SketchUp

Name: SketchUp
Rating: 4.25 (6 reviews)

20.0.362

07 February 2020

Create 3D design concepts.

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Overview

SketchUp is an easy-to-learn 3D modeling program that enables you to explore the world in 3D. With just a few simple tools, you can create 3D models of houses, sheds, decks, home additions, woodworking projects - even space ships.

Note: SketchUp is free for personal use. Pro version can be found here.

What's new in SketchUp

Version 20.0.362:

Note: Now requires OS X 10.12 or later

Performance

Improved the performance of the Components dialog.
Improved performance when opening a file, allowing model interaction much quicker than before.
Improved the performance of the Materials dialog.
Improved the performance of the Tags (formally the Layers dialog).
Improved the performance of the Scenes dialog.
Improved the performance of the Styles dialog.
Improved the performance when opening large models with the Outliner dialog open.
Improved the performance unhiding a group of tags with the Outliner dialog open.
Improved the performance of creating a component in a model containing many components.
Overall performance improvement when editing objects via the Outliner.

Stability

Fixed a crash that could occur during DAE export.
Fixed an issue where the context menu would become incomplete and unresponsive with certain tools.
Fixed an issue where SketchUp would sometimes hang when moving the Tags tray after making hundreds of scene transitions.
Complete list of changes can be found here

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SketchUp Screenshots

28 SketchUp Reviews

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This friendly program makes it very easy to make 3D shapes. It takes some practice to make complex models and it is very easy to damage a part of your model but the results are very rewarding.
There is a free (Make) version without time limit. The current version is 17.2.2554

Like (1)

Version 17.0.18898

Like (1)

Version 17.0.18898

1 answer(s)

yvette-tittel

02 July 2018

New 2017 Make version here https://www.sketchup.com/download/all

Like (1)

Very good intuitive modeling program. But not set up for stand-alone professional use.We use VectorWorks; it does SketchUp like modeling along with everything else a professional CAD program should do. Clients send us SketchUp drawings sometimes and they can be helpful; they can be imported into VectorWorks. Vectorworks evolved from MiniCad which was an early Cad program for Mac.

Like (2)

Version 13.0.3688

Derekcurrie

24 May 2013

Let's sort out the situation: 1) SketchUp v8 is STILL available for free. You will find it here: http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/download/ 2) SketchUp v13 is ACTUALLY SketchUp PRO. The PRO version is a TRIAL with 8 hours of unlimited use before it turns into a pumpkin. Then you have to PAY for it. You can find it at the link MU provides here, as well as at the Download page linked above. IOW: No panic required. If you don't want the shareware PRO version, then get version 8, which is freeware.

Like (2)

Version 13.0.3688

4 answer(s)

SickTeddyBear

24 May 2013

(re)Introducing SketchUp Make: http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/2013/05/reintroducing-sketchup-make.html

3mors

24 May 2013

There's no Make and Pro version. There's only one version that starts with a 8 hours time trial. After this period you can choose to buy a license or keep using it as free version for non commercial use. The confusion comes from it. Here's an official statement from SketchUp team. "In our latest release, we’ve renamed the free version of SketchUp. It’s now called SketchUp Make. Every download of SketchUp Make starts with 8 hours of use of SketchUp Pro. After that, you can choose to keep modeling for free with the core SketchUp modeling feature set, or you can decide to upgrade to Pro -- it's up to you!" http://productforums.google.com/d/msg/sketchup/Q9D3aCBPEB8/-tPpuN2riyoJ

Like (2)

Derekcurrie

24 May 2013

3mors: Sadly, it turns out that you are correct. Due to your post, I investigated the Sketchup downloads page further and found that it is WRONG: http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/download/ What I discovered from attempting to download 'SketchUp 8' was that the one available version downloaded, that being version 13, labeled 'SketchUpMEN.dmg'. When attempting to download "SketchUp Pro 8" by filling in their marketing survey page, the result is an ERROR page. IOW: There is only version 13 via their website, DESPITE the old and wrong verbiage on their download page. Is this bate and switch? I don't think so. But it is TERRIBLE website maintenance. NEVER confuse your user with out of date information. It's perceived as company hostility by every customer subjected to this nonsense. NOT good. At least it's good to now know, as you stated, that after the 8 hour trial period the user is allowed to continue using it for non-commercial uses. The only problem with this system is not communicating this situation adequately to the user. Otherwise the company is suitably hit with flack from users. Trimble has incredibly botched the rollout of this new version and trial system.

Like (1)

Kihoalu

27 November 2014

No its not available for free, or in an old version for free.
You get the latest, version 15 in all cases. I tried several times.

And it also went into a spinning beachball on the most recent attempt to load it that required a reboot to disconnect!

The selling price is over $500. If you aren’t seriously evaluating to buy - I’d give it pass, from my experience.

This latest 2013 version is not free anymore. After update it asks for a license or run as a time trial. Reverted immediately to previous version.

Like (1)

Version 13.0.3688

3 answer(s)

Derekcurrie

24 May 2013

The latest 2013 version is the PRO version, not the free version that is still available. See my comments on the situation above. The confusion here is that MU is not distinguishing between version 8, which is freeware, and version 13, which is the PRO shareware version.

SickTeddyBear

24 May 2013

SketchUp Make is still free: http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/2013/05/reintroducing-sketchup-make.html

3mors

24 May 2013

Phaleron

23 April 2011

According to the licence: "By installing the Software, you agree to automatically request and receive Updates." Why exactly is this clause necessary?

Like (2)

Version 8.0.3161

3 answer(s)

Losmuertos

31 May 2011

probably because the software is filled with online features...

Like (1)

Cgc

02 June 2012

So The Google can exfiltrate all your data to their evil cloud (it's right above an ancient volcano that's been hollowed out).

Like (3)

Derekcurrie

23 May 2013

Answer: Because they apparently were planning on forcing an update to the new PAY-FOR-IT version. Lock the files so they can't be overwritten with v13 and above, unless of course you'd like to pay for v13.

I created a drawing of a house plan in Sweet Home 3d (a free app) some time ago and wanted to see how well SketchUp handled it. The drawing has walls, windows, doors, some furniture, and other ditties. I wanted to see if SketchUp could put a roof on the house but I never got that far. It didn't crash. I exported the file from Sweet Home 3D as a .obj file (the only option you have) and imported this file into Cheetah3D (an awesome app). I then exported it from Cheetah3D as a .3ds file. SketchUp did not import a .3ds file properly at all. So, I exported the file from Cheetah3D to a .dxf file which SketchUp did import albeit very slowly. The resulting drawing was tiny in scale. This is not right. I need accurate dimensions. The resulting file had over 250,000 entities - what did this thing do, take every itty bitty line and make it an entity? As a result, moving around is EXTREMELY slow - zooming and panning tested my patience. I did draw a few things but lost interest in using it because it's performance on this file was so bad. SketchUp can be used for *simple* drawings containing small numbers of objects and that's about it. It is like 3D electronic graph paper and it might serve your needs so give it a try but don't be surprised if it starts to balk at higher levels of complexity.

Like (1)

Version 7.0.8656

1 answer(s)

Arvidtp

20 November 2009

Yeah - many DXF exporters produce models with HUGE numbers of entities - was just dealing with this today at work (I shouted "a 217MB 2D vector image???"). Almost any program would slow down with that file as input. SketchUp is great, even with fairly complex models, IF you drew your model in SketchUp. If you drew it in other software, maybe not so much.

Like (1)

Version 7.1.5803

I just started using it a few days ago, and it's already become one of the most common pieces of software I use. I've played with AutoCAD in the past, but am by no means an expert, so I wasn't sure if I'd be able to master SketchUp - while I'm not yet a master, I've already mocked up my living room (we're shopping for furniture), and I can't wait to try my hand at some exterior landscaping designs. Thanks Google!

Version 7.0.8656

I first saw SketchUp at MacWorld NY in 2002 and was immediately taken by it. This was what I wanted 3D to be since first starting to work with integrating architecture and computers! There are more robust programs for CAD and for 3D modeling, but I find nothing easier to use in the design phase - it is like a combination of napkin sketching and clay models. I can very quickly put an idea together and then play with it until I have my thoughts together. I rarely pick up paper and marker anymore to design. Clients also respond very favorably to SketchUp - the ability to quickly see their ideas take shape and look at various possibilities - should this be taller, what if this is smaller...? No, you're not likely to do a full set of construction documents with it, but I have done some small projects that way. And with the TurboSketch plugin you can do some pretty realistic rendering as well.

Like (1)

Version 6.4.120

SketchUp

Overview

What's new in SketchUp

Performance

Stability

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SketchUp Screenshots

28 SketchUp Reviews

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