SketchUp

Release date:	2000–now
Made by:	(past) @Last Software (past) Google Trimble
Runs on:	Browser Windows Mac OS
Imports:	.SKP, .STL
Exports:	.PNG, STL

SketchUp is an intuitive, drawing-like, 3-D modelling program. It's changed developers a few times over the years, and currently has a pricing model that makes it difficult to recommend. The only free option now is very restrictive with file formats, not allowing extensions, and requiring an always-on Internet connection.

The oldest, properly free, version is 'SketchUp Make 2017'. They no longer have it availible for download, but there are downloads on The Internet Archive I found via this thread on the SketchUp forum.

• https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-make-2017-download-links/74172
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20220217222923/https://download.sketchup.com/sketchupmake-2017-2-2555-90782-en-x64.exe
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20220217222923/https://download.sketchup.com/sketchupmake-2017-3-116-90851-en.dmg

Extensions

The easy way to install extensions is by loading the extension warehouse from within SketchUp. If you want to download them with your browser you'll need to add the downloaded bundle via the Window>Preference or SketchUp>Preferences menu items. For more details see the official instruction page.

• SketchUV - UV mapping helper.

File Types

If you're using the free version of Sketchup with Unity etc. it's a bit of a pain RE file types you can export. OBJ and FBX are 'advanced', and 'professional' versions only, for example. Your only option is DAE with plugins, I think. I remember having problems and having to use a export plugin :(

The file types listed in the info box to the right are the only ones supported in all versions. For completeness, the full list is:

Import

• .3DS (Advanced +)
• .BMP (Professional)
• .DAE (Advanced +)
• .DEM (Advanced +)
• .DDF (Professional)
• .DWG (Advanced +)
• .DXF (Advanced +)
• .IFC (Professional)
• .IFCZIP (Professional)
• .JPG (Professional)
• .KMZ (Advanced +)
• .PDF (Mac only) (Professional)
• .PNG (Professional)
• .PSD (Professional)
• .SKP (Basic +)
• .STL (Basic +)
• .TGA (Professional)
• .TIF (Professional)

Export

• .3DS (Advanced +)
• .DAE (Advanced +)
• .DWG (Advanced +)
• .DXF (Advanced +)
• .EPS (Professional)
• .FBX (Advanced +)
• .IFC (Professional)
• .JPG (Professional)
• .KMZ (Advanced +)
• .OBJ (Advanced +)
• .PDF (Mac only) (Professional)
• .PNG (Basic +)
• .SKP (Professional)
• .STL (Basic +)
• .TIF (Professional)
• .VRML (Advanced +)
• .WRL (Professional)
• .XSI (Advanced +)

Links

• SketchUp on Wikipedia.
• sketchup.com