SketchUp 2017 is out! So here's everything new in it

It’s the time of year again and the latest release of SketchUp has arrived on the scene!

Since joining Trimble, this is SketchUp’s fifth major desktop update, and a lot of major updates have been added to the software along the way.

What’s New in SketchUp 2017?

Graphics Pipeline 2.0

Major improvements have been made to SketchUp’s graphics pipeline, allowing for a smoother graphical performance within the software. This also means that SketchUp, 3D Warehouse, LayOut, my.SketchUp and Trimble Connect all render models using the same algorithms – all tuned for refined 3D orbiting.

Re-Written .DWG

Previously, a 10-page LayOut file would export as 10 separate .DWGs. Now you’ll get just one .DWG with ten separate tabs for each page.

In the past, LayOut entities such as dimensions, clipping masks, and labels would explode into raw geometry upon export. Now, they’ll import smartly into AutoCAD and behave just as expected.

LayOut exports are now smart enough to self-scale for paper size or model space. Drawing entities such as labels and polygons scale to paper size and model linework scales to model space.

The highly requested ‘Colour-by-Layer’ option to CAD exports as been added, so all entities on a given layer may export as one colour. By default, black line-work exports so that it renders as black on a white background and white on a black background.