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Feature guide

Colors & Elevations

Color-code your model by trade and tag elevations for section cuts — in under 5 minutes.

Part 1 The Color System

Every category in the dashboard has a color chip next to its name. The color system lets you paint entire categories in the viewport so you can see your takeoff data spatially — framing in orange, drywall in yellow, steel in blue, whatever makes sense for your workflow.

1

Double-click the color chip

In the Takeoff Report dashboard, find any category row and double-click the color dot next to the category name. The color picker opens.

2

Pick a color and adjust opacity

Select any color from the picker, then use the opacity slider to control how transparent the overlay is. Lower opacity lets the original materials show through — useful for orientation. Higher opacity makes the color solid for clear visual separation.

3

Accept or clear

Click Accept to apply the color to all entities in that category. Every entity in the viewport updates instantly.

To remove the color, either click the chip again or use Clear from the menu. Original materials are restored.

Color system — pick, adjust opacity, accept, clear

Colors are saved per-model. When you reopen the file, your color assignments persist. Colors also work during isolation — color a category, then isolate two containers to compare them visually.
Part 2 Elevation Tags & Section Cuts

Elevation tags let you mark reference points in your model and generate automatic section cuts. Set a benchmark, tag the faces you care about, and FF calculates the elevation relative to your datum.

1

Set the elevation benchmark

In the viewport menu, click Set Elevation Benchmark. Select a face in the model — typically the top of your foundation slab or finished floor.

Change the value to match your plan elevation, such as 100'. This becomes your datum — all other elevation tags will be calculated relative to this point.

2

Place elevation tags

Click the Elevation Tag button in the viewport menu, then click on faces in the model where you want to record elevations. FF calculates the height relative to your benchmark and places a tag at each point.

3

Rename your tags

Switch to the Measurements tab in the dashboard to see all your elevation tags listed. Rename them to match your plan callouts — "T.O. Foundation", "F.F. Main Level", "T.O. Plate 2nd Floor", etc.

4

Generate section cuts

Refresh the Section Cuts panel, then select any elevation tag you created. FF generates a horizontal section cut 4 feet above the tag elevation — giving you a plan-view slice through the model at that level.

Section cuts are non-destructive — they don't modify your model. Toggle them on and off as needed. Each tag creates its own independent cut plane.

Elevation benchmark, tags, and section cuts

That covers the visual tools. Between the color system and elevation tags, you can color-code your entire model by trade and generate section cuts at any level — all without leaving SketchUp.
Up next →
Measurements & Reports
LF, SF, volume tools, parts builder, and CSV export.

Form and Field v11 — March 2026

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