Convert SketchUp to PDF | Display and Share 3D Creations

Share SketchUp files as 3D PDFs for efficient and collaborative work across industries. Automate workflows and create batch translations with FME.

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Share Your SketchUp Model with Anyone

Using the PDF format, send and share 3D PDFs with anyone and allow them to interactively view 3D SketchUp models, even if they don’t have SketchUp software. Using FME, you can integrate data from sources outside of the SketchUp format into your translation, and even customize the appearance of your model as you write it into a 3D PDF format.

Customize The Appearance of Your Model

With FME, you can use transformers like the AppearanceExtractor and the AppearanceSetter to change the appearance of objects to highlight important aspects of your model. Adjust transparency, object shininess, and colour objects for display. Group appearances by conditional statements like ‘buildings taller than 40m are dark blue’ to add another layer of information to your model.

Learn How to Style Appearances in FME

Interact With SketchUp Models

With 3D PDF, you can rotate the geometric representation, turn on and off layers, select features related in the PDF’s Model Tree, and adjust the lighting for viewing from different perspectives. Writing your SketchUp model to 3D PDF also allows you to annotate your model to share comments on specific objects.

Learn How Stadt Augsburg is Using 3D PDF

Preserve SketchUp File Structure

With FME, maintain the original SketchUp file structure by extracting the layer names from traits on the Faces and writing the feature types based on the SketchUp layer name. This means that you can toggle the original layers on and off and view the model in 3D PDF as it was originally designed in SketchUp.

Learn How to Create a 3D PDF from SketchUp

Automate Your Workflow

Save time on exporting individual 2D scenes to PDF by writing the entire geometric model to a 3D PDF, with the ability to create batch translations to convert all your models at once. Using FME server, automate your workflow by scheduling jobs and delivering your data to where it’s needed as it comes in.

Learn What You Can Do With FME Server

Common Conversions

FME lets you integrate many applications and file formats. Here are some of the ways our users convert Trimble SketchUp and 3D PDF.

Shapefile (SHP)

3D PDF

Bentley MicroStation (V8 DGN)

3D PDF

Autodesk AutoCAD (DWG)

3D PDF

Tagged Image File Format (TIFF)

3D PDF

About

Trimble SketchUp

SketchUp is 3D modelling software used by a range of industries including architecture and engineering.

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3D PDF

PDF files are universally accessible through the freely available Acrobat Reader. It provides a means of sharing files with others who don't have the application they were created in.

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FME

FME is the data integration platform with the best support for spatial data. Save time by using its drag-and-drop interface to connect data from hundreds of formats and applications, transform data in limitless ways, and automate virtually any data workflow.

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