Importing Illustrator Artwork Into SketchUp

Illustrator

Setting up the artwork

• Use inches for units of measurement.
• Make sure no shapes overlap.
• Be aware that grouped objects will be grouped in SketchUp.

Exporting

• File > Export > Export As...
• Export dialog
  • Format: AutoCAD Drawing (dwg)
• DXF/DWG Export Options dialog
  • Artwork Scale > Scale: 1 Inches = 1 Units
  • Select Export Selected Art Only to export select elements in the Illustrator file.

SketchUp

Importing

• File > Import...
  • Format: AutoCate Files (*.dwg, *.dxf)
  • Options... button > DWG Import Options dialog
    • Units: Inches

Converting the geometry

• Explode the shapes if they are grouped.
  • Select the shapes.
  • Right click > Explode
• Draw a rectangle around each of the shapes to use so the shape is fully contained by the rectangle.
• Select both the rectangle and the shape.
• Right click on the shape and rectangle > Intersect Faces > With Selection
• Use the Eraser to delete the parts of the rectangle outside the shape.
• Now the shape can be manipulated, e.g. the Push tool to extrude the shape.

Punching out holes in faces

• Follow steps for #Converting_the_geometry.
• Select the outer face and Edit > Cut.
• This should leave a face in the place of the hole to be cut in the outer face.
• Double click the inner face to select the edges and the face.
• Use the Pull tool to extrude the face.
• Use the Move tool to make sure the new object intersects the plane of the outer face.
• Edit > Paste in place to put the outer face back in the scene.
• Select both the outer face and the object holding the place of the hole.
• Right click > Intersect faces > With Geometry

See also

• Importing and Exporting CAD Files, SketchUp Help Center