Plugins of SketchUp are to improve our work efficiency on SketchUp. To facilitate the majority of users, in this post, AppNee will collect, collate and then publish all very useful SketchUp plugins. They are universal for SketchUp 2015/2016/2017 on both Windows and Mac OS X platforms. Download sketchup 2016 64 bit for free. Photo & Graphics tools downloads - SketchUp by Trimble Navigation Limited and many more programs are available for instant and free download. Oct 30, 2012 SketchUp Plugin Index is a directory for plugins for Trimble’s 3D-modeling software SketchUp. Find, download, submit and rate plugins easily here. 20+ Essential SketchUp Plugins for Efficient Modeling for Free Download SketchUp is one of the easiest, fastest, and most popular 3D modeling software. Its tools and interface are simple and easy to deal with for the beginners. This is the OLD JointPushPull, certified for all versions of Sketchup, including SU2017. Usage: menu Tools JointPushPull Classic. Dependencies: Remove JPPDir21 folder and old jointpushpull.rb, LibTraductor.rb files if you already have JPP 2.1 installed. Downloads: 42580 Version Updated: 2017-04-26 13:22:01.
Sketchup can be a very versatile tool for our architectural visualizations, but somehow it lacks of some features that can be used for a quicker modelling time, mostly because the software itself is all-use oriented instead of an architectural one.
If we want to work in a more precise way, or if we want to achieve faster modelling times, then we have to install plugins into Sketchup.
Below I will list some of the most important plugins I use and show you briefly how to work with some of them. Please consider that this cannot be and should not be a complete objective list – this is simply stuff I use and want to share with you:
1001bit tools is a plugin that for us is a must. It works as a collection of tools designed for creating of several architectural elements. From roofs to railings, windows, staircases, roof design. Also it has some tools for drawing/editing geometry such as fillet, extend and chamfer that native Sketchup lacks.
After installing the plugin, when you open Sketchup it may take a bit of time to load. That is mostly because it checks the licence status before loading.
As you can see, it is a large toolbar with plenty elements for you to check:
Some of the most basic tools of 1001bit are the ones regarding to distance, such as Information Between 2 Points, Point on Face, Center Point of Arc and Circles.
Perhaps one of the most efficient ones, mostly for creating complex objects, is the Divide Tool; where you can divide the selected edge.
Also 1001bit has a better layer management system than the native Sketchup. You will realize that it is easier to switch elements between layers via 1001bit than the Sketchup workflow for doing so.
One useful tool for organic shapes is Best Fit Face, where after creating non-coplanar points you can then pick the series of points for double clicking to create a face containing those points as part of the edges of that face.
The Edges to 3D Profiles tool can be incredibly useful when you want to create structural models in Sketchup, also for bridges. The procedure is the following:
- Select the edges you want to work with and run the tool
- Choose your desired profile and enter the parameters. It has by default some steel profiles for you to apply
- Create profiles
Array tools have several settings that you can apply, being Polar Array, in my opinion, the most useful one, as you can create a spiral staircase with very few parameters.
Wall tools are a simple-step solution than the Sketchup way of building walls. Instead of drawing and extruding planes, you can choose a type of wall, adjust parameters and done! Also it is really helpful for applying details to your walls, such as baseboards.
For Wall Openings and Columns the parameters are pretty much the same. A dialog box where you select the type and apply parameters, then create.
As I mentioned before regarding Structural Models, one of the tools is for creating Foundations. From pad footing to strip footing, quick and helpful.
Stair tool works for creating stairs, with 12 different kinds of stairs, while Escalator is for creating mechanical stairs.
Windows and Door Frame are created via the tools with the very same name, where you previously have to create a face at the opening to apply the command to it.
Perforated Screen is useful for creating “skin” to your facades, mostly if it is an important part of your project.
Other important tools are such as Louvres, Joist and the Roofing tools, even though for the last ones I prefer the Vali-Plugins that I will explain next on.
Instant Roof is part of the Vali Plugins that are extremely useful for creating a wide variety of architectural elements.
In this case, this plugin is focused on making roofs from selected faces and edges. The possibilities are infinite, as they depend both on which kind of roof you want to make and also how is the geometry that you created for hosting that roof.
For testing purposes I decided to show you how to create the Craftsman-style roof. So, I created in Sketchup a figure where two shapes are joined
The way you create the geometry is up to you, but keep in mind that if you don’t want to be changing parameters and use the default method, the geometry group must be a bit large in scale for the roof to adapt.
Then is time for selecting edges+faces
As you can see, I didn’t selected one of the edges; that is because of the direction of the slope. The non-selected edge defines the direction of the slope.
Now it’s time to go to Plugins → Instant Roof → Make Roof
Select roof type and adjust parameters if you like. Then hit OK.
And we end up with this
After exploding the group we then can erase the lines at the faces
As you can see, the workflow is pretty simple. From the creators of the Plugin we can check at this chart that shows us the different kinds of roofs we can create.
Another plugin part of the Vali Plugins for creating roads, pathways and waterways on terrains.
The necessary geometry for creating this elements are simple: lines, curves, faces.
We can create a road from a center line, as well as road from faces, or even make islands inside the created roads.
First you need to create a Terrain mesh using the Sandbox tools of Sketchup. Then draw connected lines or curves within our terrain.
Group the lines and select both the group and the terrain.
Plugins → Instant Road → Road from Centerline
Then we apply the parameters needed for our road, such as its Width, if it is curved or if we want to add additional parameters.
After it is created, double click the road group to open it for editing. Apply the changes you want. Close the group and select it as well as the terrain.
Plugins → Instant Road → Road from Face
And it is created!
Artisan is a plugin that we use for creating organic shapes. Its workflow somehow reminds me of 3ds Max as we work with subdivision and extrusions. This way, you then “sculpt” your 3d model with a much friendly way than Sketchup native to achieve such results.
It is mostly useful for creating complex architectural buildings, as well as for furniture modelling given the fact it creates perfect rounded edges and faces (which Sketchup can’t manage while subdividing elements).
I highly recommend you to learn how to use Artisan via video tutorials, as in written tutorials it can be complicated to understand the sculpting workflow.
Chipp Walters’s series of video tutorials of Artisan in Youtube are a good way to start. Here is the link to the first of the series:
I really hope you enjoyed this list of plugins I use for archtecture related modelling and visualization tasks. I might write a second part of this “Best Sketchup Plugins for Architects” series in the future because I have some additional recommendations in mind 🙂
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Top 25 Free SketchUp Plugins for Modeling – Sketchup became one of the world’s most widely used 3D modeling software products. This is thanks to its intuitive toolbar, interdisciplinary use within the creative industry (not just architects) and having a free version that doesn’t use watermarks.
SketchUp is one of the easiest, fastest, and most popular 3D modeling software. Its tools and interface are simple and easy to deal with for the beginners. However, as work starts to get a bit more complicated, these simple tools might become a hindrance. So, you might consider these simple tips to easily improve your SketchUp skills. That is when SketchUp plugins or extensions come into the picture. These plugins are created by users who noticed the shortcomings of the default tools on Sketchup and decided to solve them.
Now, using such plugins is essential for faster and better results. Once you have grasped how they work, you will realize how much time they could save you. Doing basic repetitive tasks like extruding (push/pull) multiple surfaces or creating offsets and multiple copies will be your job no more. Insert your data, and the plugins will do their magic in a blink of an eye.
Top 25 Free SketchUp Plugins for Modeling
We’re going to introduce you to Top 25 Free SketchUp Plugins for Modeling
Angular Dimension
This free SketchUp plugins seems so basic that it’s surprising this wasn’t already included with Sketchup, but someone actually took the time to program a plugin to fix it. Developed by the user SLBaumgartner, this plugin allows you to calculate and draw angles on the surface of a volume.
Chain Along Path
This free SketchUp plugins Created by 3dalbertsoft, this plugin allows you to create a helical turbine by selecting a curve and a predefined shape in SketchUp. A dialog window lets you choose numerous parameters to create the final shape. We think it is quite useful to define seams, seals, springs, tensioners and cables. And there’s a YouTube tutorial!
Sketchy FFD
This free SketchUp plugins Sketchy FFD adds a “control cage” to an object, allowing you to create complex curved, forms from gridded surfaces. It raises the possibility of creating domes, arches or free-flowing organic shapes constructed from “weaved” elements or mesh.
Memory Copy
This free SketchUp plugins Memory Copy allows you to copy not only geometry, but also transformations such as the resizing or rotation of said geometry — the tool can “remember” your last move and duplicate it. This makes it a breeze to construct a sweeping staircase or a perfect stack of Jenga blocks!
JHS Power Bar
This free SketchUp plugins Among its many functions, this hugely useful plugin enables you to create an array along a path. A series of components can be quickly placed in a predefined arrangement, perfect for balustrades like the one shown above.
Follow Me and Rotate
Integrating ict into science blogeffective curriculum ideas. This free SketchUp plugins Create detailed rope, twine and ornate balusters with Wikii’s amazing plugin, which combines the traditional “Follow Me” tool with a rotating action to produce twisting geometry.
Multiple Offsets
This free SketchUp plugins Sam D Mitch’s add-on gives you the ability to offset many faces of an object at once, making it possible to create complex, coffered forms like the sphere illustrated in this GIF — ideal for your model of the Pantheon dome!
Read also : 7 Step making engraving text in SketchUp
Helix Along Curve
This free SketchUp plugins One of the most ingenious plugins on this list, Helix Along Curve enables you to create helix tubing along a predefined path. When combined with Bezier Spline and Component Stringer add-ons, you can also model a perfect chain with individual links.
Edge Tools²
This free SketchUp plugins ThomThom’s handy palette of edge-related tools saves you time in multiple ways, enabling quick simplification of imported DWG site plans, the ability to split a face into multiple planes, and — most significantly — highlighting of imperfections so you can clean up your model in a flash.
Section Cut Face
This free SketchUp plugins Simply add a face to your section plane with this useful plugin. The face can be quickly modified, changing its color for presentation purposes, and it can also be set to update automatically as you edit your model.
SubD and QuadFaceTools
This free SketchUp plugins When combined with the QuadFaceTools plugin, SubD can be used to produce curvilinear volumes like the one shown above with clean, rationalized subdivisions. This is helpful when modeling complex domes and parametric shells.
CLF Shape Bender
This free SketchUp plugins Chirs Fullmer’s amazing tool allows you to bend an entire component or group, so you can create bespoke windows, doors and details for curved walls and roofs.
Animator
This free SketchUp plugins Another brilliant extension created by Fredo6, Animator enables you to creating moving parts with your SketchUp model with ease. Simply create the first and last frames of the movement you want, then hit play and watch your dynamic model shift into motion.
LSS Matrix
This free SketchUp plugins Created by Kirill B, LSS Matrix allows you to create a sequence of chained components by simply updating the parent block. As the GIF accompanying this description demonstrates, you can create a spiral staircase by creating a block with two steps and then choosing the number of copies. You can learn how in 2 minutes with this tutorial on Youtube.
Quad Face Tool
This free SketchUp plugins Created by ThomThom, this plugin solves one of Sketchup’s major shortcomings: its trouble working with non-flat quad surfaces. With Quad Face Tool we create figures with continuous edges as topographies or, as we see in the GIF that accompanies this description, give a much more real surface to a helmet that was originally reticulated. Yes, there is a Youtube tutorial!
Location
This free SketchUp plugins In 2012, Google sold Sketchup to Trimble Navigation. Although this case is not a plugin, it is a good example of the positive synergy Sketchup achieved with Google: the “Location” tool allows you to choose the satellite image of the place your project is going to end up by entering an exact address in Google Maps. Then, with a click, you can replicate the actual topography of that location. Very useful.
Components
This free SketchUp plugins Created by Chris Fullmer, this plugin allows you to replicate a component onto a surface. As in previous cases, when editing the base component, the rest are automatically updated. Highly recommended for designing parameterized façades.
Camer Tools
This free SketchUp plugins Another one by ThomThom, this plugin offers a series of new cameras for your projects’ animations.
Curviloft
This free SketchUp plugins Created by Fredo6, this plugin generates parameterized volumes when selecting a series of curves on a 3D model. Once created, it offers nine different possibilities, including the possibility to redefine its final thickness. Very useful for designing furniture.
Purge All
This free SketchUp plugins This plugin, also, rids your model of all the unused components, layers, and materials or whatever you choose it to remove. It, also, shows an optional report, listing the removed items.
Fredo Tools
This free SketchUp plugins This extension by Fredo6 gives a variety of handy options of no specific category. It groups a set of standalone plugins.
Architect Tools
This free SketchUp plugins can be helpful with advanced or urban scale uses. It creates buildings, merges them, and deals with contours and terrains, imported from 2D CAD files.
Photoshop Plug-ins Free Download
CleanUp³
Sketchup Plugins Free Download Macintensiveclouds 64-bit
This free SketchUp plugins literally cleans up your model, like for example it removes the hidden and duplicated lines, delete lonely edges, and merge surfaces on the same plane.
Bezier Spline
This free SketchUp plugins gives you a wider variety of line drawing options which include Polylines, Bezier and Spline curves. These baselines can be useful to create unique forms.
Weld
This free SketchUp plugins Like the Weld option in 3Ds Max, this plugin makes it possible to turn a set of connected lines and arcs into a single polyline.
Finally, make sure to check out the guidelines and manuals by the developers to understand the full potential of these SketchUp plugins and good luck with your modeling!
So the information we can convey, hopefully useful about Top 25 Free SketchUp Plugins for Modeling above