Trimble SketchUp

Software Overview

Trimble SketchUp is a 3D modeling program utilized in architecture, interior design, film, urban planning, video game design, and mechanical engineering industries. It supports a wide range of 3D and 2D formats, provides many advanced tools, and allows you to access thousands of professionally pre-designed models from its 3D Warehouse.

SketchUp supports many 3D formats, including its default .SKP document type, .IFC, .DWG, .DXF, .STL, .DAE, and .3DS. It features an intuitive interface and provides access to many advanced modeling tools without overwhelming newer users (like other top-end 3D applications). When starting your design, you can begin from scratch or one of the thousands of pre-designed models in SketchUp's 3D Warehouse.

Beyond modeling, SketchUp provides many other features to help with your workflow. For example, you can create detailed tabular reports based on the metadata stored in your models and run area and volume calculations of individual or groups of surfaces and models. Finally, when you are ready to present your designs, you can provide a virtual reality (VR) walk-through to viewers via Microsoft HoloLens, Oculus, or HTC Vive on a phone or tablet.

Summary

SketchUp is a capable 3D application for a wide range of modeling needs — from architecture to video game design. In addition, the software supports many 3D formats, provides a wide array of tools, and is much more affordable than other top-end 3D programs. These factors and more make Trimble SketchUp a great 3D modeling option.

Primary File Type

.SKPSketchUp Document

Supported File Types

Additional Related File Types