Trimble releases SketchUp 2025.0
Trimble has released SketchUp 2025.0, the latest version of its architectural modeling software, also often used by concept artists to rough out hard-surface assets.
The release significantly increases the realism with which models can be previewed within the software, adding support for both HDR image-based lighting and PBR materials.
There are also updates to the modeling tools, extensions management, and pipeline integration, but the Style Builder app, included with Pro subscriptions, has been discontinued.
Support for image-based environment lighting and PBR materials
SketchUp 2025.0 increases the visual realism with which models can be previewed within SketchUp, adding a new Environments panel for viewing models in an HDRI environment.
The software ships with a set of readymade HDR images, which can be used as background environments and light sources, or users can import their own in HDR or EXR formats.
The update also introduces support for PBR materials, both in imported glTF and USD files, and from SketchUp’s own material libraries, which have been converted to PBR materials.
Older materials can be converted to PBR materials using an AI-based Generate Textures tool, which generates metalness, roughness, AO and normal maps from diffuse textures.
Updates to the modeling tools, extensions management, and pipeline integration
Workflow improvements include quality-of-life updates to SketchUp’s modeling toolset, with updates to the Rotate tool, Arc tools, Snaps, and Text tool.
Other changes include an automated reminder to purge unused assets when saving files, and a new Extension Migrator for updating add-ons from Sketchup’s Extension Warehouse to the current version of the software.
SketchUp’s integration with Trimble Connect, Trimble’s online collaboration platform, has also been strengthened with new native options to import, reload or save files to Trimble Connect.
Architects get updates to SketchUp’s Revit importer, and IFC import and export.
Updates to LayOut, but Style Builder discontinued
Users with Pro and Studio subscriptions also get updates to LayOut, the accompanying app for generating 2D documentation from 3D models.
The Move, Rotate and Scale tools have been updated to work more like the way they do in SketchUp itself, and the Join and Split tools now work on line segments as well as shapes.
LayOut can also now render the new PBR materials and HDRI environments in SketchUp models.
However, Style Builder, the app for generating hand-drawn line styles previously included with Pro subscriptions, has now been discontinued.
Price and system requirements
SketchUp 2025.0 is compatible with Windows 10+ and macOS 12.0+.
The software is available rental-only, with entry-level SketchUp Go subscriptions, which include the browser edition of the software and SketchUp for iPad, costing $119/year.
SketchUp Pro and SketchUp Studio, which also include the desktop edition and LayOut, now cost $349/year and $749/year.
There is also a free, feature-limited web-based edition of SketchUp, SketchUp Free.
Read an overview of the new features in SketchUp 2025.0 on Trimble’s blog
Read a full list of new features in SketchUp 2025.0 in the online changelog
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