Tesselations are fun to make in SketchUp and a good way of learning some basic SketchUp skills. Below are some simple examples.

Tesselations must be based on a shape that will tesselate. There are only 3 regular shapes (ones that have all sides and angles equal). These are equilateral triangle, square and hexagon. Other easy shapes are the rectangle, kite, parallelogram and rhomboid (diamond).

Hexagons do not need to have equal sides to tesselate. If opposite sides are equal they will also work. Some other 6 sided shapes and even a few 5 sided shapes will tesselate. All 3 or 4 sided shapes will tesselate if paired with a copy of itself.

There are several different methods you can use in SketchUp to tesselate shapes. We will start with a very simple example like the fish at the top:

Setting Up

To set up the workspace ready to create tesselations, go to View > Toolbars

Turn on the large toolset, and untick Getting Started.

Go to Camera > Standard Views > Top

Go to Camera > Parallel Projection

Use the pointer tool to remove anything left in the workspace. You can use the Hand tool to pan so the axes are on the left and bottom of the window.

You should be ready now with a nice clear workspace ready to draw.

Setting the Template

Google SketchUp starts with a welcome screen that gives you the opportunity to choose a starting template.

If you set the starting template to be Plan View, you won't have to set up the workspace each time.

If you want to change the template, but don't get the welcome screen anymore, you can find it by choosing Help > Welcome to SketchUp. You can then change the template. The new template will not appear until you choose File > New.

 

Create a Basic Shape

Choose the rectangle tool, and draw a rectangle.

Now choose the Pencil Tool and draw two lines to create a triangle shape on one side.

 

Click in the middle of the triangle, then Copy it (Ctrl-C) and Paste it (Ctrl-V) to the inside of the opposite edge of the rectangle.

SketchUp should show you an inference point to help get it lined up correctly.

 
Now use the arc tool to draw an arc near the right edge of the rectangle.
Hold shift and use the pointer tool to select both pieces on the right edge. Copy and paste them to the opposite end.

Now delete most of the original lines of the rectangle that are no longer needed.

If you lose the blue shading, it means there is a gap in your outline somewhere. Zoom in using the scroll wheel to look for the gap. It will be at a join - you can use the pencil tool to fix it up. 

Decorate

Decorate your shape using the drawing tools, but don't colour it yet.

Use the pointer tool to draw a rectangle around the whole shape, and then copy and paste it so you have two.
  Use the paint bucket tool to colour each shape differently.

Make into a Component

Using the pointer tool, click and drag a rectangle around the first shape. Right click on it and choose Make Component. Leave settings as they are and click Create.

A blue outline will appear around your shape.

Do the same for the other shape.

 

Duplicate

Use the move tool to join the two images together.

Use the pointer tool to click and drag a rectangle around them both and then copy and paste so you have four.

Continue copying and pasting until you have a screen full!

Now choose File > Export > 2D Graphic to save as an image.

The Advantage of Using Components

If you decide you want to modify one of your shapes after you have duplicated it, you can do it easily if you used components.

Simply double click on one of them. Make the changes you want, and it will automatically change all of them.