Tools on Surface solves this by projecting the geometry following the contours of the face, maintaining the integrity of the 3D shape. Core Toolset The extension mirrors the native SketchUp drawing toolbar but optimizes it for surfaces: Line / Polyline on Surface: Draw freehand or straight segments that wrap around curves. Circle / Ellipse on Surface: Create perfect circular cutouts or patterns on domes and cylinders. Rectangle / Parallelogram on Surface: Useful for architectural details like windows on curved walls. Offset on Surface: Perhaps the most powerful tool in the set; it allows you to offset edges along a curved face, which is nearly impossible with native tools. Eraser on Surface: Specifically designed to remove lines drawn with the plugin without deleting the underlying curved face. Key Features Contour Following: The lines automatically follow the "topography" of your 3D model. Inference Support: It retains SketchUp’s "sticky" inference engine, allowing you to find midpoints and endpoints on curved edges. Editability: You can often adjust parameters (like the number of segments in a circle) during the drawing process using the Value Control Box (VCB). How to Get Started Installation: You can find it on the

But once you click that tool or push a flat shape into a 3D box, you realize the magic is in the Tools . However, one of the biggest hurdles for beginners is understanding the difference between drawing in the air versus drawing on surface .

Most people use Move just to shift objects. But on a surface, it creates topology changes.

Native tools are best for basic geometry and terrain manipulation.

The surface tools in SketchUp have a wide range of applications, including:

: Basic tools like the Line , Rectangle , Circle , and Arc can draw directly on flat faces. You can ensure you are drawing on a surface by watching for the "On Face" inference (a small blue diamond).