# UV mapping in SketchUp

**URL:** <https://forums.sketchup.com/t/uv-mapping-in-sketchup/1196>\
**Category:** SketchUp\
**Tags:** uvmapping\
**Created:** [September 15, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/uv-mapping-in-sketchup/1196 "2014-09-15T12:55:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![martin84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@martin84](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/martin84)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/uv-mapping-in-sketchup/1196/1 "2014-09-15T12:55:34Z")

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Hello there,  
I have question about some users friendly UV mapping in sketchup. I’ve been modelling in 3DS studio for a while - it has UVW mapping with easy gizmo.  
Now I’m trying to work with SU2014 and its very unfriendly and very complicated.  
Do you know about some easy plugins or tips how to do it simple?  
Thanks Martin

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**Author:** ![ChristopherCronin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/christophercronin/32/466_2.png) [@ChristopherCronin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/ChristopherCronin)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 1:42pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/uv-mapping-in-sketchup/1196/2 "2014-09-15T13:42:55Z")

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Hi Martin,

Take a look at Extension Warehouse. These extensions may help:  
[http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/search/site/UV%20Mapping](http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/search/site/UV%20Mapping)

- Chris

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**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/uv-mapping-in-sketchup/1196/3 "2017-06-21T02:52:09Z")

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> [@What, exactly, is SketchUp's definition of a "solid", and why is a simple cube shape not considered to be one?](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/what-exactly-is-sketchups-definition-of-a-solid-and-why-is-a-simple-cube-shape-not-considered-to-be-one/46961/13):
>
> … considering I need to deal with UV mapping, and that doesn’t seem to be an available function in SketchUp …

There are very basic texture positioning in SketchUp. Once again from the:

[**SketchUp User Guide**](https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/sketchup):

- [Creating a 3D Model](https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/creating-3d-model)
  - [Applying Colors, Photos, Materials, and Textures](https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/applying-colors-photos-materials-and-textures)
    - [Adding Colors and Textures with Materials](https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/adding-colors-and-textures-materials)
      - [Repositioning textures](https://help.sketchup.com/en/sketchup/adding-colors-and-textures-materials#reposition-texture)

> [@What, exactly, is SketchUp's definition of a "solid", and why is a simple cube shape not considered to be one?](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/what-exactly-is-sketchups-definition-of-a-solid-and-why-is-a-simple-cube-shape-not-considered-to-be-one/46961/13):
>
> … without a plugin

True. Chris gives a Extension Warehouse search link above that will list UV mapping tools and plugins.  
They may be limited as the APIs may not expose the same UV mapping abilities that you may be used to in other applications.

* * *

And here is a “UV mapping” search for the forum, which you’ll see there are a number of feature requests threads to improve texture mapping **natively** within SketchUp.

[https://forums.sketchup.com/search?q=UV%20mapping](https://forums.sketchup.com/search?q=UV%20mapping)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/uv-mapping-in-sketchup/1196/4 "2017-06-21T02:57:22Z")

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**One of the users has posted a tutorial that may be of interest:**

> [@Advanced UV mapping outside of SketchUp with a little work](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/advanced-uv-mapping-outside-of-sketchup-with-a-little-work/8043):
>
> I made a little example of how to make manual quad meshes for use in Blender (whatever your poison is), instead of the very messy triangulated UVs natively exported. I tried using plugins first, but none really worked the way I needed them to. A little work goes a long way. Questions? feel free to ask away. [[- YouTube] ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOYTnskIXtQ)