Monday, March 3rd, 2025Posted by Jim ThackerTrimble releases SketchUp 2025.0html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"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 materialsSketchUp 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 SketchUps 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 integrationWorkflow improvements include quality-of-life updates to SketchUps 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 Sketchups Extension Warehouse to the current version of the software.SketchUps integration with Trimble Connect, Trimbles online collaboration platform, has also been strengthened with new native options to import, reload or save files to Trimble Connect.Architects get updates to SketchUps Revit importer, and IFC import and export.Updates to LayOut, but Style Builder discontinuedUsers 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 requirementsSketchUp 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 Trimbles blogRead a full list of new features in SketchUp 2025.0 in the online changelogHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Latest NewsTrimble releases SketchUp 2025.0Check out the new features in the architectural modeling app, also used in concept art, including HDRI lighting and PBR materials.Monday, March 3rd, 2025Tutorial: Dynamic Cloth Simulation for ProductionMaster character effects workflows for animation, cinematics and VFX with The Gnomon Workshop's detailed Houdini tutorial.Sunday, March 2nd, 2025Check out free Blender scattering add-on OpenScatterPromising open-source add-on lets you scatter plants and rocks in your scenes according to elevation, texture masks or guide curves.Sunday, March 2nd, 2025CETA Software launches Artist AccessCheck out the new time-tracking tools in the cloud-based production management platform for VFX. 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