Easy Geometry from PDFs with PDF IMPORTER for SketchUp!

[@Thesketchupessentials]

Hi everyone! Let me know what you think about PDF Importer in the comments below! :)

[@davids4610]

I usually load the PDF into illustrator then export it as DWG.

[@Thesketchupessentials]

Totally valid if you have Illustrator

[@mukundraipatel8334]

Justin, We've been using inkscape for years to do this completely free. Now, if it imported a non vector pdf & automatically converted the image to lines, even if imprecise, that still wouldn't justify the price tag.

[@lsy88888]

vector pdf can import to CAD and you can save as dwg then import to skp

[@LoydSumaylo]

i already dowloaded the file from thesketchupessentials and put it in to the plugins but nothing happens

[@truethinker68]

Polycam 3d scanning app ( iphone lidar ) can export a dae for 3d layouts.

[@faezalidousti]

thank you for the video, can we import SVG vector as well?

[@richardhall5489]

When I start a new Sketch Up project I often want to do the following: Import a pdf, scale it, lock it on its own layer. This is what I end up doing: Open Photoshop, import the PDF, export it as a jpeg, scale it, try to lock the layer, remember that this doesn't work, add some geometry, group the geometry and the jpeg, then lock the layer. I might try this plug in. On the other hand I might try a different 3D modelling software that doesn't need 3rd party plug ins to work efficiently.

[@thomasmoss1066]

Let say I have a 10 floor concrete building and different foundation levels. Can I import every elevation and put it at the corresponding height to render the concrete building in sketch up? Looking online I see 3 price points. GO, Pro, Studio. If I was just concrete, which one would I need? What If I wanted to render concrete stairs?

[@dancinboi89]

The sketch up pro version used to allow pdf imports natively in sketch up on PC. Did they take that away? I’m in Mac now but am considering subscribing to sketch up again.

[@dancinboi89]

I stand corrected. It was DWG files 😅

[@Thesketchupessentials]

Yeah - no PDF files

[@justinmcampbell]

Great tip for scaling with the measure tool

[@johnjlopez]

Autocad itself has a pdf import function that allows an easy export to dwg for skp that I use. $80 a year is a ridiculous money grab for what this plugin actually does.

[@Thesketchupessentials]

How much are you paying for AutoCad? Just curious

[@johnjlopez]

@@Thesketchupessentials That's quite a disingenuous comment. One doesn't use autocad specifically to import or convert a standard filetype which is exactly what this plugin does and all it does. All its literally doing is converting the vector layers already embedded in the file to be read in SKP and charging you almost $100 yearly for the pleasure.

[@Thesketchupessentials]

Why is that disingenuous? Am I misunderstanding that you're saying that you're importing to AutoCAD and using it as a converter? It seems fair then to compare the costs of the two if we're discussing them both, right?

[@johnjlopez]

@@Thesketchupessentials because i dont use cad just to do a file conversion. Nobody uses cad just to convert PDFs. The fact that cad does do the file conversion is essentially a throw away tool for cad. Its not even one of its core functions so to say compare 1 price to the other in which they are completely different tools is disingenuous.

[@Thesketchupessentials]

But only if you HAVE AutoCAD, which is a MUCH more expensive program - so if you offer it as an alternative in a workflow, it's fair to note that you're suggesting a workflow that is significantly more expensive, UNLESS you have it already. I still think that's fair and not disingenuous at all.

[@harizamany7185]

why when i import the cad drawing, its import to the front view, not top, how to fix it?

[@jakeschubert4245]

I love this app. It's a little pricy, but saves a lot of time to bring in the drawings and get to work.

[@archhashim5268]

What is the version of the program?

[@Back2TheBike]

Your teach ins are 1st class Justin, thanks. As a hobbyist (I use the 2017 free version to create airfields for XPlane) I'd like to see an option to buy, rather than lease SU. That said, the 2017 version does most of what I need, with the exception its not easy to find add ins that function.

[@johnpaulroque5880]

It says "Failed to add license" any advise? plssss

[@davidbeckwith2403]

How can you tell if a pdf is vector or raster? I export my CAD files as pdf's all the time to send to clients or the printer, but have no idea if they are vector or raster

[@MrChrisBozwell]

Man... If I can't remember an extensions name, I can find a video on it that you've done. Thanks for that!

[@asgaridesignco.llc.aramasg3083]

i need to practice or learn the best way of scaling with point reference (which is how i do it in Autocad)

[@dreamcatcherdb]

SketchUp sidesteps this by allowing for direct scaling. Just use the measure tool to find the length then, before doing anything else, type in the new length desired. A prompt will appear asking if you’d like to resize the model, select yes and the entire model will be scaled proportionate to the length input. If you need to rescale only certain aspects you may want to look into the FredoScale extension which makes re-scaling specific objects much easier and more precise.

[@sfguzmani]

Other method ONLY IF YOU HAVE AUTOCAD, import the pdf in autocad, then save it as .dwg file then import it on sketchup.

[@Thesketchupessentials]

Yup - totally valid assuming you have AutoCad

[@swampdaddy87]

CHIKEN AND EGG QUESTION - how do you know if a PDF file is going to be a vector pdf until you install (i.e. pay for) the plug-in and try to import it? It's not the type of process one might use often in practice, so essentially, you're playing PDF roulette hoping when you need to import a file, it's a vector PDF. Is there some other means to identify a PDF file as vector or raster? Thak You.

[@dreamcatcherdb]

The best way is to zoom in on the image. A raster based image will appear pixelated and lose quality when zoomed in on, a vector based image will always have excellent fidelity.

[@dreamcatcherdb]

I appreciate you making this video. While I see many complaints about the price and alternative suggestions, I’d say it all really depends on how well the extension performs the conversion. In my experience, some converters are definitely better than others. Source PDFs are rarely as simple and clean as the example. Most PDFs I need to convert are obtained from manufacturers brochures or product manuals and may have already been processed several times before I acquired them. This can mean that a basic DWG conversion can bring in a lot of line segments and other trash geometry, essentially forcing you to trace everything anyway. If this extension is able to better weed out the line work in the PDF and increase workflow then it could certainly be worth the price.

[@johnjlopez]

These PDFs are vector based PDFs not raster. This means the lines are already embedded and digital in the PDF so its simply a matter of converting it to whatever format one needs - in this case SKP. Its akin to copying an mp3. You should not have any degradation from transferring as many times as you want because its digitally based in a lossless vector format. The most you should have to do is re-scale the entire file/page. For raster PDFs, they are like photoshop pixel based images that get typically get compressed each time you export or save. Those would/could degrade the more you import/export because of the repeated compressing of the file.

[@dreamcatcherdb]

@@johnjlopez I think you misunderstood me. I was referring to vector based PDFs, more specifically vector based images embedded in PDF documents such as digital brochures and manuals. As such, extracting the vector image from the document can sometimes be tricky as different document creation softwares handle embedded vector images differently not to mention that different vector drawing programs (and whomever drew it originally) may have an effect on the quality of the embedded graphic. This all means that when the line work is clipped out and converted for use in SketchUp (or AutoCAD) often the vector lines aren’t as helpful as you may hope for. While some (typically simple orthogonal) vector lines may drop in just fine, other lines (typically Bézier curves) drop in as a complex mess of li e segments. Also, if you have experience in illustrator or similar programs, you may know that what may appear to be a simple vector line might actually be a composite path or a clipping mask, neither of which translates back to nice clean vector lines in any PDF to DWG/DXF converter that I’ve ever used. That is to say, not all vector based images are the same and in my own experience, converting a vector based PDF is rarely as simple as just converting then extruding. A truer test would be to try this extension on something like a specific model appliance; Something a client may request that needs to be designed around.

[@johnjlopez]

@@dreamcatcherdb Yea, this is exactly what i responded about! Vector PDF dont degrade since they are digital. A bezier curve, as you mentioned, never loses its properties of how it curves as an easy example. If your software is losing quality in a vector PDF, such as by converting that curve to line segments inefficiently or inaccurately then that conversion software is bad not the PDF. Raster PDF do degrade with every compression.

[@johnjlopez]

@@dreamcatcherdb 1 more part to add. SKP does not read B Curves so any conversion will require some degradation in at least that part so if you somehow saved your SKP and got it back to a new vector PDF, it WOULD be lower quality in exactly that way but it should be comparable. Your export would therefore always only be line segments instead of true curves forever on forward.

[@ArisHDi]

79$ a year for a pdf importer? Thats almost fraud like. You can literally make a pdf to dwg for free. Its the first video of you that i completely disagree.

[@Thesketchupessentials]

...I didn't set the price, so...what exactly do you disagree with?

[@jakeschubert4245]

So don't buy it.

[@ArisHDi]

@@Thesketchupessentials It is not a sketchup essential. Its a fraud. I dont see how this deserves to be featured by you. For me it was a mistake. Something is essential when the value or the service is greater than the cost.

[@ArisHDi]

@@jakeschubert4245 did not ask you at all, i speak directly to the channel because i respect his effort. They have been the top choice for me for the past 2 years. The fact that someone promotes a plug in that can be made in minutes yet the company charges it for 80$ per year is saddening. You do understand that as pro architects we cannot spread money for things that can be made cheaper and easier, its called cost effective. How is it essential if you can literally do it for free in a site or just import it to autocad and make it 99.9999% accurate based on the measurements. Ive been using so many plugins that are 10x more complicated that have been reviewed by this channel and they are cheaper than this importer. I am a fan of the channel thats why i felt the need to express my thoughts. Learn to respect or dont talk.

[@johnjlopez]

@@ArisHDi Ignoring the rhetoric, that's a valid perspective and point. This plugin does not seam, imo, the best way one should go about importing a standard vector pdf at least at its price point and I certainly see the perspective that it tarnishes Justin as well for pushing this plugin in which there are likely better methods that he should be pushing particularly for a casual user and even for pro users. I see Justins channel is mostly otherwise a good channel but it seems to me that Justins only been pushing a lot of and only expensive plugins lately and far less about sketchup essentials. Maybe im wrong but this isnt the first video that made me balk at this perceived trend. I put it in the category of him needing new content (you can only say the same things over and over so many times) and getting paid at the same time. Maybe we all live to eventually become the villain ;) I still upvote anyways for the overall body of work.

[@tcbandeira]

Works in free too?

[@Thesketchupessentials]

Nope - it's an extension

[@RockyJones1]

Great to know this is an option.

[@jesperfuglsang]

Why is this not a part of SketchUp as it is on Mac?

[@Thesketchupessentials]

That I don't know unfortunately

[@janatakoonlinetelivision1641]

Great video Importe

[@ivochmelar9714]

never needit import pdf to sketchup, i doo autocad pdf import

[@Thesketchupessentials]

Fair comment if it's doing what you need

[@mikebuckley46]

love this channel

[@_Breakdown]

Great video Justin - thanks for sharing. 😎👍🏼 Will SketchUp also import an Illustrator file (vector based)? 🤔

[@Thesketchupessentials]

I don't know, but I'm hearing that you can export a DWG from Illustrator and import that?

[@_Breakdown]

@@Thesketchupessentials Hey - just found this video - cheers! - - kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5y9lYeeiZutmaM

[@marceloyyh]

@@Thesketchupessentials the same to PDF, so dont need to buy a expensive pluguin

[@DidierScheurer]

PDF2DXF: Import a pdf into this program and it give a dxf file you can import in sketchup

[@emdearch]

Sadly, dissapointed by importer. Only one day of trial + generates error during import.

[@dimav83]

Thanks for the review, Justin. Shame that this plugin is not importing Layers from the PDF file. Which is extremely useful on a big layouts. So far, my best solution is to find someone with AutoCad and ask them to import the PDF and save in DWG for me. Definitely not a good workflow, but gives you vector geometry and LAYERS!

[@wael4070]

Too expensive I should say

[@Djalineribeiro_oficial]

THANK YOUUUUU

[@ShinnahWilde]

I just use inkscape because its free.

[@Hadi-cg5bw]

why would I pay for this plugin? where I can simply import the vector pdf to AutoCAD, save as .dwg then import the dwg in skp easily. that's more easier & free process. And any architect using sketchup must have AutoCAD. (also the system applies for illustrator)

[@johnjlopez]

I got yelled at for saying exactly this 🤣😂🤣

[@Thesketchupessentials]

@Hadi 2809 Again, and I'll keep repeating this - it's a great workflow IF you have AutoCAD, which many don't. The whole POINT for a lot of people switching to SketchUp is they don't want to use AutoCAD anymore. It's a fine workflow, BUT you're using a software that's more expensive than SketchUp and this extension combined to do this. I do not agree with the assumption that any architect using SketchUp must also have AutoCAD

[@Thesketchupessentials]

@J Lo - "Yelled at"? C'mon

[@johnpaulroque5880]

this is useful tho. I have autocad. But I cannot add or waste time importing pdf to autocad and then to sketchup haha. PLS answer my question. I cannot use my free trial license my boss asked me to try it first

[@Deontjie]

Maybe $20 should be a better price.

[@Thesketchupessentials]

The way I look at it, developers can charge what they want, users can decide if it's worth it or not to them. I personally always figure number of hours saved * hourly rate vs. extension cost as a comparison, but I know everyone is different

[@leothelion2001]

I'm not paying 79 dollars per year 😂😂😂

[@mariustiberiu6308]

Man use something that I want give like trillion dollars a month on skethup. Use some free stuff I watch your videos like 90% of you videos at whit pay tools. Think skethup 400$ vary 600$ ant other tools that you use it’s like don’t worth the job they your doing.