Make a Tablecloth in SketchUp

In this mini tutorial Bayu Yudistiro shows you how to model a 3D tablecloth using SketchUp and Dale Marten’s very useful organic modeling plugin ‘SubdivideAndSmooth’. This tutorial could also be adapted for modeling a blanket for a bed.

Step 1

Model your basic 3D shape (extrude a rectangle).

Step 2

Using the arc tool, draw arcs at the bottom of your basic 3D shape and delete any unecessary geometry.

Step 1-2

Step 3

Draw a fold for each corner of your  3D box

Step 3

Step 4

Make three extra simple folds for each side of the box.

Step 4

Step 5

Connect the point of the folds with lines as shown in image below.

Step 5

Steps 6 and 7

Using the Subdivide and Smooth plugin, select’Subdivide Selection’. Do this two times too divide up the geometry.

Steps 6 and 7

Step 8

Using the the plugin again click on ‘Smooth all connected geometry’.

Step 8

Step 9

The final step. Select ‘Subdivide and Smooth’ in the plugin and set the ‘Iterations’ value at 2. You should end up with something similar too the image below.

Step 9

I hope you find this useful in your 3D modeling projects and daily workflow.

Cheers

Bayu

Comments

5 Responses to “Make a Tablecloth in SketchUp”

  1. Hussel Hann@sketchup tutorial on February 26th, 2012 4:27 am

    thanks a lot for the tips. this is what i was looking for.

    my question is…is it possible to perform the same operation without using plugins? i am thinking about sandbox tools. using drape and smoove etc.

  2. ss on April 6th, 2012 7:55 am

    Excellenct, man! It’s just what I’m looking for! Big thanks!

  3. kiki marzuki on April 13th, 2012 10:18 am

    Thank you for your great help.

  4. Kim on October 25th, 2016 4:48 am

    I’m new to sketchup and am having difficulty with step 3. the points only want to move on the same plane as the face of the side of the table, I can’t move them out like in the aerial view

  5. admin on November 2nd, 2016 4:12 pm

    @ Kim..draw a small rectangle first on the ground plane at the corner of table cloth and draw your shape on that. Then delete the bits you dont want. Then draw vertical lines up to top of corner to complete fold shape.

Got something to say?





5 Responses to “Make a Tablecloth in SketchUp”

  1. Hussel Hann@sketchup tutorial on February 26th, 2012 4:27 am

    thanks a lot for the tips. this is what i was looking for.

    my question is…is it possible to perform the same operation without using plugins? i am thinking about sandbox tools. using drape and smoove etc.

  2. ss on April 6th, 2012 7:55 am

    Excellenct, man! It’s just what I’m looking for! Big thanks!

  3. kiki marzuki on April 13th, 2012 10:18 am

    Thank you for your great help.

  4. Kim on October 25th, 2016 4:48 am

    I’m new to sketchup and am having difficulty with step 3. the points only want to move on the same plane as the face of the side of the table, I can’t move them out like in the aerial view

  5. admin on November 2nd, 2016 4:12 pm

    @ Kim..draw a small rectangle first on the ground plane at the corner of table cloth and draw your shape on that. Then delete the bits you dont want. Then draw vertical lines up to top of corner to complete fold shape.

Got something to say?