When a Face Won't Close - Skill Builder

What do you when you have a bunch of lines and when you go to connect them, a face doesn't show up? Follow along and I'll show you six different ways you can combat this issue.
sketchup.com/

[@kenhaley4]

Here's a trick I always use to find the cases where a tiny or hidden element is breaking up an edge preventing the face from closing: Just go to Styles->edit and check the endpoints option. All the points in the model now appear, including points where a hidden line, tiny segment, etc., is breaking up the face. And then after fixing the problem, you can go back and uncheck the endpoints option. On the other hand, this video gives me a new idea: Often I'm drawing a floor plan or something with closed shapes that I DON'T want filled. in the past, I would just delete the auto-filled face, only to have it automatically appear again after editing another edge on that face (or whatever). In the future, if I have this problem, I'll just insert a tiny line from one edge into the closed area. Auto-fill disabled! Cool! I just have to remember to delete the tiny line when I'm finished editing in that area.

[@baiduipod]

I can't find this tab Styles->edit

[@Mrbobinge]

​@@baiduipod I found it: Default tray/Styles/Edit/Edge settings/tick Endpoints to reveal all 'dem nasty hidden gremlins. (highlights expected and hidden line-end points).

[@MickHealey]

Great tip - thank you. I'm quite keen to have a real issue soon, so that I can try this method for real. Somehow, simulating a fault isn't quite the same, so I'll just have to be patient.

[@islandjason]

great tip, I never thought of that. Nothing worse than not being able to find the problem.

[@L_Fleury]

@@Mrbobinge It wasn't in my default tray and after adding it to the tray, there is no edit option

[@Travis-bg1fj]

I just had an area of a model that wouldn't close, and it ended up being .090107mm above the rest of the model. That tool that lets you see the coordinates of different spots was a lifesaver.

[@gusbert]

"Colour lines by axis" can show you when stuff is slightly off if a shape will not close.

[@Mrbobinge]

What? Yet another nugget. This stream is like discovering the mother seam. Thanks.

[@keithb9735]

Excellent tutorial. One could study SketchUp for years and never learn this. Most tutorials are "top down" teaching, which has it's place. This tutorial is "bottom up" teaching, finding common areas of error and showing how to fix them. More please.

[@AaronMakingStuff]

You got it!

[@davidbrown3309]

Excellent! This video should be required viewing for every Sketchup newbie. Thank you Aaron!

[@gvuolde]

these solutions are a lot better than the select, delete all and re-create I've done in the past

[@keggyification]

Thanks Aaron, That helps a lot. I've suffered most if not all of these issues and have spent hours looking for the reasons.

[@dancindog11]

This is great! It doesn’t always do what you expect. Thanks for clarifying that.

[@themrtimmyboy]

Thanks so much. I have struggled many an hour over this problem. Now I'm finally learning!

[@MickHealey]

Hi Aaron, thank you for this brilliant video. I've been using Sketchup Pro for a few years, but only as a hobby. Occasionally, like now, I have issues closing a face on a complex shape. Using the text tool to see which XYZ points were causing the trouble, was a God send. I had 3 points that were 0.02mm in error ! Please keep making these videos, they are a really useful library.

[@Mrbobinge]

Me too. It has irritated for 14 years. Search these Comments for Endpoints - another gold nugget.

[@user-co9xf4dq2k]

Wow! Talk about bringing clarity to a situation I have a lot. I'm trying to use SU with much more intentionality. This really helps! Thanks Aaron!!

[@Bobmack1951]

Such a great builder. As an occasional user have often had closure problems, and this suite of solutions nailed it. The Text trick identified the problem.

[@Mrbobinge]

Be sure to search these Comments for Endpoints - another string to your (our) bow.

[@hfmann1]

Wow - I never thought about hidden geometry. Thanks for showing those tips in finding it.

[@johngreene8635]

Hello, Aaron, awesome tips in this session! Thank you for sharing it.

[@Inlearningmode]

After many tries to close a face, I watched your video and it closed so fast after I deleted some extra geometry. Boom ! It almost shocked me! These videos have made it easy for me to get going with Sketchup because I can search and find answers for a specific problem and your videos are short and to the point. Thanks very much.

[@SketchUp]

Boom! Congratulations, now you're a Certified Face Closer!

[@HBSuccess]

Another good one Aaron - thanks!

[@stacydecker4268]

Thanks, litterally figured out wtf was going on with my design seconds after watching only half this video.

[@kevincotterell3644]

I used to do all these things. It gets down to good habits. Inference, grouping etc

[@ellawhitehead8077]

Very cool, just learning and this is a big help. Thank you!

[@billedwards2388]

I unfortunately have had some of these issues, the worst was the out of plane. Thank you for these resolutions. They will be an awesome reference for future “challenges”😂

[@Mrbobinge]

Challenges. I call them pain in the...armpit. Be sure to search these Comments for Endpoints - another string to your (our) elbow.

[@munkeepilot]

Fantastic video!!! I learned a lot...I've experienced all of these over the years but after taking some time off from SU, many I've forgotten. Extremely helpful

[@SketchUp]

Glad it was helpful!

[@isidoraperrie7489]

I think I posted my question regarding this , I found my issue!! Big thank you

[@deborahrobertson-christman2870]

This was clear and helpful. Thanks.

[@jimsaake7876]

Awesome... Needed to see this!

[@jonfolsom8073]

A revelation. Thanks, Aaron, it's great to have a bit of a checklist when trouble pops up. 9:40

[@jbb5470]

great tips! I needed this one :^) Thanks for posting!!

[@rb70383]

Yes it helped. This is one of things I struggle with. Thx!

[@billferrol4202]

Many thanks - frustration now relaxed!

[@pipertime1]

Very helpful and easy to understand.

[@kbsanders]

Very helpful information. Thank you!

[@Mrbobinge]

End-points all highlit, plus xyz dimensions at corners. Gold nuggets to this old Skp hand. Yes, still not read the manual after these 14 years of hobby use. Thanks all.

[@Oddpaatuben]

I also have made geometry where one side is comprised of more than one slightly unparalell lines, and the inner one not connecting at the corner. Its a variant of the "edge sticking into the area where the face is supposed to be" , but the problem is more difficult to find, as there is no broken sides. A working view with lines colored by axis solves this for me.

[@kenhaley4]

I've done that too--it's a good idea. But it doesn't help if the shape is off-axis (maybe rotated 45 degrees or something).

[@Electric-Bob]

Aron...Great Tips!!!

[@mohinibakhadhyo5291]

Excellent video

[@irwankurniawan1737]

Thanks, Aaron. This issue frustates me all the time.

[@ivanwalker3391]

Well, this is where I draw the line!

[@Mrbobinge]

And another and another. Scrap. Start again. We've all bin there, but a good line. Thanks.

[@pragashgopal4761]

Great one bro. Thank you.

[@ChristianBlueChimp]

Yeah okay - 1 min of this video saved me from going mad and using another 1 hour to fix something that takes now 1 sec... Thanks :D

[@daviddarcy2052]

Again, I learned something new. 👍

[@MrGrundle]

Good tutorial!

[@sajit63]

thank you, Aaron. something I tore my hair for.

[@AssafGurner]

Thanks a lot, its been a great help!!!

[@marcellis6616]

very useful - thanks!

[@john.84]

Hello guys You are awesome Thank you for sharing these items GOD bless you

[@DanielDimov358]

Very helpful!

[@DennisMathias]

They oughta have a gap detector..something that would blink red if not connected within a certain settable value. You could adjust this or turn it off.

[@allanjgray1]

Thank's for this.

[@JohnColgan.]

Your last example is often overlooked in diagnosis, if a shape won't close, the common fix is to redraw each line in turn believing that one of the lines didn't make contact. Remaking the existing 3 lines OUTSIDE of the group will complete the shape & create the face , obviously connecting with your drawn 4tn line!

[@AaronMakingStuff]

I have to admit, I have done that more than one time trying to force something to close!

[@rshawiii]

Helpful. What would also be helpful would be some features/extensions that can show you loose geometry. Ideally the outliner would do this.

[@scottalanclymer]

Statistics shows ungrouped edges. I’ve been finding it quite useful.

[@perkadesigner5447]

definitely helped Thank You 😃

[@andrewmurphy6828]

Thank you very helpful!

[@andy0ne310]

good video, cheers

[@SamHarrison-fm7ez]

I have a sawtooth roofline with three peaks projecting above and along the parapet. The parapet wall is continuous with the building wall; the rectangle representing the wall and parapet is 4 ft x 37’4.” When I drew the series of lines to be the surface to become a group and then receive texture (vertical corrugated metal) the figure did not close. Then I tried a series of adjacent rectangles and triangles. Then I have seams. I haven’t learned as yet whether seams can be eliminated. (This is in schematics, so that’s not crucial.) I followed you video on manipulating textures with the pins in Texture/Position, but find it difficult to rotate and scale consistently. I tried another idea. I made a large rectangle flush to the building corners at each end and at the right height for the bottom horizontal line (a high watertable) but projecting higher than the sawtooth peaks. I pulled it out less than an inch and then to a foot. With x-ray on, i tried to draw lines on the surface, but the clicks were not staying on the rectangle. No luck. Is there a way to project the roof line onto a surface? Or is there a way to confine the change-of-direction of the line to a surface? As I send, I am using guides to work my way along the parapet and peaks. If this is a problem of interest to others, I would love to see a tutorial, Aaron.

[@SketchUp]

This sounds like a job for the forum (forums.sketchup.com)! What you are describing sounds totally possible, but is hard to follow with just text. If you hop on our forum you can share your model or any images youa re working from and help us tto help you out!

[@PaulineFerguson]

Very handy - I seem to draw and cut stuff that's off axis (because I can do the diagonal connecting)... I need to work out how I'm drawing off axis (although I do weird stuff, so that's probably a big indicator).

[@donsmith3167]

Awesome, Hit every one of the ways I've messed up a drawing.. Thanks Aaron Still have a few times where It has stumped me to the point I've had to start over.. Still don't know what happened. ???

[@xGILOW]

My worst nightmare: Making a 3D site plan model based on a dwg file which isn't closed properly at all when i place all those lines on a surface

[@Sailing_SY_Melody]

Thanks a lot for the videos...

[@AaronMakingStuff]

And thank you for watching!

[@Jumtoriba789]

So helpful sir thankyou

[@rafaelmendoza810]

excelente explicacion, gracias por eso, feliz dia

[@HiteshChouhan-gd9oi]

thanks a lot

[@masood6086]

Thanks

[@Codywayneh]

Selecting all lines > right click > intersecting faces > with model - This will solve your issue if you're working in 2D on a single plan.

[@ArtBQ]

I was today years old when I found out that a stray line touching an edge in your loop will prevent a face! WHAT???

[@jakegogolin5566]

Dumbest shit ever, I’m losing my mind because of this stupid feature.

[@edgespace3777]

6:06 Nice trick !

[@LamDongview]

Đúng vấn đề tôi cần giải thích.

[@richardkleinschmidt2343]

Often I start with a solid; then add a feature to it and it is no longer a solid. Even the simplest of features can cause a "leak". Any basic techniques you can demonstrate? Thank You I find your Skill Builder tips valuable.

[@Mrbobinge]

Ahah, another "leak" prospector. Thought I was alone. For years I've been drawing lines to progressively isolate the hole. And eventually plug it.

[@jcase]

Can you clarify your point in the last example. As a novice, this one is an area that I struggle with a lot. You said instead of exploding, "you can click into it and keep them separate." Are you editing the group at that point or is the new line still somewhat separate?

[@donsmith3167]

yes Joe double clicking on a line puts the group into edit mode. Gets confusing sometimes.

[@jcase]

@@donsmith3167 thanks

[@kenhaley4]

Aaron is presenting two options: (1) If you want to keep the group containing the shape you're trying to close, then click on the group to open it for editing and add the line inside the group. (2) If you don't need the group, use explode to remove it, separating all the elements that were in the group, so that now you can add the line and close the face that way. If that doesn't make sense, you may not understand exactly how groups work. There are many videos on KZbin explaining groups in Sketchup.

[@jcase]

@@kenhaley4 that does make sense. Thank you for clarifying

[@AaronMakingStuff]

Ken got it!

[@terrywheelock9458]

I want to be a SKETCHUP GOD! Tank U Tank U Vurry Mussssssh! 😆😜😁🤣👀👍

[@daviddickmeyer5231]

Does SketchUp have a planarize tool? Is there one available with an extension? And while I’m in the asking mode, how about an extend line tool? And thanks again for this one!

[@mearkitek3773]

Or a fillet with radius zero, an old AutoCAD trick.

[@stephanholland6181]

For flattening something you've drawn, try Eneroth's Flatten to Plane (flattens to Z axis only). For extending lines, drawing perpendicular lines or normals to a face, and much more check out the 1001bit extensions, especially the Pro version, or Didier Bur's Projection and Guide Toys extensions. I use both all the time. The Fredo6 Draw Along extension can lock you into drawing on any plane or any vector and can convert lines to guides and guides to lines.

[@daviddickmeyer5231]

@@stephanholland6181 thanks a lot!

[@AaronMakingStuff]

I use Thomthoms Vertex Tools and there is a make planar command in there. That is a paid tool, though

[@phucle475]

❤

[@HiteshChouhan-gd9oi]

it was life hack for me

[@divinenations4024]

do u have a solution for diagonal geometry that wont fill up?

[@AndresLaportaSaez-wh2tv]

Hi, can you explain how do you to make that precise and optimized movements visualizating the model? it seems like a zoom combinated with orbit. Thank you.

[@SketchUp]

Aaron uses a 3D mouse to navigate in many of his videos.

[@alankmiecik7957]

Nice video but did not cover my issue. Open Sketchup today and whenever I draw a rectangle or circle it does not fill in. Worked fine yesterday. I had to log back into Sketchup this morning, hmmmm.

[@waterfallhunter9642]

At 2:12 is exactly why i watched this video, why would you "take the easy way out" I'm watching the tutorial to learn the right way....

[@joshuayalowitz7958]

Great video! I do something similar with my middle school class. I considered sharing it with my students until I saw your t shirt. It is funny to adults, but I am certain some parents would complain. fyi

[@baiduipod]

this situation make me give up to learn Sketchup, really.

[@safalabista]

Why does SketchUp sometimes form a new face even when you draw over previously existing lines? I am going insane trying to fix it.

[@Rudhamstile]

Probably the biggest cause of wasted time in my SU experience- chasing ones tail. It's almost always due to using 2d dwg info which is a shame as autocad is still my preferred way of making a living.

[@DarkMoonDroid]

6:49 Okay, you just scared me off of using tags.... [Pro-newb]

[@DarkMoonDroid]

Aside from tags, the only one that has stumped me over the years has been the hidden geometry. And it's still an issue.

[@danvdgable]

I'm having an issue closing my face on a curved surface. Any tips for that?

[@SketchUp]

Share your job on our forum (fprims.sketchup.com). Troubleshooting is extremely hard to do in YouTUbe comments.

[@gmg1985]

You did NOT explain how to get the label tool to show the XYZ dimensions.

[@SketchUp]

Just click twice! Once to pick the point, then agin to place the label. If you have liced on a point (not an edge or a face) and do not type anyting into the field, it will, by default, show the coordinates of the point.

[@flipside2592]

Nice, but what's the matter with those reverse faces showing as top surfaces ,any fix to this,i face it a lot

[@SketchUp]

That happens when a face is drawn on the ground plane. SketchUp intuits that it will be the bottom of what you're drawing and makes the external face downwards.

[@LT72884]

Stl files are the worst at editing because of so many faces or bad modeling

[@AaronMakingStuff]

Too true! If I import STLs I generally bring them in as large as I can to avoid small face issues and try to use an extension like Skimp to clean them up and/or reduce polygons

[@LT72884]

@@AaronMakingStuffi wish sketchup pro could export as a quad mesh rather than a triangular mesh for better editing of meshes. Stl format is just a mess with any program but3d printers need it haha. Would be cool if sketchup had a way of doing FEA on parts. That would be handy:)

[@crazycutz8072]

the problem is that this program is not very accurate.. so skewing lines and non-closed gaps is the new normal for Sketchup - i hate this program --- alot

[@baiduipod]

it's not user friendly with compare with CorelDraw, AutoCAD and other pro CAD software. thanks to this clip.

[@gerardalain4259]

Sketchup sucks !

[@Mrbobinge]

So, does a blunt metal file. It can't be sharpened.

[@jaanushiiemae2164]

Could someone explain how to get good faces when importing the IFC file to Sketchup? All faces are not uniform and full of hidden geometry what distorts every surface?

[@bonehead3545]

Thanks