How to Use Follow Me Tool in SketchUp for Beginners

If you’re just starting out with SketchUp, you might feel a little overwhelmed. There are so many tools in the toolbar, and some of them look simple while others seem almost mysterious. One of the tools that confuses a lot of beginners is the Follow Me tool.

At first glance, it doesn’t seem very clear what it does. But once you understand it, you’ll realize that it’s one of the most powerful and creative tools in the entire SketchUp toolbox. It allows you to take flat shapes and turn them into 3D objects with curves, depth, and detail that would take hours to build otherwise.

In this guide, I’ll show you step by step how to use Follow Me tool in SketchUp for beginners. We’ll go through what it does, why it’s so useful, and how to apply it to real projects. I’ll also share common mistakes, troubleshooting tips, and practical examples. By the end, you’ll be ready to use it with confidence in your own designs.

What is the Follow Me Tool in SketchUp?

The Follow Me tool takes a 2D profile, which is just a flat shape you draw, and pushes it along a path to create a 3D object. Imagine drawing the outline of a piece of trim or a railing and then “dragging” it around the edge of a room. In seconds, you get a realistic 3D version of that trim or railing.

The Push/Pull tool, which you’ve probably already tried, can only move shapes straight up or down. The Follow Me tool is different because it can follow curves, circles, and complex paths. This makes it ideal for designs that are round, curved, or decorative.

Think of it like this: if Push/Pull is for building boxes and walls, Follow Me is for everything that has curves or detail.

Why Should Beginners Learn the Follow Me Tool?

When you’re just learning SketchUp, you might be tempted to stick to simple walls, floors, and boxes. That’s fine for a start, but real designs almost always need more. Houses need trims and mouldings. Furniture has rounded edges. Outdoor spaces need curved paths.

This is where the Follow Me tool shines.

• It saves time. Instead of modeling complicated edges one line at a time, you can complete them in one click.

• It makes curves possible. Straight walls are easy, but things like railings, pipes, and circular seating only work with this tool.

• It adds realism. Small details, like rounded edges, make your models look professional.

• It works across many fields. Whether you’re designing interiors, furniture, landscapes, or architecture, you’ll find a use for it.

Learning this tool early will help you build confidence. Instead of avoiding curves or tricky shapes, you’ll know exactly what to do.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use Follow Me Tool in SketchUp for Beginners

Now let’s dive into the step-by-step process. You can follow along in SketchUp as you read this.

Step 1 – Create the Profile Shape

The profile is the flat 2D shape that you want to turn into 3D. If you want to create a pipe, your profile would be a circle. If you want to make a seater profile, you might combine a circle and an arc, like in the uploaded tutorial file.

Start simple. Draw a circle, rectangle, or arc. Place it perpendicular to the path you want it to follow. This is important—if it’s not at the right angle, the tool won’t work as expected.

Step 2 – Offset the Profile (Optional)

Sometimes you want your profile to have thickness. That’s where the Offset tool comes in. It creates an inside or outside copy of your shape, which makes your object look more realistic.

For example, in the seater tutorial, the profile was offset to give the bench depth. You may not need this step for every project, but it’s good to know about it.

Step 3 – Extrude or Prepare the Shape

In some designs, you might want to see how the shape looks in 3D before applying the path. That’s when you can use Push/Pull to test the height.

In the uploaded steps, the seat was extruded to 1’6” high. This helped set up the correct proportions.

Try this also ! Create 3" sunken landscape deck 

Step 4 – Create the Path

The path is the line that your profile will follow. It could be straight, curved, or even a closed loop. For example, you can draw a circle to make a ring, or a curve to make a railing.

In the uploaded file, the deck edge acted as the path for the seater.

Make sure your path is continuous. If there are gaps, the Follow Me tool won’t work correctly. Zoom in and double-check the connections.

Step 5 – Select the Path

Before you activate the tool, you need to tell SketchUp which path to use. Use the Select tool and click the line or curve. If the path has multiple segments, hold Shift to select them all.

You’ll know it’s selected when the line is highlighted.

Step 6 – Activate the Follow Me Tool

Go to the top menu and choose Tools → Follow Me. If you have the tool in your toolbar, just click the icon. Your cursor will change to show the tool is active.

Step 7 – Apply the Profile Along the Path

With the path selected and the tool active, click on the profile shape. Instantly, SketchUp pulls the profile along the path.

If your profile is a circle and your path is a curve, you’ll see a pipe appear. If you used a custom profile, you’ll see it form a 3D version of your shape.

This is the moment when the flat drawing becomes a real object.

Step 8 – Refine and Add Materials

The shape might need some cleanup. Sometimes extra lines appear, or the edges look rough. You can use the Eraser tool or turn on Hidden Geometry to smooth things out.

Finally, assign materials. This is the last step in your uploaded file as well. Adding wood, metal, or stone textures makes the model feel realistic.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make with Follow Me Tool

If you’ve tried the tool and it didn’t work, don’t worry. Most beginners make the same mistakes.

• Not selecting the path. The tool only works if you highlight the path first.

• Profile not perpendicular. If the shape isn’t lined up with the path, the result will be twisted or wrong.

• Path has gaps. Even tiny breaks will stop the tool. Always double-check.

• Profile too complex. Start simple. The more complicated the profile, the harder it is to extrude cleanly.

These problems can be frustrating, but they’re part of learning. The good news is, once you know them, they’re easy to avoid.

Practical Examples of Follow Me Tool in Action

Here are a few ways you can use the tool in real projects.

Seating profile. Just like in the uploaded tutorial, you can design benches by creating a curved profile and running it along a deck.

Crown moulding. Draw the moulding profile once and run it along the edges of a ceiling. Instantly, your room looks polished.

Curved railings. For stairs or balconies, you can create smooth, realistic railings.

Pipes and tubes. A circle along a curved line makes a pipe or wire.

Landscape edges. You can model pathways, borders, or sunken decks quickly.

These examples show that once you master the basics, the tool becomes a shortcut to professional-looking results.

Follow Me Tool vs Push/Pull Tool

Since both tools create 3D shapes, it’s easy to confuse them. Here’s the difference.

• Push/Pull only moves faces straight out. It’s great for walls, boxes, and flat extrusions.

• Follow Me pushes faces along any path, including curves. It’s great for railings, trims, pipes, and custom shapes.

Think of Push/Pull as “straight” and Follow Me as “flexible.”

Pro Tips for Mastering Follow Me Tool Faster

With practice, you’ll get better at predicting how the tool behaves. Here are some tips.

Keep your profiles simple at first. Always place them perpendicular to the path. Use groups or components to keep your work organized. And don’t be afraid to undo and try again. Even advanced users experiment before getting it right.

FAQ – Follow Me Tool in SketchUp

What is the shortcut for Follow Me tool in SketchUp?
There isn’t a default shortcut, but you can assign one in the Preferences menu.

Can I use Follow Me on curved paths?
Yes. That’s the main reason the tool exists.

Why is my Follow Me tool not working?
Usually the path isn’t selected, the profile isn’t perpendicular, or the path is broken.

Can I use it for furniture design?
Yes. You can make seat profiles, table edges, and decorative details.

How is Follow Me different from Push/Pull?
Push/Pull only works in straight lines, while Follow Me can follow curves and complex paths.

Conclusion

The Follow Me tool in SketchUp is one of those features that feels confusing until you try it. Once you do, it changes how you design. It takes a flat shape and turns it into something 3D, curved, and realistic in just a few clicks.

As a beginner, it’s best to start with small projects. Try making a pipe or a railing. Then move on to things like mouldings, seat profiles, or landscape paths. Each time, you’ll get more comfortable with the tool.

Don’t let mistakes discourage you. They’re just part of the process. With practice, you’ll know exactly how to use Follow Me tool in SketchUp for beginners and turn your ideas into polished models.

So open up SketchUp, try it out, and see how much more creative your designs can become.