How to import SketchUp 2022 (SKP) files to Blender 3.0?
As part of any workflow related to architectural visualization using Blender, you eventually will have to import data to use either as a reference or develop new designs. The data could present itself in many formats in the architectural business, such as DWG (AutoCAD) or SKP (SketchUp). Both forms are not directly compatible with Blender, and we have to use additional software to work with them.
In the case of SketchUp, we have a free Add-on that lets us import SKP files to Blender! A significant problem with those Add-ons is that they often get outdated, leaving us with a working tool that can only handle old formats.
That is not the case with the SketchUp importer for Blender because we have an impressive record of updates for the Add-on.
A couple of weeks ago, we had a version change for both SketchUp and Blender, with the latest versions being:
- Blender 3.0
- SketchUp 2022
To keep up with the new versions, the guys from RedHaloStudio posted on their Github page and updated to the SKP importer that can handle SketchUp 2022 files and is compatible with Blender 3.0.
You can download the SketchUp 2022 (SKP) importer for Blender 3.0 here. The Add-on supports Blender up to version 3.2, which is currently in alpha.
Download and install the Add-on by going to the Edit → Preferences menu in Blender. At the Add-ons tab, use the Install button and locate the Add-on file. Enable the Add-on, and it will include an option to import SKP files in your File → Import menu in Blender.
Does it work? Sure! Let me show you an example of it working using a model from the 3D Warehouse. I will use this particular model.
If you want to maximize data compatibility, I always recommend going with an older version of your SKP files, but for this particular test, I downloaded the SketchUp 2022 file.
After downloading the file, go to Blender and use your SKP importer option from the File menu. Here is the project in Blender.
For larger projects, it may display errors or bugs, but in most cases, you will be able to import SketchUp 2022 files to Blender with no bigger issues. This is a must-have Add-on for anyone working with Blender to create an architectural visualization.
What if you have access to SketchUp Pro 2022? In that case, you can export any file in OBJ format to import that to Blender.
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Comments
Thomas
Works grate but there is a bug with instances.
If you have several with the same name it makes copies of the first. Would be practical only SketchUp makes instances like “OuterShell” and “Difference” when using solid tools. You have to manually remove the instance names now in outliner. Other then that its perfect so fare.
Jennifer
Is there an add-on version for mac?
Atzepe
Did you found a Mac version ?
michael
Its good, but if there are multiple materials on one object, and some of those materials don’t have a texture, the uv’s don’t get imported.
cytester
hmm blender tells me its installed but it doesnt appear in the list not after refresh nor restart so i cant activate it
matt
Does this work on mac? I installed but can’t click enable. using this Sketchup Importer 0.23.0 Latest/ Support Blender 3.2/Support Sketchup 2022
With Blender 3.2.0
Celsino
Hi there, any news on a addon fo mac users? At this point i am willing to pay someone to pay for this! I know it has been done on a earlier versions it should be hard to do for a newer version! Sketchup to blender is my work flow and now that i have mac os i am stuck with this! Of someone could help me i can pay. Also i see more people are insterested. Please contact me at Celsinoandrade@hotmail.com thank you
melo
there’s no mac version, im looking for
Peter Kirkham
One of the issues with the import script is that the outliner structure is not preserved. Using the SketchUp API and Blender python I was able to rewrite the import script so that the outliner is now preserved. Groups and components are recognised and the components are labelled “G-” and “C-” respectively so it is clear whether they were originally a group or a component in SketchUp. Empty groups are imported as empties that are not shown in the viewport, but you can click on the eye icon to enable show the empty which you can then grab/rotate etc. to manipulate the group.
As this is the first time I’ve modified the source code in an open source project, I’m not sure how best to issue a pull request. Therefore I’ve uploaded the changed file to my blog at http://pkirkham.github.io/blog/importing-from-sketchup-into-blender/
This page includes a download link to the “__init__.py” file, and instructions on where to replace it in the SketchUp to Blender importer from this page.
For those looking for a Mac importer, please note that the add-in works by leveraging the SketchUp API through Blender’s python functionality. This API is made available by Trimble at https://extensions.sketchup.com/sketchup-sdk. As I don’t have a Mac, it’s not possible to test, but presumably you could just substitute the Windows API in the importer with the Mac version — it’s probably a little more involved than that. However, the point is that the core of the importer, being the python script, doesn’t care whether the API is for Windows or Mac. The same code will work.
The revised import script has been tested on large SketchUp files over 300 MB in size which are models of industrial plants. There are some quirks where nested groups with lots of transformations may not import properly, but an easy workaround is to explode and re-group the problematic groups (usually).
If you need to preserve outliner structure between SketchUp and Blender, do give the revised script a try.
reyem
So for all waiting for a mac version. I built that on my Intel Mac and packaged it to a release on github. Please find it here:
https://github.com/reyem/Sketchup_Importer/releases/tag/v0.23.0
No warranty, support etc. 😉
Marco Meyer
Here a mac version built on my Intel Mac
https://github.com/reyem/Sketchup_Importer/releases/tag/v0.23.0
Andrew
I’m looking forward to support for v3.3 😉
yan
Hi! Have many updates about MacOS Ventura? TKS
Kelly
Is it possible to make one for ARM based macs and the newest system update?
ottovds
Still having trouble with blender for mac m1 here the error Traceback (most recent call last)
File “/Applications/Blender.app/Contents/Resources/3.5/scripts/modules/addon_utils.py”, line 333, in enable
mod=
_import_ (module name)
File “/Users/otto/Librarv/Application Support/Blender/3.5/scripts/addons/sketchup importer/init pv”,line 34, in
from . import sketchun
ImportError: dopen(/Users/otto/Libra
importer/sketchuo so. 0x0002)
x86
ottovds
I found a workaround: installing blender x64 asside and run it in Rosetta. It installed, to then immediately find it doesn’t do anything. Import dialog comes. But file doesn’t load.
ottovds
here the error report: Python: Traceback (most recent call last):
File “/Users/otto/Library/Application Support/Blender/3.2/scripts/addons/sketchup_importer/__init_py”, line 885, in execute
return Scenelmporter().set_filename(keywords[“filepath’]).load(
File “/Users/otto/Library/Application Support/Blender/3.2/scripts/addons/sketchup _importer/_init_-py”, line 171, in load
self.write materials(self.skp model.materials)
File “/Users/otto/Library/Application Support/Blender/3.2/scripts/addons/sketchup importer/init py”, line 327, in write materials
tex.write(tmp name)
File “sketchup.pyx”, line 330, in sketchup.Texture.write
File “sketchup.pyx”, line 62, in sketchup.check_result
RuntimeError: Sketchup library giving unexpected results SU ERROR SERIALIZATION
Abdullah
I have the addon to import Sketchup file to blender but I’m wondering how to update the file in blender after making some changes in the design in SketchUp to blender again with out having to import the file back again from the beginning?