Goodmorning All …I have been a very long term user of sketchup from the boulder days , now of course using sketchup pro for 3D and vectorworks for my 2D work .
Over the years I have dipped into layout hoping it might be useable for 2D but it had to many issues in the past and missing essentials such as variable line thicknesses etc …so I have continued with vectorworks solely as a 2D solution . The last time I really tried layout was around 2020 and now of course I have the pro 2024 version .
So the question I have to ask is the 2024 layout now suitable for creating 2D plan sets both elevations and floor plans ?….
As mentioned I would like to do this because then it would make the process of producing plans for planning approval more streamlined , but also I both design and build so I am only doing perhaps 4 projects or so a year and as I am getting older that no may reduce , and so saving maybe around £1600.00 a year on vectorworks when I only use it for 2D would make a lot of sense !.
So are any of you actually using sketchup for the full planning process of both modelling in 3D and producing 2D plan sets for planning ? And if so are there any good resources for the more advanced use of layout …
Many thanks in advance James
Depends on who answers 
I’ve been using Layout exclusively for planning applications, building regulation approvals and construction documentation for over a decade.
My work is small scale domestic – for me Layout has always been suitable.
Agreed.
Layout is a proven system for production construction documentation. However, one has to depart from the need to have traditional CAD drafting solutions. One has to embrace the workflow and solutions that Layout has developed to accomplish amazing 2D drawings.
I have been producing Construction//Production//Engineering drawings for production level woodworking in Sketchup and Layout for 5 years. Will never go back to any 2D drafting software. The costs are prohibitive both for running two apps and the slow down in my workflow.
Books by Nick Sonder and Mike Brightman – there are others but those two spring to mind because they were very influential on my workflow.
One of Nick’s books (maybe both) have sample templates for a SketchUp to Layout workflow.
Mike has his ConDoc plugin that automates a SketchUp to Layout workflow.
Nick did some videos a long time ago but Mike has recent YouTube content that showcases Layout workflow.
Thanks yes nick sonder I used to follow and I believe I have nicks book …I suppose I was hoping for something a bit more current as hopefully layout has progressed !..so will have a look at mikes ….
A shame really that vectorworks dosnt do a stripped down version for just 2D on its subscription model instead of buying the huge package …
Thanks Paul …that’s good to know you have been using layout for something similar to what I need my projects are small scale domestic contemporary conversions or new build , which sound similar to you ….
The basic workflow that Nick and Mike outline hasn’t really changed that much at least for me.
Depending on who you ask Layout has improved a lot, a little or not at all!
There has been some improved functionality over the years.
But one of the most significant in terms of performance is Draft Mode and an experimental graphics engine that you can have on or off.
I am still not used to using LO because my SUP workflow works much faster in combination with a word template, so my colleagues can further edit the document without needing additional LO/SUP licenses.
But yes, both LO and SUP can be used for 2D/3D drawings if set/modelled correctly.
I do quite a lot of work in 2D but, unlike @PaulMcAlenan, I do most of the work in SU and then use LO for presentation purposes. I find working directly in LO too clunky. But also, I frequently want to add a 3D models of the whole or part at some stage and you can’t do that in LO.
One small downside to working in 2D in SU is that you have to make sure you stay on plane. One way of doing that is to start with a flat plane (make a big rectangle larger than your plan). Then draw on that. And make sure you keep creating Groups or Components as you go to ensure you don’t end up with everything sticking together!
Can you elaborate on this please?
Edit: don’t worry - I’ve re-read your post and understand now 
Thankyou however when working in sketchup I don’t believe line thickness can be controlled …? and that would be one of the reasons for me trying to use LO for 2D …
I don’t know what Simon’s workflow is.
Profiles – “line thickness” – in SketchUp is pixel based and when imported into Layout the profile value becomes a multiplier for the line weight in Layout.
So if your profile value is 1, then in Layout, say your line weight is 0.5pt, the resulting line weight is 1 x 0.5pt.
If your profile value is 2 then in Layout that default line weight of 0.5pt becomes 1pt.
Same for section cut profiles – if the profile is 1 and the section cut is 3, then in Layout, a default line weight of 0.5pt results in 0.5pt for linework and 1.5pt for section cuts.
I have a SketchUp style that has profiles at 14 and section cuts at 20 so that in Layout with a default line weight of 0.05pt I get 0.7pt for linework and 1.0pt for section cuts which equates to 0.25mm and 0.35mm.
There’s also tag override in Layout where you can set the point value for lines based on SketchUp tags.
Thankyou Paul …I tended to always adjust line weights at the vectorworks stage for planning output but with all the helpful suggestions…over the Christmas period I will give LO in combination with sketchup some serious time …as the current project is 3 contemporary houses indoor swimming pool within a large farm building …and it really is time I broke away from the sketchup/ vectorworks system and went all in sketchup !..
I really wish LayOut worked more like SketchUp, in terms of drawing. Having move, rotate, scale, etc. tools would make the workflow more accurate and faster. Yes the scaled drawings have gotten a lot better and the latest control with inference has made it a lot better, but it is still much faster to draw a 2D plan in SketchUp and then explode it in LayOut, depending on how complex it is.
I do like Brightman Design’s method of 2D plans in LayOut and plan on using that more in the future. Especially for design iterations in earlier phases of design. Currently, we make simple models of the exterior for schematic design and draw the floor plans on the iPad. Once we have the design more figured out we move into Design Development and go fully in SketchUp.
I don’t know about faster – perhaps we should have a race
But I’d sooner draw 2D in Layout than in SketchUp.
Q: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Only one, but the light bulb has to want to change.
I would say yes, if you really want to badly enough. There are certainly people here who have made it work for them, but as you see the reactions are all over the map. I am getting more and more output from LO, but really don’t like drawing in it, so I do as much as I can in SU and as little as possible in LO. It’s highly personal, so only you can figure out whether you can make it work for your needs and tastes, and how motivated you are. £1600.00 a year is a fair amount of motivation.
Been wishing / asking for this forever… I get along, but I would do more detailing in LO if the tools worked like SKP. Its like the dev teams played telephone somehow with the first person on the SKP team and the last person on the LO team and by the time the message got through it went from fun and intuitive to use to… UGH.
You’re on!!! That said, it did end up taking me longer with all the back-and-forth changes with some things being not tagged correctly and the model unlinking, and I didn’t notice for a bit, which caused more time. All of this would be noticeable if I went straight into LayOut.
Thanks again Paul so it is interesting how some people seem to draw there 2D elements and create there line widths ect in sketchup before exporting to LO… But how do you work do you model in skechup and then export to LO and adjust line widths ect there …
As mentioned i have been mainly using sketchup for modeling then sending to photoshop if i want to prettty up the model for presentation . So have not needed to worry about any 2D elements i may need further down the line hence all the questions !.
My current project in sketchup i have not worried about line work etc just the overall concept but i have layered the design up so each element is on its own layer or group so do you think it would be prudent to put say the groundfloor layer in LO and adjust for 2D there so adjust my line widths there or should i work back on the model and do that in skechup prior to exporting to LO.?
Many thanks in advance …
Group your linework in SketchUp based on your lineweights. Then tag each thing by lineweight. Then a have a scene for each tag.
In LayOut, you have a viewport for each scene overlaid on each other and set each one to the lineweight you want.
The nice thing about this way, is you can keep editing and drawing without worrying what lineweight you have as long as you are drawing in the correct group with the correct tag.