Experience a new level of professionalism with SketchUp 2024
The first image shows a scene in SketchUp of a modern cafe with people sitting down enjoying coffee. The second image is the same screen with Ambient Occlusion turned on.
Unlock more realistic visuals directly in SketchUp in the latest 2024 release. Now, you can elevate your models by adding depth in-app, and avoid switching between software for many of your conceptual visualization needs.
A new SketchUp Labs feature, Scan-to-Design [Labs], expedites your as-built modeling workflow directly on iPad. Leveraging Canvas' scanning and Apple’s RoomPlan technology, scan a space in SketchUp's iPad app. SketchUp converts that data into a 3D output so you can start designing immediately.
Along with streamlined in-house visualization, SketchUp 2024 includes performance upgrades to boost productivity, ranging from a new graphics engine to easier ways to share your ideas with stakeholders. All of these stunning visualization, collaboration, and performance features mark a remarkable year for SketchUp, inviting you to explore your creativity like never before.
Share SketchUp visuals with confidence
Add visual emphasis and perceived depth at model edges with a new global style setting called Ambient Occlusion. This new feature can be tailored to produce stylized visuals similar to clay or white models and is available on Desktop, iPad, and LayOut. The release of Ambient Occlusion represents one of SketchUp’s most significant visual enhancements to date and a major milestone on its development path for you to produce compelling visuals natively.
"Ambient Occlusion makes the core tool no longer look like just a "sketch.” Before, I needed to always consider rendering it in some other app before presenting my model. I no longer have to worry about that — 95% of what we need to convey is ready to go in SketchUp."
VDC Director, (Beta Tester)
Styles that complement your vision
We know you need unique visual style options that resonate with your client’s aesthetic preferences. Ambient Occlusion helps you find a visual balance between too simple and too realistic, allowing you to add aesthetic pops to your 3D model without promising material specifics. Build and save SketchUp Styles with your preferred Ambient Occlusion settings and share those customized styles with your project team so everyone can work with and see your vision.
"Ambient Occlusion is the single most exciting feature in recent years! I got no work done this afternoon playing with it. Most of my models are achromatic, so this makes them pop, particularly architectural interiors."
Joe Calvin, Lead Architect (Beta Tester)
Elevate your 2D documentation
In addition to color, materials, and other styling elements, SketchUp has added another tool to your belt to help you achieve greater depth and richness in your 2D drawings. LayOut supports Ambient Occlusion styles, allowing you to easily toggle them on and off when creating 2D drawings. When you turn on Ambient Occlusion in the SketchUp Scenes you use in LayOut, the visuals will automatically update throughout your LayOut file.
Advanced visualization workflows at your fingertips
SketchUp has enhanced the visual outputs and made complex rendering and animation processes more accessible than ever. Improved import and export functionality for USDZ and glTF files allows seamless transitions between SketchUp and other industry-standard tools. Use these files in real-time applications like NVIDIA Omniverse or Epic Games’ Twinmotion for rendered animations and advanced XR viewing experiences.
“SketchUp's improved USDZ interoperability demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the mission of AOUSD and the USD standard. As a participating AOUSD member, we believe we can unlock greater interoperability between industry tools and champion more robust 3D visualization and presentation workflows for our customers.”
Chris Cronin, Vice President, Architecture & Design and EDU
Upgrade to SketchUp 2024 to enjoy all the new features and improvements. If you don’t have SketchUp, you can still take all of it for a spin with our free trial. If you’re ready to purchase, explore our tailored subscription offerings.