A Professional Architect needs these 7 SketchUp Plugin to create a Model
SketchUp has become one of the most popular and easiest 3D modeling software programs around. A beginner can easily use its tools and interface. If work becomes more complicated, these simple tools can become a hindrance. To improve your SketchUp skills, you might want to take note of these simple tips. A SketchUp plug-in can take care of that.
Users came up with this plug-ins after realizing there were shortcomings in SketchUp's default tools. Today, the use of such plug-ins is crucial for better and faster results. They can save you a lot of time once you understand how they work. Basic repetitive tasks like extruding, pulling, pushing multiple surfaces, or creating offsets and multiple copies will become obsolete. Once you've inserted your data, the plug-ins will do all the work for you.
1. Instant Roof Nui
The Instant Roof Nui plug-in does everything the Instant Roof plug-in does plus: The package comes with SketchUp support, Full Framing, Corbels, Greek Returns, Various Beam Styles, Variegated Shingles, Tiles, Take Offs, and much more.
To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.
For more information, visit: valiarchitects.com
2. Joint Push or Pull
One of the features of this plug-in allows multiple surfaces to extrude at once. Create playful wall cladding using this plug-in. You can select all surfaces within the range you enter and it will randomly extrude them. The minimum and maximum values need to be entered, and you will get a set of surfaces with depths between these values.
For more details, please refer to the user manual provided by the developer. The developer may require you to download the free library extension before using it.
To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.
For more information, visit: sketchucation.com
3. Architect Tools
For advanced or urban scale uses, this plug-in can be useful. It is used to create buildings, merge them, and define contours and terrains by importing a 2D CAD file. Last but not least, you should fully understand the potential of this SketchUp plug-ins by reading the guidelines and manuals by the developers.
To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.
For more information, visit: sketchucation.com
4. Components onto Faces
This plug-in allows you to copy a component from a selection onto multiple ungrouped faces.
To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.
For more information, visit: sketchucation.com
5. Sandbox Bonus Tool
Cadman's Sandbox Bonus Tools expand Sandbox functionality. Throughout the entire design process, Sandbox Bonus Tools make working with terrain more enjoyable and interactive. Surface grids are projected on a selection using the Project Mesh tool. Surface grids are now quad face meshes and are compatible with tools that use quad face meshes. With the Foam Core tool, successive push pulls are performed on selected faces, incrementing the distance between push-pulls by the amount determined by the user. The contour surfaces push downward if you enter a negative number. This tool creates a layered version of terrain using contour surfaces.
A selection of surfaces and objects is contoured using the Hoola Hoop tool. Items from a selection of groups and components are placed downward in the blue direction onto the model by using this tool. Choose which objects you want to drop downward. There will be no overlapping of the selected objects during the drop. As soon as the objects reach the first portion of the model, they will land there. Objects that are selected are moved to a uniform height using the Set to Elevation tool.
To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.
For more information, visit: forums.sketchup.com
6. 3D Tree Maker
You can create 3D trees in just a few clicks and add them to your model. There are many tree and plant templates available for your choosing. You make grass and flower beds. With one configuration window, you can fully customize the tree according to your needs. If needed, you can switch from 3D trees to Skeleton proxies within SketchUp and switch back when the final render is required. New trees are generated at random. To re-use within other SketchUp models, save your parameters as a tree template.
To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.
For more information, visit: sketchucation.com
7. Artisan
Having good tools for modeling organic material is what makes Artisan such a powerful extension of SketchUp. Designers can create many different types of items such as terrain, furniture, characters, abstract sculptures, fabric, curtains, pillows, rocks, tree trunks, and plants.
To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.
For more information, visit: artisan4sketchup.com
