This tool connects separate, open or closed contour lines that sit in different planes. Think of it like stretching a fabric skin over a series of ribs.
Curviloft turns SketchUp into a surface-modeling powerhouse. Master the three core tools (Loft by Spline, Loft along Path, Skinning) and you can create anything from organic furniture to architectural shells.
To use the plugin, you must understand its three distinct tools. You access them via . curviloft plugin sketchup
This tool creates a surface over a network of crossing lines (a mesh of wires). It is essentially an automated "From Contours" tool but offers smoother interpolation and better topology management.
Unlike native SketchUp tools like Follow Me , which require a single profile and a single path, Curviloft calculates transitions between multiple different profiles across complex paths. It is highly predictable, customizable, and produces clean, quad-faced topology that works perfectly with other plugins like Artisan or SubD. Core Features and Tools This tool connects separate, open or closed contour
Choose whether boundaries should be soft, smooth, or sharp.
Curviloft generates clean, quad-based geometry, which makes applying textures (UV mapping) much easier than dealing with the messy triangulation of the Sandbox tool. Master the three core tools (Loft by Spline,
The Ultimate Guide to the Curviloft Plugin for SketchUp: Mastering Complex Organic Geometry
After generating a complex lofted surface, run . Set a horizontal and vertical spacing (e.g., 300mm). Curviloft will draw 3D lines across your surface. You can then use Pipe Along Path (from the Joint Push Pull family) to convert those lines into physical beams. This is how pros model cable-net bridges or space frames.
: Curviloft generates surfaces, but to create a solid, printable or renderable object, you need to give it thickness. SketchUp's native Push/Pull tool fails on curved surfaces. Joint Push Pull solves this by allowing you to extrude any face—curved or flat—to give your surface proper physical thickness, making it ideal for 3D printing or realistic visualization.