Photo: Ron Lach

What version of SketchUp do I need for woodworking?

Quick Summary. Our recommendation for woodworkers is that you use the SketchUp Pro version, even if you start with the free trial.

sketchupforwoodworkers.com - Which Version of SketchUp Should Woodworkers Use

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June 28, 2022 Note: Up until recently, SketchUp offered an older full-featured desktop application SketchUp Make 2017. But it has been discontinued. Our recommendation has been updated to reflect that. In the last couple years, the entry point for learning SketchUp has gotten more confusing because there’s been several new versions of SketchUp to come out. Before you can start learning the basics of the software, you first need to choose a version.

Quick Summary

Our recommendation for woodworkers is that you use the SketchUp Pro version, even if you start with the free trial. Let’s start with the biggest differences between the available versions: SketchUp Pro is a full-featured desktop applications that you install on your computer. SketchUp Free and SketchUp Go are both web-bound tools that you run in the cloud. The second important note is cost. SketchUp Free is freely available, whereas SketchUp Pro ($299/year) and SketchUp Go ($119/yr) are a yearly subscription.

Web shortcomings

I find that the web-based versions (both Free and Shop) have some shortcomings that woodworkers are likely to bump up against when designing their woodworking projects. Navigating is more cumbersome in SketchUp for web. The online version contains all the essential tools, but their grouping hides many of them and makes it more diffucult to find and slower to select. SketchUp Free also hides the outliner, a tool which I find essential to navigating, identifying, and selecting components. An omission which is more painful as the complexity of your models grow. Web-based versions also lack the benefit of plugins. We teach you to install and use the Cutlist plugin in our SketchUp For Woodworkers Intro course. But there are many other great plugins that are commonly used by woodworkers to add additional functionality like drawing compound curves and rounding corners in your pieces. Custom textures and materials aren’t allowed in web-based versions. You’re very limited to the materials that SketchUp offers.

Recommended SketchUp version for woodworkers

Our Recommendation: SketchUp Pro Free Trial

The limitations on the web-based versions are likely to catch up to any woodworker that uses SketchUp frequently to design their projects. SketchUp Pro will give you access to regular updates and support, access to features like plugins and materials, as well as additional programs like LayOut for professional plan drawings. SketchUp Pro also gives you access to the in-browser tool (equivalent to SketchUp Shop) in addition to the desktop application, which can be convenient for making small edits to your design if you’re away from your primary computer or on the run. If you haven’t yet invested in SketchUp Pro, they offer a 30-day free trial which you can take advantage of.

A Note for Course Takers

We use the paid version SketchUp Pro for the recordings in this course. For that reason, it will be easiest to follow if you’re also using Pro (even if it's the free trial).

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Is Fusion 360 easier to learn than Blender?

irendering.net - Blender and Fusion 360: The Differences in 2022 | - iRender

Each software will have a different user interface. You can, however, master tasks fast. If you want to be a 3D artist, you should devote time to learning Blender, Fusion 360, or both.

Blender

Blender includes a lot of tools and features, which might make the user interface confusing. Through your navigation, the screen will present a variety of vistas. So a screen of 2560 x 1440 will be sufficient for using Blender activities. Once you’ve mastered the navigation, it can take some time to grasp all the keyboard shortcuts. Example: By default pressing, ‘A’ on the keyboard will select everything displayed in the 3D View, while ‘H’ will hide all selected content. Blender also allows users to customize all keyboard and mouse shortcuts to their liking.

Fusion 360

Fusion 360 is easier to use than Blender and has a less complex user interface. It employs the CAD-style ribbon interface, with big drop-down menus containing 90% of all the tools you’ll ever need for 3D modeling. The toolbar is also totally customizable, and Fusion 360 includes an innovative fast menu called the Marking menu that is accessible from the mouse.

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