Moving Files from SketchUp to Revit

This blog is going to show you a new workflow for importing SketchUp Components into Revit while still retaining material textures and with the ability to predefine a Revit ‘Category’. There are numerous methods for converting SketchUp into Revit but they all have limitations, namely, material textures are ignored and you must accept that you will end up with a Revit ‘Mass’ Family.

But now there’s a new kid on the block that solves these issues – ‘FormIt’, This is Conceptual Design combined with Energy and Solar Analysis functionality, secondly it has a useful feature which imports SketchUp models with any attached materials along with their associated textures.

Although this method involves an extra step, it’s worth the effort for the additional benefit. To clarify, SketchUp is imported into FormIt (along with its materials, and here we define a Revit ‘Category’) then into Revit.

This is a SketchUp Component with materials attached, note the wood texture.

Import the SketchUp .skp file into FormIt as shown above (still retaining the wood texture.)

You can Download a free Web, iPad, or Android version along with a Subscription benefit Windows version HERE.

Once the SketchUp Component is imported we can define the Revit ‘Category’ – select the right mouse button while hovering over the imported model and select ‘Edit Group’ from the graphic that automatically appears.

The ‘Group Properties’ dialogue palette now offers the chance to select a ‘Category’ (Generic Model is a good choice as you can change this into something else, later)

Save the FormIt .AXM file as shown above.

Now to import the .AXM file into Revit via the free plugin.

The plugin is available from HERE if it is not already available from the Add-Ins tab (below)

Once you’ve located and selected the .AXM file, you will see the previously converted SketchUp component complete with materials and textures and defined as the desired ‘Category'.

And you're done transferring your model from SketchUp to Revit and keeping all it's original texture detail. If you've like to learn more about interoperability between revit and other softwares, why not join our free Revit webinars? Additionally, if you'd like a quote or more information on this or other products, you can get in touch through the link below: