SketchUp 2021 has recently changed its branding. Since the acquisition by Trimble, the software has undergone a major facelift that began with the revolution of its logo.
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SketchUp 2021: Let’s find out what changed
In addition to the measures needed for the new software marketing and branding campaign, there were several innovations incorporated into the program. Let’s discuss what they are.
Label folders
Firstly, in SketchUp 2021 tags can be grouped into folders by controlling their visibility through so-called “visibility switches”. This makes the use of folders and levels more functional and accessible.
Label filter
Just as you can filter the “Outliner” panel by looking for objects that match a certain name, you can now also filter the tags panel by name. Simply type in the name to filter the panel to find only the tags you need.
When viewing a filtered set of tags, you can use ALT + click to select them all, so that they can be activated or change their script style, all in one step.
Upgrades via direct download
Once SketchUp 2021 is installed, future updates will take place within the program. This means that you will no longer have to go back to the website to download a separate installation file. The software will notify you when an upgrade is ready, at which point you can immediately download and install it without having to access the browser.
Among the other little tricks in SketchUp 2021, the pan and zoom with two fingers, which will make navigation in Layout a little easier.
On a trackpad, a two-finger swipe will now scroll the page, instead of zooming. Additionally, a two-finger pinch will zoom in. You can toggle between pan and zoom with a two-finger swipe by holding down the command modifier key. This new feature is not available on Windows.
Pre-design
A new web application is born predesign.sketchup.com, useful to evaluate weather conditions, such as weather and sun orientation depending on the position of your project, latitude and longitude variables, etc. This is a completely standalone web application, not directly integrated into SketchUp 2021, but integrable.
It is not even necessary to have a model of the building, as this information is based solely on the physical and geographic location of the project, providing average seasonal climate data that helps determine whether it is necessary to design primarily for the heating or cooling season.
It also suggests various types of glass that can be used and shading solutions for each building façade orientation, such as brise-soleil or bulkheads.
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