SketchUp is a popular, versatile 3D modeling program that’s used around the world by students, hobbyists and professionals in a wide range of industries and sectors. Offering both a free and pro version to users, SketchUp can be used to create precise, to-scale 2D and 3D models for engineering, architecture and much more. Sketchup plugins can make a world of difference when you’re modeling. Finding the right ones can take a ton of time and I simply don’t want that for you. Finding the right ones can take a ton of time and I simply don’t want that for you.
Sketchup plugins can make a world of difference when you’re modeling. Finding the right ones can take a ton of time and I simply don’t want that for you. I’ve collected the 5 I use daily when working in sketchup to help you get to modeling faster… sooner!
If you need help learning to install sketchup plugins or extensions I’ve created a post to walk you step-by-step through that process.
5 Essential Sketchup Plugins
Flatten
If something looks good in the top parallel projection view, but in 3d has lines all over the place, you can use this tool to squish all the lines to the same plane. Sometimes this alone will help create faces easily by simply adding another line, sometimes it doesn’t.
Remove Lonely Vertices
I hate having more lines then I need, and in a large file, unnecessary lines can add up and really hinder your workflow. Of all the sketchup plugins I’ve used this seems to do the best job for getting rid of those extra segments you don’t need.
Weld
Weld will combine any lines you select into a single line and ask to close your line to make a shape. If your face edge looks right but won’t close, chances are it’s not a closed shape. This takes the guess work out of trying to find where your shape is still open.
![The Sketchup Essentials The Sketchup Essentials](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vYuyc7UlZRQ/maxresdefault.jpg)
Make Faces
When you get to making complex shapes, closed shapes sometimes won’t close. This plugin is a good quick way to try to make a face from a complex closed shape that sketchup won’t recognize.
Joint Push Pull
Simply put, vanilla sketchup doesn’t allow you to extrude faces that are curved… but this plugin does!
Hope this helps you model quicker and with fewer headaches! If you found this helpful you might enjoy our other sketchup tutorials.
Released
12/5/2017 SketchUp is an easy-to-use 3D modeling application. In this course, get up to speed with SketchUp by gaining a foundational understanding of the drawing, design, and rendering tools offered in the 2018 version of this powerful software. Instructor George Maestri covers navigating the interface, manipulating objects, drawing in 2D and 3D space, leveraging organizational tools, and working with materials and textures on both Windows and Mac computers. Plus, learn how to work with reusable components—including third-party objects from the 3D Warehouse—and apply simple styles and animation to make your 3D projects more polished and presentable. Topics include:- Navigating the interface for Mac and Windows
- Configuring toolbars and tray windows
- Selecting and moving objects
- Drawing lines and shapes
- Creating 3D text
- Measuring and labeling objects
- Using organizational tools
- Working with components
- Creating and applying materials
- Animating and rendering your drawings
Duration
- [George] Hi, I'm George Maestri and todaywe are going to take a look at SketchUp.SketchUp is a very easy to use 3D modeling application,and we're going to get you up to speedon this terrific piece of software.We'll take a look at the SketchUp interface,and then we'll move on to manipulating objects.After that, we'll teach you how to draw in SketchUp,and then show you some organization tools.And finally, we're going to take a look at how to workwith materials on both Windows and the Mac,and then apply textures to objects.
So let's go ahead and get started with SketchUp.