SketchUp

To create a building represented by a single block:

1. Click on a Block Bar () button that creates a block whose shape best represents your building. For example, click the Box button ( ) to create a box block. The block appears near the aerial image of the building. The following image shows a box block on the starting aerial image.



Note: A block is orange if it is unselected and has no points that have been adjusted (constrained) to a position in at least two images. A block is blue when it is unselected and has points that have been adjusted (constrained) in at least two images. A block is red when it is selected.
2. Position the block:
1. Move the cursor over any point of the block, such as the lower-left most point.
2. Click-and-hold the left mouse button. The point is attached to the cursor.
3. Move the cursor. The block moves with the cursor.
4. Position the point over one of the building's corners, such as the lower-left most corner of the building.
Note: Only constrain the lowest point of the ground points if your building is on a hill.
Note: Zoom in on the corner, either by clicking the Zoom button () or rolling the mouse wheel forward, to ensure that the block's point aligns closely with the building's corner. You can realign points at anytime during the creation process.
5. Release the mouse button. The point of the block will appear solid white to indicate that the point is constrained to the location on the image (moving another point of the block will not cause this point to move). The following image shows the lower-left most point of the block constrained to the lower-left most corner of the building:



3. Adjust the block to the image:
1. Move the cursor over another point of the block, such as the upper-left point of the block.
2. Click-and-hold the left mouse button. The point is attached to the cursor.
3. Move the cursor. The block stretches as you move the cursor.
4. Position the point over one of the building's corners, such as the lower-left most corner of the roof.
5. Release the mouse button. The point of the block will appear solid white to indicate that it is constrained (moving another point will not cause this point to move). The following image shows a second constrained point on the roof of the image.



Note: You can press Ctrl+Z (Microsoft Windows) or Command+Z (Mac OS X) to undo the previous change while working in the Editor. Alternatively, press Ctrl+Y (Microsoft Windows) or Shift+Command+Z (Mac OS X) to redo a previously undone change.

4. Repeat step 4 with the remaining (visible) points of the block. Some points might be hidden as the block is positioned over the aerial image. You should not guess about the location of hidden points (you will use another image to adjust these points). The following image shows a block after all visible points have been constrained:



5. Click on another of the starting aerial images (such as image 4) in the Image Views panel to the left of the current image. Following is an image of the Image Views panel:

   

   The aerial image appears in the Editor with your building at the center. The previously created box block is near the building. The border of the image in the Image Views panel turns blue to indicate the image is selected. The label for the previous image (such as "1") remains blue to indicate that blocks have been constrained in that image.
Warning: Only images that have constrained blocks and whose label, such as "1", in the Image Views panel are blue are going to be used for photo-texturing. So, you must, at a minimum, constrain blocks in one image for each side (including the roof) of the building to ensure proper photo texturing.
Note: You can press the number key corresponding to an aerial image to switch to that aerial image.
6. Repeat step 3 to position the block over the image. The following image shows a block after it has been aligned to a second image:



Note: A block turns from orange to blue if it has at least one point is constrained to the structure in at least two images.
7. (optional) Repeat step 4 to make any additional adjustments to the points of the block so that it matches the image of the building. The following image shows a block after some minor adjustments have been made to the top 4 points.



8. (optional) Repeat steps 6 - 8 for at least one image per side of the building plus one image for the roof (5 images).
Note: You encouraged to align your blocks in minimum of one aerial image per side of a building plus the roof (five images for a four-sided building). Try to pick images that are at 90 degrees of your previous images (such that you are working with all sides of the building). Aligning your blocks to clear images of each side of the building will help to ensure proper photo texturing of the building.