Original author(s) | @Last Software, Google | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Developer(s) | Trimble Inc. [1] | ||||
Initial release | August 2000 | ||||
Stable release(s) | |||||
January 5, 2019 [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 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 is owned by Trimble Inc. The program is currently available as a web-based application, SketchUp Free, [4] and three paid subscriptions, SketchUp Shop, SketchUpPro, 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]
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 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 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]
SketchUp comes in the following subscription options: [25] [26] [27]
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 |
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]
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, 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 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.
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]
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 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.
SketchUp holds U.S. Patent 6,628,279, granted in September 2003, expired in 2021, on its "Push/Pull" technology. [38]
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.
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).
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.
AutoCAD is a 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) software application developed by Autodesk. It was first released in December 1982 for the CP/M and IBM PC platforms as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers. Initially a DOS application, subsequent versions were later released for other platforms including Classic Mac OS (1989), Microsoft Windows (1993) and macOS (2010), along with companion web and mobile applications.
Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational software corporation that makes software products and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, education, and entertainment industries. Autodesk is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and has offices worldwide. Its U.S. offices are located in the states of California, Oregon, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Its Canada offices are located in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta.
AutoSketch is a 2D vector drawing program by Autodesk. It is less powerful than Autodesk's AutoCAD and does not support 3D models.
Rhinoceros is a commercial 3D computer graphics and computer-aided design (CAD) application software that was developed by TLM, Inc, dba Robert McNeel & Associates, an American, privately held, and employee-owned company that was founded in 1978. Rhinoceros geometry is based on the NURBS mathematical model, which focuses on producing mathematically precise representation of curves and freeform surfaces in computer graphics.
ArchiCAD is an architectural BIM CAD software for Mac and Windows developed by the Hungarian company Graphisoft. ArchiCAD offers computer aided solutions for common aspects of aesthetics and engineering during the design process of the built environment—buildings, interiors, urban areas, etc.
Navisworks is a 3D design review package for Microsoft Windows.
Open Design Alliance is a nonprofit organization creating software development kits (SDKs) for engineering applications. ODA offers interoperability tools for CAD, BIM, and Mechanical industries including .dwg, .dxf, .dgn, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Navisworks, and .ifc files and additional tools for visualization, web development, 3D PDF publishing and modeling.
3D computer graphics software refers to programs used to create 3D computer-generated imagery.
FreeCAD is a general-purpose parametric 3D computer-aided design (CAD) modeler and a building information modeling (BIM) software application with finite element method (FEM) support. It is intended for mechanical engineering product design but also expands to a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture or electrical engineering. FreeCAD is free and open-source, under the LGPL-2.0-or-later license, and available for Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems. Users can extend the functionality of the software using the Python programming language.
HiCAD is a 2D-/3D-CAD-system from ISD Software und Systeme GmbH based on the software kernel ESM, developed by ISD.
Biosphere3D is an open-source project that targets interactive landscape scenery rendering based on a virtual globe. The software system supports multiple scales but focuses primarily on the creation of realistic views from eye-level or near ground level. The software is released under the MPL license and developed by Zuse Institute Berlin, Lenné3D and the open-source community for use on personal computers.
pCon.planner is a space planning, graphical product configuration, quotation creation and communication solution for interior designers, furniture manufacturers and facility managers. The application is developed by EasternGraphics GmbH in Ilmenau (Thuringia/Germany). There is a free of charge version, without configuration capabilities as well as cost based versions.
Digital Geometric Kernel, is a software development framework and a set of components for enabling 3D/CAD functionality in Windows applications, developed by DInsight.
Alibre Design is a 3D parametric computer aided design software suite developed by Alibre for Microsoft Windows. Available in fifteen languages. Alibre is a brand of Alibre, LLC, a company based in Texas.
SolveSpace is a free and open-source 2D/3D constraint-based parametric computer-aided design (CAD) software that supports basic 2D and 3D constructive solid geometry modeling.
LibreCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) application for 2D design. It is free and open-source, and available for Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems.
KeyCreator is a commercial software application for 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting available since 2004.
DesignSpark Mechanical is a free 3D CAD solid modelling software application.
ABViewer is multifunctional software for working with AutoCAD DWG, DXF, PLT, STEP, IGES, STL and other 2D and 3D CAD files. The application allows creating and editing drawings, as well as saving them to AutoCAD DWG/DXF, PDF, JPG and a number of other vector and raster file formats.
KeyShot is a 3D rendering program developed by Luxion, Inc. It is designed to create photorealistic images of 3D models quickly and easily. KeyShot is known for its intuitive user interface and real-time rendering capabilities, allowing users to see their changes immediately.