EDITABLE 3D TEXT IN SKETCHUP with 3D Text Editor

Introduction

Hey everyone, Justin here from Sketch of Essentials, bringing you another SketchUp extension overview! In today's video, we'll be talking about an incredibly useful tool that lets you create editable 3D text within SketchUp.

Before we dive in, I want to extend a massive thank you to our latest patrons on Patreon: Vallon Thorne, Ralph Porter, Bill Fling, and Rochus Sue Macorís. For those who don’t know, Patreon is a platform where you can support your favorite YouTube creators. As a perk for supporting my channel, patrons can vote on which extensions I cover each week. If you’re interested in supporting the channel and having a say in the content I produce, check out the Patreon link in the notes below.

This week's extension, chosen by my Patreon supporters, is the 3D Text Editor. So, let’s get started!

3D Text Editor Overview

Plug-in Name: 3D Text Editor
Plug-in Developer: TomTom
Plug-in Cost: Free (donations to the developer are encouraged)
Where to Get It: SketchUp Extension Warehouse

Tool Functions

SketchUp includes a built-in 3D text tool, but it has significant limitations. Mainly, once you create the 3D text as geometry, any changes require deleting and recreating the text from scratch. There's also no live preview, so a lot of guesswork is involved.

The 3D Text Editor extension solves these problems by allowing you to create and edit 3D text directly within SketchUp.

Installation and Basic Usage

First, note that this extension may not work as well on Mac OS, although you can still try it to see how well it functions. Here’s how to get started with it:

Location: After installation, locate the extension under the Draw menu as "Editable 3D Text."
Live Preview: This option opens an options box where you can enter your text. The text live updates as you type, significantly improving over SketchUp’s built-in tool.
Customization Options:
- Fill Faces: Check/uncheck if you want the text faces filled.
- Bold/Italic: Set the text as bold, italic, or both.
- Height Adjustment: Adjust the text height in real time to see how it will fit into your SketchUp model.
- Extrusion: Set whether your text should be extruded and to what depth. The tool updates in real-time to show changes.

Editing Text

One of the standout features is the ability to edit the text after creation. Right-click on the text group created by the tool and select “Edit Text” to make changes.

While the tool is simple, it fills an important gap in SketchUp’s existing toolset for text editing. I highly recommend downloading it to give it a try.

Keywords

3D Text Editor
SketchUp Extension
Editable 3D Text
Text Customization
SketchUp Modeling
TomTom
Live Preview
Text Extrusion
SketchUp Extension Warehouse

FAQ

Q: Does 3D Text Editor work on Mac OS? A: It may not work as well on Mac OS, but you can still give it a try to see how it functions.

Q: Where can I find the 3D Text Editor after installation? A: You can find it under the Draw menu as "Editable 3D Text."

Q: What feature does this extension offer that the built-in 3D text tool does not? A: The extension offers a live preview, the ability to edit text after creation, and extensive customization options.

Q: Is the 3D Text Editor free? A: Yes, it is free, though donations to the developer are encouraged.

Q: Can I adjust the text height and extrusion in real-time? A: Yes, the extension allows you to adjust both height and extrusion in real-time with immediate visual feedback.

If you’ve struggled with 3D text in SketchUp before, give this extension a try and simplify your workflow. Thanks for reading – happy SketchUp modeling!