Redraw Capture Plugin for SketchUp: what it is and how to use it
Redraw Capture is Redraw's free plugin for SketchUp. It brings together the best practices for optimizing your 3D model. camera, lighting, texturing, and image generation, in a single panel, improving the quality of your AI renders and reducing rework. What used to take hours of manual preparation, the plugin does in seconds.
In this article, you'll learn what the plugin does, how to install it, and how to use each feature to get the best results from AI.
What is Redraw Capture?
It's a free SketchUp extension that prepares your 3D model for AI rendering. Inside SketchUp itself, you adjust camera, lighting, composition, and materials, then export an optimized capture straight to Redraw, no screenshots, no exporting and re-importing files manually.
Most of the time, when an AI render looks distorted or unrealistic, the problem is the input image, not the AI. Poor framing, weak lighting, or a heavy model force the AI to "guess" what to render. Redraw Capture solves this at the source, delivering a clean capture with correct perspective, light, and composition.
What are the requirements to use the plugin?
- SketchUp 2017 or later (2024+ recommended), on Windows or macOS;
- You don't need to be a Redraw subscriber;
- You don't need a specific SketchUp edition — it works with the version you already use.
The plugin is 100% free, signed by Trimble, and available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
How do I install the plugin in SketchUp?
- Go to the plugin page at redraw.pro/en/sketchup-plugin and click Download free now (.rbz) to get the latest version.
- In SketchUp, open Window → Extension Manager.
- Click Install Extension and select the .rbz file you downloaded.
- Done! The Redraw Capture panel will appear inside SketchUp.
From then on, updates are automatic: the plugin downloads the signed package, validates it, installs it, and lets you know when SketchUp needs to be restarted to apply the update.
How do I set up my model and send it to render?
In the Configure tab, the plugin includes tested and approved presets to get the best results from AI:
- Architecture Preset — ideal for architectural views;
- Interiors Preset — ideal for indoor spaces;
- Exteriors Preset — ideal for facades and outdoor areas;
- Creative Texture — for exploring texture variations.
When you apply a preset, the plugin automatically adjusts Environment, Shadows, Camera, Edges, Faces, and Capture. You can also save your own settings by clicking New preset.
Once everything is ready, just click Send to Redraw: the capture goes straight to the platform, ready to render. If you prefer, use Save to projects to organize the capture into a specific project.
How do I adjust the camera?
In the Camera section, you get the same controls used by professional cameras:
- Lens: choose between 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm, or adjust freely with the slider;
- Two-point perspective: keeps verticals straight, just like architectural photography;
- Guide lines: enables the rule of thirds to frame your composition;
- Real-time navigation: move the camera through the model with WASD, Q/E, and the mouse, adjusting the speed.
How do I use automatic lighting?
In the Others tab, the Lighting Library offers ready-to-use light blocks for your project: linear LED strips for cabinetry, coves, and shelves, halos for mirror backlighting, and more. Just click Click to place and the block follows your SketchUp cursor to wherever you want to apply it.
The plugin also generates lighting behind furniture automatically: select the lines you want to light up and it creates the lighting for you.
How do I create mirrors with real reflections?
Mirrors have always been a challenge for AI rendering. With Redraw Capture, you get full control over the reflection:
- In the Others tab, open the Mirrors section.
- Select the face where the mirror is in your model.
- Position the camera at the desired angle.
- Choose the Capture type (such as Real reflected angle) and adjust the Quality.
- Click Create mirror reflection.
The plugin generates a reflection texture in the exact proportion of the mirror, just right for the AI to render.
How do I optimize and organize my project?
Heavy projects slow down SketchUp and hurt capture quality. In the Project Cleanup section, the plugin shows your file's statistics (size, components, materials, tags, styles, and entities) and removes unused resources without changing the visible geometry:
- Click Update size to analyze the project.
- Check what you want to clean: Unused components, Unused materials, Unused tags, and Unused styles.
- Click Clean and optimize.
In a few clicks, a heavy project becomes light and fast — and you can also organize your model's layers and tags.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a Redraw subscriber to use the plugin?
No. Although the plugin was developed for Redraw users, it's available for free to anyone who wants to render using AI.
Is the plugin really free?
Yes. Redraw Capture is 100% free. You install it, prepare your captures, and send them to render in Redraw.
Does the plugin work for interiors and exteriors?
Yes. It has specific presets for interiors, exteriors, architectural views, and textures, each tuned to how the AI interprets that type of scene.
Does the plugin make my SketchUp file lighter?
Yes. It cleans up unused resources, reduces unnecessary weight, and organizes layers and tags, making your model lighter and faster to work with.
What doesn't the plugin do for me?
It doesn't model your project or replace blocks and textures. For the best results, set up your 3D model with real textures and quality blocks.
Which languages is the plugin available in?
English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Still have questions? Talk to our team via chat or email us at suporte@redraw.pro.
Updated on: 09/07/2026