SketchUp for Design
Tutorials, News, Book Companion Materials
Tutorials and News
Latest Posts
Free, Private, & (Potentially) Fast: Using Local AI (LLM) Models inside SketchUp
SketchUp AI Explorer version 3.3 now supports local LLMs via software like LM Studio, allowing you to run AI models directly on your hardware. This free, private approach avoids token costs and supports models like Gemma or DeepSeek. Learn how to set up your local server and configure the extension for a powerful, custom AI experience.
SketchUp 2026.2 Introduces New Analysis Possibilities
SketchUp 2026.2 introduces the powerful new Analysis Hub, bringing environmental design tools like Advanced Shadows and daylighting analysis directly into your modeling workflow. This update also marks the official launch of the new LayOut graphics engine and adds versatile Group Clipping Masks. With performance enhancements and streamlined extension migration, this release significantly boosts architectural design efficiency.
Interested in Mass Timber Buildings, Construction, and Related Topics?
As you may know, in addition to my SketchUp book, I am the lead author on the book “Fundamentals of Residential Construction” (now in its fifth edition) as well as the co-author of the recently published book “Mass Timber: Materials, Design, and Construction“. Both books are published by John Wiley & Sons and are available […]
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Getting the Calculations Correct for a Perfectly-Balanced Mobile
As I discuss in Chapter 6, you can create a mobile in SketchUp and design it in the software so that – when 3D printed or otherwise fabricated – this mobile hangs perfectly in the balance. This process works for all planar designs, independent of how many levels such a mobile may have. In this post, I’ll show you how to run the calculations for the mobile so that its equilibrium is assured.
AI Rendering with SketchUp’s Built-In (v. 2026.1) AI Render Tool
Now that version 2026.1 of SketchUp is rolling out, we are getting a clearer picture of where SketchUp’s AI implementation is heading. As you likely know, the SketchUp folks had previously released SketchUp Diffusion, a rendering and visualization solution. At the last Basecamp, they then also teased their AI Assistant, which was implemented as a […]
PBR Materials Cheat Sheet (for SketchUp 2025)
SketchUp 2025 introduced a new graphics system for materials: PBR (physically-based rendering) photoreal materials. As you can see in the image above, you can now have shiny, glossy, dimpled, and otherwise textured materials right in SketchUp’s model area. You can then use that new appearance while modeling or when you export images or animations. As […]