# Sketchup to .dwg to take advantage of best features

**URL:** <https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-to-dwg-to-take-advantage-of-best-features/180474>\
**Category:** SketchUp\
**Created:** [November 7, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-to-dwg-to-take-advantage-of-best-features/180474 "2021-11-07T00:07:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 23

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**Author:** ![gsharp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/gsharp/32/25083_2.png) [@gsharp](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/gsharp)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 6:40am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/sketchup-to-dwg-to-take-advantage-of-best-features/180474/23 "2021-11-08T06:40:05Z")

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> [@QuestionThat](#):
>
> So you did/ do all of your elevations, sections & detailing in sketchup and import 2d versions of the sketchup model into cad?

Yes… The reason for taking them into DWGS was for compatibility with the rest of the industry and the scale of the projects [very large].

Re your other questions maybe look at these forum topics… for some ideas

> [@Show me your shop drawings](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/show-me-your-shop-drawings/169720/22):
>
> A couple of drawings made for a house I designed.

> [@Best way to control linetype, line thickness and color?](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/best-way-to-control-linetype-line-thickness-and-color/138831/27):
>
> Lines can be 3d objects too. Lines can be colored. Lines can make shadows. Why not make them lines? It would be more logical to start with a line and then make it into something else then I would not need to use a separate program to just print. Everything outside that box is just coders pretending to be clever and making odd decisions no one needs. What do you draw that does not need line weights?

Personally I go around the linetype weight and hatching concerns by using shadow and colour

You can also use something like “Curic Section Lite” to to hatch patterns

> [@QuestionThat](#):
>
> Thinking if I could generate everything 2d in sketchup and/ or layout (floor plans, elevations, details etc) I could export these in 2D to model space and use my sheet layouts in cad to crop viewports etc.)

Personally I do everything in 3d in SU and extract the 2d views for presentation in LO, standard workflow but your approach depends on the scale of the project and level of detail…

Nick Sonders workflow is a well resolved system for residential documentation and following it would be a good core structure for you residential work.

My workflow is a little more relaxed / flexible but I an dealing with scales from street signage to large urban master plans and highrise residential towers with documentation phases form schematic to construction.

 ![Screenshot 2021-11-08 131544](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/b/5/b50ea6837650ffabc401662bd5766f1a6cd25f95.png)

Highrise example is a LO section thru a 3d SU model, 1:1000 0n A3 but exported as DWGs at 1:500 on A1 sheets for a local consultant to translate into local language and comply with local authority submission requirements, the sections in this case stayed as jpg images [at 1:500] and the local consultant added dimensions / notes / titleblocks in autocad… in the worst case the local consultant would edit the section in photoshop if minor amendments would be required but these drawings don’t change much [particularly if you have developed the design in 3d anyway]

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