SketchUp Pro 2020.1: Everything You Need To Know
Based on valuable user feedback, SketchUp has improved some of the features that will keep your workflow going smoothly!
Freshening up SketchUp Pro
Scenes Panel:
Now since you had some time to enjoy better toggling visibility with hidden geometry & objects, this feature just got even better.
SketchUp has now split up the Hidden Geometry & Hidden Objects so that you can select and save them separately on a Scene-by-Scene basis.
Play around with the new checkbox in the Scenes panel, save the visibility state of hidden objects, and not just hidden geometry, which gives you better visibility control per Scene.
Section Planes & Scenes:
In this updated version of SketchUp, you can start saving Section Plane visibility in every Scene. Since Section Planes are grouped with objects, we want to make sure they behave like objects.
What’s the value here?
Before this change, only top-level visibility could be saved per Scene. Once again, SketchUp gives you more control in your Scenes — and consistency across the functionality.
Hidden objects are now editable.
Editing invisible things might sound like a superpower, but it’s just a great new feature in SketchUp Pro. When you select a hidden object in Outliner, it will now appear as a mesh. It means that you can make more precise edits to hidden objects with ease.
Check out this Quick Win to see how it’s done.
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Side note: Did you notice how much faster it is to work in SketchUp when Outliner is open?
SketchUp 2020.1 includes a few performance improvements to speed up your workflow that we think you’ll like.
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Improvements to Grips:
You can now cycle through ALL the Grips of an object when using the Rotate tool, just like the Move tool!
This offers a more instinctive modeling experience while switching in between the tools.
Check out this Quick Win from our 2020 release to help you understand Grips.
Empty object:
Picture this: you're working on a new table design & quickly model a lamp to make it look more realistic — but oops! — you did it way too fast and forgot to group your lamp and table separately. Then everything is glued together, creating editing reworks and wasted time.
The solution?
Create a grouped object or component by right-clicking on an empty space. No need to triple-click to select and then group, or draw it elsewhere just to place it where you want it.
Pro tip: you can also use the 'G' shortcut to create a new component and speed up your workflow. (Shortcut win!)
Last added bonus!
When you create a new component from scratch, a window will immediately pop up allowing you to name it.
Say hello to a better model organization.
Check out this Skill Builder to see how to use this feature in your workflow.
Performance improvements in LayOut:
This SketchUp release is focused on improving the LayOut’s deletion and selection capabilities.
Conclusion: They’re much faster now!
Improved Select Tool:
Make intentional — not accidental — moves with your crossing and window-selection workflows. When you click-drag to create a crossing or window selection, you won’t mistakenly move anything.
If you’ve encountered this, you know what we’re talking about… and you’re welcome!
If you’re thinking, “How do I move an object now?” — just pre-select an entity & move from there.
Selections & moves now occur when clicking on the actual object, instead of the object's bounding box, strengthening that intentional workflow.
Download the new version, play around with the latest improvements, and let us know what you think. As always, we are listening, responding, and getting great ideas for new updates.
See you on the Axis!
All of the 2020.1 features are available to Classic license users with active Maintenance & Support, and active SketchUp Pro and SketchUp Studio subscription users.
Upgrade today to start using new features!