying to argue against them, all the 'contrary' points made here reinforced how useful they are. It was a bit funny to see the issues that were raised in opposition of guides fall apart right before our eyes. Make all the guides, go to Edit - Delete guides whenever you want and you're done.

[@Benham_Design]

Toggle on and off is a great way to control them. But also a short cut key to delete all guides to wipe the slate clean since they are temporary anyways

[@burakiswatching]

similar to CADs, it is possible to enter the distance of the guide as a division operation, which comes handy when there are no reference points or the result requires calculation time. (typing 30/3 instead of 10) wish *, + and - work as well.

[@leandroamorim5641]

I use the guides more than the Line tool itself in my workflow, because of the precision. And I agree about the space they take up on the model, looking like a visually polluted canvas. Excellent debate in this video!

[@creativedesignworks3281]

I use both methods like most do. One area I like the most is when scaling a surface when push/pull doesn't work. I'll set my guide where needed then use the scale tool to get it there. Helpful because scale uses % and that's a pain to know how much it'll take for the outcome.

[@ahmad-murery]

I find guides are a clean way to add marks to my models, I only wish if there was a context aware guides that do not extend out of a group or a component. also, imagine if we have a circular guide or maybe the ability to switch between drawing edges and guides so that we can use any drawing tool for that. Thanks Aaron!

[@cognitive-carpenter]

Sounds like an option or Alt key mod and I was thinking of that too watching this

[@iainmargery6734]

on older CAD CAM programmes I used guides all the time so I started to use them them in Sketchup years ago, but the inferencing is so good I have never had a situation where they would have been useful, and I have drawn some fairly complex models. They also get in way and make model look messy while you are working. If I do find I need a measurement or guide, I just draw a line and then delete it after used. I also "never" use the measure tool. I use the line tool and don't click to confirm the end point, just escape when you have your measurement.

[@kenhaley4]

Guides, like other features, have their place. I sometimes use them, for example, to make sure remote features are aligned... for example, to make all the windows in a house start at the same distance from the floor, or ceiling, or whatever. Plus, if you draw a dimension line that you don't want to be part of the final model, you need to be sure to go back and erase it... something that's annoying if you forget and are trying to make a solid group. I actually memorized the shortcut keystrokes (ALT-E G) to erase all guides. I don't know if that works in all versions of Sketchup, but it works for me. I think it's another one of those "do what works best for you" things. There's no real right or wrong.

[@johnjlopez]

I, also, rarely use guides compared to simply creating the temporary needed lines in geometry and erasing afterwards if needed. Typically, it's simply quicker and easier in my mind to not have to change tools and instead continue to use the pencil to draw the needed guide line as compared to switching back and forth from pencil to guide and then hoping the next line snaps to the guide and managing the guide and go back to pencil or push/pull etc. etc. Most of the time, guides are a workflow killer...

[@richardhaas1989]

I use guides all the time. For centers of curves that are outside the geometry. They can be CTRL-MOVED and arrayed like any geometry and easily deleted en masse. Think of them as the light pencil lines before you ink in the drawing with a pen.

[@reymarm.3]

I love guide in some specific area. I just set my delete guides shortcut into "SHIFT+T" for easy delete

[@luisaraujo4708]

I decided a few weeks ago to pay for Sketchup. I’m still trying to figure out, despite watching tutorials, how to draw a measured straight line. 🤬

[@prbowler]

Keep with it, such a great programme. This channel has all the help you could need and also check out the Campus courses.

[@richardhaas1989]

Draw a line in the direction you want to go, stop anywhere and type in the dimension.

[@Hapsard]

As far as cluttering up the work, giides are only meant to be temporary. If you are working on a group and hit delete guides, you only delete the guides in that group. If you close the group and delete guides, it will delete all the guides in the model including the ones in the group. With that you can use and get rid of varying levels of guides.

[@TheSmartWoodshop]

Guides are a primary tool for me, I would be lost without them.🤔

[@jeffreywarshafsky6025]

I also use guides as a design tool to quickly look at a change. Find it very fast.

[@cekuhnen]

The 3D guides are indeed very useful and one of those parts SketchUp did very well. If the same could be said for better modeling tools considering what the app costs.

[@richardhall5489]

One of the little problems I have found with guides is if I have a guide inside a group or component . After I have finished working on that group that guide will still be visible. I think I am deleting a guide in isolation when I am actually deleting geometry that is outside my current view but selecting the guide has selected a whole group.

[@cognitive-carpenter]

Lol. Funny video. Corporate vs Arron. I started uses lines for guiding because of you. But also I couldn't draw a stair stringer without guides. Especially rafters

[@TimOE2000]

I was taught to draw with paper and a pencil and guides were the only way to ensure accuracy, don't see any difference with Sketchup.

[@transom4114]

Me too. We were taught to use guides.

[@bottrelbetty]

Love Guides! Very useful in Landscape design.

[@urbancolab]

LOVE LOVE Guides!

[@HenningMogensen-fx3mw]

I use guides a lot. But I don't consider them permanent. I have set G to delete guides. So if I have made a reference to where my windows should start from the top and I'm finished I just hit 'G' and they are gone.

[@cognitive-carpenter]

I wish Sketchup would change the key layout default to "pro" where L is D layout by default online

[@gusbert]

Always used guides, as relying on inferencing in complex models never works. One bad thing about guides is if you're editing a component, and there are a lot of them, adding a few guides will lead a spider's web of confusion. And yes, you can go and hide similar components, but extra steps you know ...

[@richardhaas1989]

Hide the guide(s) in the component BEFORE you close it. The Guides are still there if needed but the webs are gone.

[@slimdog72]

Me like guides.

[@sanantoplic8715]

Hi i love the guides love sketchup love your videos and jokes we need jokes bye....ahh

[@billferrol4202]

I'm surprised you could bring yourself to say the word, let alone use them! I use them a lot as a temporary aid to setting out and have a keyboard shortcut to delete and another to hide so I get rid of them totally or hide them as soon as I don't need them. That way I keep a relatively clean workspace that is not cluttered by the "spider's web".

[@CharlieH_design]

What is up with the guides in 2024? I used them for many years and now in 2024, they don't show up. I have toggled Guides on and off but it doesn't matter. I am not sure if I have a style setting that is preventing it? Help?

[@craigkokay5363]

It frustrated me a number of times where you could have used guides

[@lollito84]

DON'T EVER REMOVE GUIDE TOOL FROM SKP !!!!! NEVER !! Just add a setable camera clipping to them so they disapear in the far. And add circular guides