In our final series with Paul, he’ll be discussing his most used extensions that take his design work in SketchUp to the next level. Paul will talk through specific plug ins for creating geometry – some free, some paid and the ones that are most beneficial in using SketchUp for landscape architecture.
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Paul Hensey is an experienced and award-winning garden designer, in practice for over 20 years. Originally trained in Industrial Design, he previously worked as a senior designer for one of the largest building materials manufacturers in the world. Paul undertakes landscape engineering for many landscape architects, garden designers and architects; advising and supporting them on all aspects of construction as well realising their visions. As a SketchUp evangelist he has also taught SketchUp for over 9 years at Colleges, Universities and professional institutes.
Accompanying Notes:
There are two locations to access Extensions from:
1. Extension warehouse, from inside SketchUp
2. www.sketchucation.com; visit the resources page and download the Plugin Store Download
The use of extensions is covered extensively by many people. It is not always obvious if an extension is useful in helping design something but if you can apply the principles being shown there its usually possible to make a connection to your own workflow and requirements and always satisfying when you can make it work.
Some Youtube resources:
SketchUp channel: The live broadcasts, shorter Skill Builder series and Extensions demonstrations will give insights into how to use extensions and create specific geometry.
TutorialsUp: Whilst there is no voice over, the elegance of these videos is that they rely on communicating actions and work flow through the sequence of using plugins.
SketchUpEssentials: a channel dedicated to all things SketchUp, most plugins are covered and you can vote on the ones that you would like to see.
Don’t forget to search the archive videos of these You Tuber’s to see if what you want has already been covered.
1. Convert to construction line by Daiku/ Extension warehouse/ free
Converts lines to construction lines that are not infinite, useful for marking centres of circles etc.
2. Extrude line – part of the JHS Power Bar/ SketchUcation/ free
For when you need to create an extruded plane but not 3D geometry. Useful for creating drawing planes or surfaces that can cut others
3. Add centre/ control points -– part of the JHS Power Bar/ SketchUcation/ free
This adds points to a surface, useful when used in conjunction with the next plugin
4. Add components at points – part of the JHS Power Bar/ SketchUcation/ free
Select the points and a plant component and hit this icon, it copies a plant to the point. A simple way to add plants over a large area
5. Random scale & rotate – part of the JHS Power Bar/ SketchUcation/ free
This will take a component (eg plant) or collection of components and randomly scale and rotate them. Gives planting a natural feeling
6. Mirror – part of the JHS Power Bar/ SketchUcation/ free
7. Line to tube – part of the JHS Power Bar/ SketchUcation/ free
Useful for indicating metal rods, drains and pipes. You draw the path with lines and then convert to pipes
8. Solar North (SketchUp)– Extension warehouse/ free
Alters the default North orientation in SketchUp without moving the model off axis
9. Material resizer (SketchUp)– Extension warehouse/ free
Allows for textures that are high resolution to be reduced in file size so that they do nt cause problem/ reduce processing speeds
10. Purge by TIG – Extension warehouse/ free
Removes hidden/ unwanted layers, materials, objects which can bloat your model
11. Instant roof by 1001 bit – Extension warehouse/ free
Creates complex hipped roofs based on the house footprint
12. Instant steps by 1001 bit – Extension warehouse/ free
A tool to create instant runs of steps
13. Soap Skin Bubble – Extension warehouse/ free
Creates raised/ domed mounds. Useful for patching in terrain between definite edges
14. Edge tools2 by Thom Thom – Extension warehouse/ free
A tool to clean up edges, remove stray lines and close tiny gaps in imported geometry
15. Instant fence by Chuck Vali – Extension warehouse/ $26/yr
Creates a large range of fence styles simply by creating a path over a surface
16. Face creator by Eneroth – Extension warehouse/ free
Will create faces between imported geometry/ lines if possible. Speeds up converting an imported survey into a 2D model the SketchUp can use