Hi everyone,
I’m excited to share a tool I’ve been developing at Febhouse called Sun Diagram.
As an architect, I’ve always found manual shadow studies, UTC time zone conversions, and exporting repetitive sun positions to be a bottleneck in the design process. I built this extension to automate those exact workflows, making sunlight analysis visually clear, accurate, and ready for client presentations in just a few clicks.
Sun Diagram is an extension for creating 3D sun paths and analyzing sunlight in architectural projects.
The plugin has 04 core features.
Generate a 3D Sunpath by entering your project’s location
Choose input methods:
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Option A – From Model: Use the coordinates already embedded in your SketchUp model (via File → Add Location).
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Option B – Manual Input: Enter latitude and longitude directly. Coordinates can be copied from Google Maps (format example: 26.2649, -81.6255).
Smart DST Engine : Enable Daylight Saving Time (DST) for highly accurate solar analysis in regions with seasonal time changes (Premium Feature).
Simulate shadows and sun positions instantly with our real-time interactive UI:
- Real-Time Sliders: Check your desired months and drag the time slider to update shadows instantly—no guessing or clicking ‘Apply’.
- Custom Dates: Select any specific day of the month (1-31) for pinpoint accuracy, or stick to the standard Solstices and Equinoxes.
- On-Screen Info (HUD): Display real-time solar data (Location, Date, Time, UTC) directly in your viewport.
Automate your workflow and prevent UTC errors with built-in Daylight Saving Time (DST) support.
- Batch Export Shadows (Feature 3):
Export shadow sequences with a single click to create stunning time-lapse animations.
- Automated Workflow: Select your time ranges, and let the system generate all images automatically based on your Shadow Analysis settings.
- Multiple Resolutions: Export in standard Landscape (FullHD, 2K, 4K) or Vertical formats (9:16) perfectly sized for social media (Reels, TikTok, Shorts).
- HUD Control: Choose to include or remove the On-Screen Info watermark from your final exported frames.
- Presentation Ready: Combine exported images into a video (CapCut, Premiere, After Effects) or merge into a PDF to help clients instantly understand your lighting design.
Find the perfect visual style for your project — instantly, with just one click.
- One-Click Activation: Load a style to automatically adjust SketchUp graphics, edge settings, and Sun Path layers (tags).
- Premium Library: Unlock 09 professional diagram styles and 03 dynamic compass designs (Pro/Studio).
The Standard (Free) version includes 02 clean, beautiful styles that fit most basic presentation needs.
Availability & 14-Day Trial
Sun Diagram is available in a few different tiers depending on your needs:
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Free Version: Available directly on the SketchUp Extension Warehouse. Great for students or basic geo-location without DST support.
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Studio Version (New): Also on the Extension Warehouse. This includes all professional features with auto-updates. We recently added a 14-day free trial so you can test the full functionality on your current projects before committing.
Links & Resources:
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Website & Documentation: sundiagram.com
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2-Minute Workflow Demo: Watch on YouTube
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Download on Extension Warehouse:
- Sun Diagram: SketchUp Extension Warehouse
- Sun Diagram Studio: SketchUp Extension Warehouse
I’d love for you guys to try out the 14-day trial and let me know what you think. I’m actively developing this and am always looking for feedback from the community to make it better.
If you run into any bugs or have feature requests, please drop a comment below!
Cheers,
Nam Nguyen
Founder at Febhouse
Connect with me on Instagram | LinkedIn
