SketchUp 2026: A Solid Release with One Big Miss... Worth the Upgrade Hassle?
In this video, I take a real-world look at SketchUp 2026—from the perspective of a residential designer who uses SketchUp Pro and LayOut to deliver actual permit sets.
The big headline this year? Collaboration tools built around Trimble Connect. While technically impressive, the experience falls flat in real design workflows. I’ll show you exactly where it works, where it doesn’t, and why a screen share still beats cloud-based comments.
But there’s plenty to like, too. Performance is way up. Ambient Occlusion gets a serious upgrade. LayOut finally feels modern, with faster vector rendering and new drafting tools that actually make sense.
This release makes SketchUp feel more polished and production-ready. But there’s one major issue holding everything back: upgrading is still a mess. Extensions, licenses, billing—nothing about it is seamless. And that’s the problem we need to fix first.
Whether you’ve upgraded already or are holding off for another year, this walkthrough will show you what’s new, what matters, and what still needs work.
For more on ConDoc Tools and related workflows, check the links below.
SketchUp 2026 Release Notes
https://help.sketchup.com/en/release-...
ConDoc Tools – Model smarter, draft faster
https://condoctools.com/
FlexTools – Dynamic components that actually work
https://flextools.cc/
Dronescopemapping.com – Laser scanning + aerial mapping workflows
https://dronescopemapping.com/
Matt Wheeler’s Dynamic Component Workflow – 2024 SketchUp 3D Summit
https://www.youtube.com/embed/zXn-fFP...
SketchUp 3D Summit – Get early bird info
https://sketchup3dsummit.brightmandes...
00:00 Intro
00:36 Collaboration Bar
04:38 Visualization Upgrades
05:40 Performance Boost
06:10 Windows UI Improvements
06:56 Live Components
07:15 FlexTools Workflow
08:22 Modeling Tweaks
09:04 DWG Workflow Enhancements
10:03 Purge Unused Update
10:34 Licensing Fix
11:24 Other Notable Additions
12:19 LayOut UI Refresh
12:46 LayOut Speed Gains
13:05 New Drafting Tools
13:53 Scrapbook Updates
14:37 LayOut DWG Improvements
15:32 Outro
Unlock the full potential of SketchUp with ConDoc Tools, the ultimate extension for transforming your 3D models into professional 2D drawings with ease. Perfect for architects, designers, and creatives alike, ConDoc Tools streamlines your workflow, ensuring you meet professional standards with just a few clicks. Try it now with our FREE 7-day trial and discover the difference. Plus, enjoy a special bonus: keep all title blocks and scrapbooks for free, even if you decide not to continue after the trial. No commitment, no cost. Learn more and get started today at https://www.condoctools.com.
Brightman Designs is a professional design practice that specializes in "The SketchUp Workflow for Architecture" (Mike's book https://amzn.to/2LhR9Yp). We use our projects and experience to teach other designers how to effectively utilize SketchUp, LayOut, and our ConDoc Tools extension. Learn more at https://www.brightmandesigns.com.