Use the 'Rotate' tool to rotate an object along any of the 3 axis or any custom axis you chose.
To perform the rotate operation select the 'Rotate' tool. The mouse cursor now turns into a circular protractor. Move protractor around, you will notice it change color. Depending on which axis the protractor is perpendicular to it changes color to the color associated with that axis ( remember red – x axis, green – y axis, and blue – z axis). Click on any edge or surface then click again to define the direction of rotation. Moving the mouse around now moves this intial line to define how much you want to rotate the object.
As you rotate certain edges or surfaces, other surfaces and edges attached to it might divide into two or more surfaces. Similar to what happens when you move or scale objects, SketchUp attempts to automatically infer what surfaces need to be divided in order to perform the operation that you are attempting.
When you rotate an object the center of rotation is the point you have clicked on the object. What if you want to rotate an object along a different center as shown below.
To define a center of rotation within an edge or surface, all you need to do is click on that point initially with the 'Rotate' tool select. The point where you first click with the protractor is the center of rotation.
To define a center that lies outside the edge or surface. First select the edge or surface with the 'Select' tool. Note the edge will be highlighted in blue and a surface highlighted in a dotted pattern. Now select the 'Rotate' tool and click anywhere, this will be the center of rotation. Click along a line to define the baseline for rotation and move the mouse to define the amount of rotation.
