This is the simplest and most intuitive of the three. It's used when you already have a full wireframe of the object you want to create a "skin" for. The Skinning tool automatically creates a surface bounded by three or four contiguous contours that you select.
Curviloft is built around three primary functions that transform basic lines into advanced 3D geometry:
Install via the Extensions > Extension Manager > Install Extension button in SketchUp.
Extrudes a profile shape along a specific guide path while smoothly adapting to intermediate profiles. curviloft plugin sketchup full
Curviloft is a dedicated suite of tools designed to generate surfaces from contours. Instead of manually stitching faces together, Curviloft automates the process by calculating the geometry between lines, curves, and profiles. Core Features
The plugin is divided into three primary tools that handle different surface generation needs:
The developer has continued to update the plugin to ensure compatibility with modern versions of SketchUp, and the latest version (2.0a) is fully compatible with SketchUp 2018 through 2025 and beyond. This is the simplest and most intuitive of the three
Curviloft operates on a model.
This is where , a legendary extension developed by Fredo6, becomes an absolute necessity for your workflow. Whether you are modeling tensile structures, complex roofs, ergonomic furniture, or terrain, Curviloft transforms SketchUp into a powerful organic modeler.
This tool functions like a supercharged "Follow Me." You select a rail (path) and one or two cross-section contours. Curviloft is built around three primary functions that
: The plugin provides various interpolation methods and allows for the addition of twists to create highly customized skins. Getting Started: Installation and Requirements
The plugin became an essential toolkit for architects and 3D artists by offering three powerful ways to "bridge the gap" between lines and curves: Loft by Spline
This tool works somewhat like the "Follow Me" tool on steroids. It allows you to define a path (or multiple paths) and a profile shape, but with much more control over how the profile rotates or scales along the path. This is indispensable for creating pipes, handrails that change diameter, or organic furniture legs.
Automatically generates well-organized quad-dominant meshes that are easy to clean, smooth, or export.