SketchUp 2027 is here
SketchUp 2027 is here SketchUp 2027 is here, and it is one of the more meaningful releases we have seen in a while. Trimble has built this version around a simple idea: you should be able to change your mind without rebuilding your model. If you work in a South African architecture, interior design, construction […]
Pirated SketchUp: Malware & Legal Risks in South Africa
Pirated SketchUp: Malware & Legal Risks in South Africa Pirated SketchUp software turns up more often than most designers expect: a “free” copy of SketchUp Pro or Studio landing in an inbox, a cracked installer, a keygen, or a shared licence key doing the rounds in a forum thread. Before you install one, it’s worth […]
AI Render Powered by Nano Banana | SketchUp Visualisation SA
AI Render takes a major leap forward with Nano Banana — Google’s state-of-the-art image-generation model — bringing a dramatic jump in realism to both interior and exterior visualisation inside SketchUp. Generated images now accurately reflect your original SketchUp camera view, geometry, and material details, so the render you get back is the scene you designed, […]
SketchUp 2026.2: The New Analysis Hub — Shadow Studies, Daylighting & Energy Analysis for SA Architects
SketchUp 2026.2 dropped on 21 May 2026, and it includes a feature South African architects and designers have been waiting for: the ability to run shadow studies and daylighting analysis directly inside SketchUp. No more exporting to third-party tools. No more toggling through time-of-day sliders and hoping your intuition is right. The new Analysis Hub […]
SketchUp AI Tools: A Practical Guide for SA Designers
SketchUp has always been about speed — getting from idea to 3D model as quickly as possible. With the 2026.1 update, Trimble has added a suite of AI-powered tools that take that speed to a new level. AI Render turns your model viewport into a photorealistic concept image in seconds. Generate Object creates 3D assets […]
How SA Kitchen & Bathroom Designers Use SketchUp to Win Clients
Winning a kitchen or bathroom project in South Africa increasingly comes down to one thing: the presentation. Clients spending R150,000 to R500,000 on a renovation don’t want to imagine what their space will look like — they want to see it. The designers who can show a photorealistic 3D walkthrough of the finished kitchen, with […]
3D Warehouse Beginner’s Guide for South African Designers
If you’ve got a SketchUp subscription, you already have access to one of the most powerful time-saving resources in 3D design — and most South African users barely scratch the surface of it. The 3D Warehouse is a free, searchable library of over five million pre-made 3D models and materials that plug straight into your […]
SketchUp Pro vs SketchUp Studio: When Does the V-Ray and Scan Upgrade Make Sense?
SketchUp Pro vs SketchUp Studio: When Does the V-Ray and Scan Upgrade Make Sense? Every year when SketchUp subscription renewals come around, the same question lands in our inbox: “Should I stick with Pro, or is it time to move up to Studio?” It’s a fair question — Studio costs roughly double — and the […]
Trimble Connect Tutorial: How to Set Up SketchUp Pro Cloud Collaboration (South African Guide)
By iRender | Published 10 April 2026 | Reading time: ~6 minutes If you run or work in a South African architecture, interior design, or engineering practice, you’ve almost certainly felt the friction of SketchUp project sharing and team workflow chaos. Emailed SKP files. WeTransfer links that expire the moment your client tries to open […]
SketchUp vs Revit: Which Is Right for Your South African Practice?
SketchUp vs Revit: Which Is Right for Your South African Practice? If you’re running an architecture or interior design practice in South Africa, you’ve almost certainly had the SketchUp-vs-Revit conversation. Both are industry-standard tools, but they serve different needs, at very different price points. This guide cuts through the noise and helps you make the […]