This tool generates a surface between two or more rails (boundaries).
Skinning . Option 1: The "Educational/Tutorial" Post Best for: Instagram (Carousel) or LinkedIn. Headline: Stop struggling with organic shapes in SketchUp! 🚀 Slide 1/Body: Curviloft is the "cheat code" for 3D modeling curves. Here are 3 ways it changes your workflow: Loft by Spline: Join separate polylines to create a smooth surface bridge. Loft Along Path: Extrude profiles along a specific rail to create custom pipes or transitions. Skin Contours: Create a "skin" over a frame of 3 or 4 edges—perfect for tensile structures or roofs. CTA: Download it via SketchUcation (don't forget you need LibFredo6 installed!). Option 2: The "Quick Tip" Post Best for: X (Twitter) or Instagram Reels. Hook: How to model complex skins in seconds with Curviloft. ⚡ Key Points: Select your boundary edges. Hit the
This tool creates a faceted, triangulated surface between two open or closed curves. It is essentially a 3D mesh generator.
This tool extrudes a profile along a designated path (rail), similar to SketchUp's native "Follow Me" tool, but with critical advantages.
This tool creates a surface within a closed boundary defined by edges or curves.
Skinning allows you to create a surface from a closed loop of edges. If you have four irregular curves forming a frame, Curviloft can generate a smooth, filled-in face that respects the curvature of all four boundary lines. Why Use Curviloft?
This is arguably the most powerful tool in the set. It generates a surface by "lofting" through a series of profile curves.
Curviloft is a mature, stable plugin, widely used since SketchUp 8. It is compatible with SketchUp 2017 and newer (including 2023/2024). It requires Fredo6’s LibFredo6 (a shared code library) to function.
This tool functions like an advanced version of SketchUp’s "Follow Me" tool. However, unlike the native tool, Curviloft can handle multiple profiles of different shapes. For example, you can start a path with a circle and end it with a square, and the plugin will smoothly transition the geometry along the curve. 3. Skinning