SketchUp Plugin Videos

Once you have learned the basics of SketchUp, the next stop is SketchUp plugin tutorials. Extensions take up a huge part of the SketchUp world. The main reason is that they save you serious time. Many jobs that take ages with the basic commands are done in a few clicks with an extension.

Think of extensions as a helper robot that speeds up your work. In this playlist we explained the extensions we use most, one by one. Below we grouped the videos by type of task and suggested an order to follow.

Learning order for the SketchUp plugin tutorials

The list has no strict order. Each extension has its own use and structure. So the list jumps around. What you need to do is figure out which extension you need for which job, and install it accordingly. (The video is in Turkish; this guide walks through the key steps in English.)

Still, here is a general path. Watch the installation videos first. Then move on to the tools you use often in everyday modeling. Open the specialist extensions for terrain, organic forms and texturing as you need them.

SketchUp plugin tutorials: installation and management

The first videos in the list are about installing extensions. Videos on installing extensions, installing free extensions and installing from the Extension Warehouse are in this group. There is also an installation video we made for older versions. When your extensions pile up, the LaunchUp walkthrough helps you tidy up your toolbars.

If you also want to see the installation steps in writing, see our extension installation guide.

Terrain, landscape and environment extensions

In exterior projects, building the terrain and the surroundings takes the most time. The videos in this group target exactly that job:

• Placing a building on sloped terrain (two parts) and quick terrain modeling.
• Adding roads and edges to terrain with Smart Drape and add terrain skirt.
• Scattering plants and objects with Skatter (three videos).
• An ivy extension and automatic ground creation.

Extensions for architectural elements

Drawing elements such as walls, roofs and ramps by hand takes a long time. That is why the list includes walkthroughs of Make Wall, Dibac and Profile Builder. Two roof-building videos, ramp modeling and awning modeling are in this group too. A video on parametric organic wall design is also on the list. Copy Along Path and PipeAlongPath make it easy to distribute objects along a path.

Organic modeling and texturing extensions

The list has a wide selection for curved and soft forms. Artisan, TTvertex, Subdivide and Smooth and Sculpt Tools are some of them. Curviloft, Joint Push Pull and Round Corner are in this group too. For example, our Artisan lesson is an introduction to organic modeling.

On the texturing side, SketchUV and the UV extension stand out. Watch the videos on texturing complex and sloped surfaces together with these extensions. Unfolding box designs onto a flat surface with the Unfold extension is another interesting topic on the list.

Where should you download extensions?

I shared the descriptions and uses of these extensions earlier in the 2017 extension list on my personal site. You can get the extensions from the download link on that page and install them in SketchUp by following the video. When we first wrote this post, we recommended SketchUp 2017 and 2018. The extensions worked the same way in those two versions.

Today, if you use a current version, always check the extension’s version compatibility. The safest source is the official extension store, the Extension Warehouse. If an old extension throws an error in a new version, look for the developer’s current release.

What to watch for when following the SketchUp plugin tutorials

The most common mistake with extension videos is installing every extension at once. Instead, pick one extension, watch its video and try it on a small test model. Then move on to your real project. Also keep a list of the extensions you install. That way, when you move to a new SketchUp version, you know what you need to reinstall.

About paid extensions

Some extensions are paid. But some of them are truly worth it. We covered these extensions in our video list too. First repeat the steps in the video with the trial version, then decide based on your needs.

Besides the SketchUp plugin tutorials, take a look at our extension tutorial series, where we cover extensions topic by topic.

Frequently asked questions

What level are the SketchUp plugin tutorials for?

Anyone who knows the basic commands can follow these videos easily. If you are just starting out, get to know the program with the basic lessons first.

Do I need to install every extension?

No, install only the ones that help your work. Too many extensions slow down SketchUp’s startup and clutter the interface.

Do the extensions in the older videos still work?

Many of them have been updated and are still around. Before installing, check version compatibility on the extension’s page.