In Sketchup 2024, can Layout export to vector graphics formats?

LayOut
1

Finally about to purchase SU2024 to do technical writing illustrations. Machine parts etc, imported from SolidWorks.

I will create scenes with the 3d models, and need to have annotated 2d drawings in written documents. Looked at different softwares: Composer and Corel Technical Suite. Both can work with the 3d model and export a view as vector image

So my question: If I create a view in sketchup and bring into Layout, annotate it using callouts etc - can I then produce a vector file? (preferably SVG). Or will I still have to rely on screenshots as bitmaps ?

There does not seem to be many examples of that process.

2

LayOut can export .dxf and .dwg files. It has been able to do that for years.

3

also vector pdfs. if the viewports are in vector mode, then it’s 100% vectors.

can be reopened and edited in illustrator, affinity, and probably corel draw or any other vector software like that.

1 Like
4

Lay out can do that, actually a feature that we’ve bee requested for some years is the ability to export to dwg or dxf with both all the tag information from the viewports and the layers created in Layout converted into cad layers. That would be the pinnacle of sketchup/layout, it could help it to become on of the industry standards imho.

5

SO, I finally now have SU2024 + Layout2024.
Here are the results I have found. Others feel free to correct me if I need to learn.

In summary, it IS possible to get vector output. That’s the good part. Not quite as easy as I had hoped, unfortunately.

First you have to set document viewport in a menu to be vector (or hybrid, which seems to get better results), EVERY single time you make a transfer of a drawing. Did not find a place in Layout to make this default.

Second - using InkScape - there seems to be an issue with fonts not coming over. Should be possible to solve. The transfer of DXF did not really work very well, PDF seems to the be only viable option. And that works very well. Parts are not grouped in the output anymore, as in original drawing, that can also be accepted.

And once in InkScape, it is possible to make a copy / paste into Word for a very nice vector drawing.

My wishlist for “Layout”:

  • able to set vector default option
  • able top copy/paste and save SVG of entire doc/ page / selection. With line widths you can define.
  • able to save settings for line / fill style and color. It follows the template though.
6

You can keep your viewports as Raster and use the Output Override feature (Document Setup>Rendering) to switch to a vector-supporting format when exporting.

Until the arrival of quantum desktop computing, vector processing in LayOut will be very slow with all but quite small models. What I last did was about 120 000 faces and edges and that still works OK, but when the million mark gets near things will slow down.