Meshma/SketchUp/TracePen

TracePen for SketchUp

Install as a SketchUp extension (SketchUp 2022+). Trace an image and get native Face entities in a re-editable component — no DXF triangle round-trip, no "Merge Coplanar" cleanup. One face per region, holes as native inner loops, one Material per colour layer.

Download for SketchUp

Plans

Free$0

• Personal projects, learning, open-source
• Full multi-colour trace, all output formats
• No license key needed, no seat limit
• Honor-based; free tier shows a small footer reminder

Premium

• Commercial license — studio, firm, paid client work
• Same feature set as Free
• Clean UI — no free-tier footer reminder
• One-time purchase, no subscription

SketchUp 2022 or newer.

Personal vs commercial

TracePen is free for personal use — personal projects, learning, open-source contributions. No license key needed, full feature set, no seat limit.

Commercial use (studio, architecture firm, paid client work) requires a one-time commercial license. The plugin doesn't tech-enforce this — it's honor-based. Free tier shows a small footer reminder until a license is added; paying customers get a clean UI.

Install

1. Download tracepen.rbz.
2. In SketchUp: Window → Extension Manager → Install Extension.
3. Select the .rbz file and accept the signed-extension prompt.
4. Restart SketchUp. For commercial use, add your license key in the TracePen panel.

Workflow

1. Extensions → TracePen → Open.
2. Upload a PNG or JPG in the dialog.
3. Slide the colour count from 2 (black & white) up to what the image needs.
4. Tweak per-layer if useful: noise filter, minimum region size, stroke.
5. Click Trace.
6. Set the width in mm or inches.
7. Click Load to SketchUp.

A typical 8-colour image appears in a few seconds. Each colour becomes a group with its own material. One Ctrl+Z rolls the entire insert back. Re-tracing the same image refills the existing geometry instead of duplicating it.

Frequently asked

Which SketchUp versions are supported?

SketchUp 2022 and newer (Make, Pro, Studio). Earlier versions can't create faces with holes through the API — use the online tool with DXF Faces export instead.

Does it work on SketchUp Free (web)?

No — SketchUp for Web doesn't load .rbz extensions. Use the online tool with DXF Faces export.

Is it signed?

Yes — distributed as a signed Trimble Extension. Extension Manager loads it without an "untrusted code" warning.

Does it send my image anywhere?

No. Once installed, tracing runs locally. No network call, no account required.

Can I edit the shapes afterwards?

Yes — they're real SketchUp faces. Push-pull, Solid Tools, every SketchUp tool works on them.

Does it use AI?

No. Deterministic tracer — same image in, same faces out. Reliable for production work.

TracePen is also available on

TracePen for Web App

TracePen for Blender