SketchUp

"Sketchup" redirects here. For the television series, see Sketchup (TV series).

SketchUp is 3D modeling software that allows users to create and manipulate 3D models of buildings, landscapes, furniture, and other objects. It is commonly used in architecture and interior design.

SketchUp

Original author(s)	@Last Software, Google
Developer(s)	Trimble Inc.^[1]
Initial release	August 2000; 23 years ago (2000-08)
Stable release(s)
Windows, 64-bit 22.0.1 macOS 22.0 January 5, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-01-05)^[2]
Operating system	Windows 11 and Windows 10 macOS 12+ (Monterey) macOS 11+ (Big Sur) and macOS 10.15+ (Catalina) ^[3]
Available in	English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
Type	3D computer graphics
License	Subscription
Website	www.sketchup.com

SketchUp is owned by Trimble Inc. The program is currently available as a web-based application, SketchUp Free,^[4] and three paid subscriptions, SketchUp Shop, SketchUp Pro, and SketchUp Studio, each with increasing functionality.^[5][6][7]

The program includes drawing layout functionality, surface rendering in different "styles", and enables placement of its models within Google Earth.^[8][9]

History

@Last Software

SketchUp was developed by startup company @Last Software of Boulder, Colorado, co-founded in 1999 by Brad Schell and Joe Esch.^[10][11] SketchUp was created in August 2000 as a 3D content creation tool and was envisioned as a software program for design professionals.^[3] The program won a Community Choice Award at its first tradeshow in 2000.^[12] The first macOS release of SketchUp won a "Best of Show" at Macworld in 2002.^[13]

Google

 

Lund + Slaatto project designed in SketchUp

 

Many different 3D and 2D exporters are available in SketchUp for uses such as rendering. This C-130 Hercules model was made in SketchUp and rendered with Kerkythea.

Google acquired @Last Software on March 14, 2006,^[14] attracted by @Last Software's work developing a plugin for Google Earth.^[15][16][17] On January 9, 2007, Google announced Google SketchUp 6, a free downloadable version of SketchUp, including integrated tools for uploading content to Google Earth and to the Google 3D Warehouse.^[18]

Google SketchUp Pro 6 introduced a beta version of Google SketchUp LayOut which includes 2D vector tools and page layout tools allowing presentations to be produced without the need for a separate presentation program.^[19]

On November 17, 2008, SketchUp 7 was released with integration of SketchUp's Component Browser with Google 3D Warehouse, LayOut 2 and dynamic components that respond to scaling.^[3]

On September 1, 2010, SketchUp 8 was released with model geolocation with Google Maps and Building Maker integration.^[20] Mac OS X Tiger was no longer supported.^[3] SketchUp version 8 use under Wine has been rated "Gold".^[21] Geolocation information is always stored in the .kmz file.^[22] The building designs themselves are saved in SKP.

Trimble

Trimble Navigation (now Trimble Inc.) acquired SketchUp from Google on June 1, 2012, for an undisclosed sum.^[23] In 2013, SketchUp 2013 was released. A new site was provided, Extension Warehouse, hosting plugins and extensions for SketchUp.^[24]

Subscriptions

SketchUp comes in the following subscription options:^[25][26][27]

Subscription offerings and their characteristics

Subscription	Desktop or web-based	Commercial or Personal Use	Extensible
Studio	Desktop & web	Commercial	Yes
Pro	Desktop & web	Commercial	Yes
Go	Web-only	Commercial	No
Free	Web-only	Personal or hobbyist use	No

Studio

 

Daylight visualization using SketchUp's daylight analysis tool.

Everything in the pro plus professional rendering via Chaos' V-Ray for SketchUp and point cloud import and management via Trimble's Scan Essentials.^[28]

Pro

 

Interior designed in SketchUp.

SketchUp Pro subscription includes the eponymous desktop 3D modeler, plus importers and exporters to common 2D and 3D formats, access to SketchUp's repository of pre-built 3D models (3D Warehouse), access to its extension library (Extension Warehouse), access to LayOut (2D documentation software) and Style Builder (create custom edge styles for SketchUp models).^[28][29] SketchUp Pro 2016 has native integration with Trimble Connect, treat 3D Warehouse models as references, a rebuilt Generate Report and now LayOut offers web-friendly reference objects as well as a new LayOut API.^[30]

SketchUp Pro licensing is dual-platform and works on Windows and Mac machines.

Go

Go, formally known as Shop, is a SketchUp offering that includes the following: web and mobile modelers, SketchUp for Web and SketchUp for iPad; Trimble Connect Business, a cloud collaboration tool for viewing, sharing, and accessing project information from anywhere; and access to SketchUp's model library, 3D Warehouse.

 

SketchUp's iPad modeler on site.

SketchUp Go is aimed at design and construction professionals who are stakeholders in the design, review, and presentation process, as well as for DIY designers. It has a feature set designed to meet the specific needs of users on the go. For example, users can model and mark up 3D models digitally using Apple Pencil and touch. They can take iPad to construction project sites and coordinate in 3D.^[31] SketchUp Go does not include the desktop modeler, a downloadable application that can be used offline. Currently, only Pro and Studio plans feature this modeler.

Free

In November 2017, SketchUp Free was released as a web-based application which replaces SketchUp Make.^[32] Drawings can be saved to the cloud, saved locally as a native SKP file, or exported as an STL file. Compared to Make, SketchUp Free does not support extensions, creation and editing of materials. The product is not for commercial use.^[33]

License

On June 4, 2020, Trimble announced that SketchUp would transition to a subscription business model. After November 4, 2020, SketchUp no longer sells perpetual licenses and maintenance & support plans.^[34][35]

3D Warehouse

See also: Ai CAD libraries

3D Warehouse is an open library in which SketchUp users may upload and download 3D models to share.^[36] The models can be downloaded right into the program without anything having to be saved onto your computer's storage. File sizes of the models can be up to 50 MB. Anyone can make, modify and re-upload content to and from the 3D warehouse free of charge.^[37] All the models in 3D Warehouse are free, so anyone can download files for use in SketchUp or even other software such as AutoCAD, Revit and ArchiCAD - all of which have apps allowing the retrieval of models from 3D Warehouse. Since 2014 Trimble has launched a new version of 3D Warehouse where companies may have an official page with their own 3D catalog of products. Trimble is currently investing in creating 3D developer partners in order to have more professionally modeled products available in 3D Warehouse. According to the Trimble, 3D Warehouse is the most popular 3D content site on the web. SketchUp designers may visit 3D Warehouse to discover new products or for inspiration when designing their own.

Patents

SketchUp holds U.S. Patent 6,628,279, granted in September 2003, expired in 2021, on its "Push/Pull" technology.^[38]

Software extensions

SketchUp 4 and later support software extensions written in the Ruby programming language, which add specialized functionality. Many such extensions are available to others on the Trimble Extension Warehouse^[39] and many other 3rd party websites as well. SketchUp has a Ruby console, an environment which allows experimentation with Ruby.^[40]

SketchUp Free, the web-based version, does not support extensions which severely limits the functionality of the tool.

File formats

SketchUp

Filename extension	.SKP
Developed by	Trimble Inc.
Type of format	Binary^[citation needed]

SketchUp supports its own .skp file extension.^[41]

It supports the following 3D modeling formats: .3DS, .DAE, .DEM, .DDF, .DXF, .DWG, .IFC (.IFCZIP), .KMZ, .STL, PDF (Mac Only).

3D Exports

SKP, 3DS, DAE, DWG, DXF, FBX, IFC, OBJ, KMZ, STL, WRL, XSI

Image exports

JPG, PNG, TIF, PDF (Mac Only ), EPS

Layout formats

LayOut Import: SKP, BMP, GIF, JPEG, JPG, PNG, TIF, TIFF, RTF, TXT, DWG, DXF, CSV, TSV, XLSX.^[41]

LayOut Export: PNG, JPG, PDF, DWG, DXF.

See also

• V-Ray - 3D Rendering software for Sketchup
• List of BIM software
• List of 3D modeling software

References

1. "Trimble Navigation to Buy Google's SketchUp". Reuters. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
2. "Work smarter, not harder in 2022 with LayOut and SketchUp Pro". blog.sketchup.com. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
3. "SketchUp Hardware and Software Requirements". Trimble. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
4. "Home". my.sketchup.com.
5. "Download SketchUp | Free Trial of 3D Modeling Software". SketchUp. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
6. "Download All". SketchUp. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
7. "SketchUp Subscriptions Overview". help.sketchup.com. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
8. "Features: Context Modeling". SketchUp.com. Trimble Navigation. 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
9. "Add Location in SketchUp". SketchUp Help Center. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
10. . Archived from the original on 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
11. n"@Last Gets 'Googled'". IT.TMCNet.com. March 15, 2006. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
12. "DigitalMediaNet Announces DigitalCAD Community Choice Award Winners". DigitalCAD.com. November 16, 2000. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
13. "IDG's Macworld Announces Best of Show Awards". idg.com. July 18, 2002. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
14. Martin, Jeff (2006-03-14). "A New Home for @Last Software". GoogleBlog.BlogSpot.com. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
15. Kawamoto, Dawn. "Google acquires @Last Software". CNET. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
16. "Google acquires SketchUp maker @Last Software". Macworld. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
17. "SketchUp Is Google's First Divestment In Years, And It Made A Profit". TechCrunch. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
18. James. "Beautiful model created with sketchup 6!". 3dwarehouse.sketchup.com. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
19. "Free Download: Google SketchUp 6 3D Model Design Tool with Free Upgrade for Pro". 12 January 2007.
20. "Google SketchUp 8 Released". www.architectmagazine.com. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
21. Zhao, James. "SketchUp 8.x". AppDB.WineHQ.org. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
22. . SketchUp.Google.com. February 19, 2010. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
23. "Trimble to Enhance its Office-to-Field Platform with the Acquisition of Google's SketchUp 3D Modeling Platform". PR Newswire. Sunnyvale, California: Trimble Navigation. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
24. . SoftwareParadise.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
25. "SketchUp Free vs Pro: The Differences – Simply Explained". All3DP. 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
26. Sky-Shop.pl, Viasoft pl-działa na oprogramowaniu sklepów internetowych. "Sketchup Studio vs Sketchup Pro - Sklep Viasoft.pl". www.viasoft.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2021-07-16.
27. Charles (2020-09-10). "SketchUp Free vs Pro - What's The Difference?". Scan2CAD. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
28. "SketchUp Subscriptions Overview | SketchUp Help". help.sketchup.com. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
29. . Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
30. "Introducing SketchUp Pro 2016". Trimble. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
31. "3D Conceptual Design – Collaborative iPad Software - SketchUp Go Bundle".
32. "SketchUp for Web | SketchUp Help". help.sketchup.com. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
33. "TRIMBLE SKETCHUP WEB TERMS OF SERVICE". app.sketchup.com.
34. . Wordtext Systems, Inc. Archived from the original on 2021-07-24. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
35. "It's Happened. SketchUp Goes Completely Subscription". SolidSmack. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
36. "The SketchUp 3D Warehouse Is No Longer Compliant with 2020 Design". Public Support Articles. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
37. "3D Warehouse". 3dwarehouse.sketchup.com. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
38. "Vectorworks 2022—Powerful New Core Technology and Modern Chip Support". Architosh. 22 October 2021.
39. "Extension Warehouse".
40. SketchUp Ruby Documentation.
41. "What file types can I import/export with the SketchUp Pro subscription?". June 23, 2020.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SketchUp.

• Official website