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Keyframe Animation: A Powerful Plugin for SketchUp

Keyframe Animation is a plugin for SketchUp that allows you to animate objects in your model by changing their position, rotation, scale, and reflection over time. You can create complex animations with multiple objects moving in sync or independently. You can also combine the object animation with SketchUp’s built-in scene animation to create stunning videos of your design.

In this article, we will show you how to download, install, and use Keyframe Animation for SketchUp. We will also give you some tips and tricks to make your animations more realistic and dynamic.

How to Download and Install Keyframe Animation for SketchUp

Keyframe Animation is available for SketchUp 2016 and later versions. You can download it from the official website of Regular Polygon, the developer of the plugin. The plugin costs $39 for a single user license, but you can try it for free for 10 days before buying it.

To install Keyframe Animation for SketchUp, follow these steps:

1. In SketchUp, select Window > Extension Manager.
2. Click the Install Extension button.
3. Locate the Ruby zipped ( .rbz) file that you downloaded from Regular Polygon’s website, and click OK (Windows) or Open (Mac OS X).
4. If SketchUp warns you about installing only extensions from trusted sources, click Yes.
5. Restart SketchUp to activate the plugin.

You can also download Keyframe Animation from the SketchUcation Plugin Store or the SketchUp Extension Warehouse. The installation process is similar to the one described above.

How to Use Keyframe Animation for SketchUp

Keyframe Animation is easy to use and intuitive. You can access it from the Plugins menu or the toolbar that appears on the screen. Here are the basic steps to create an animation with Keyframe Animation:

1. Create or open a model in SketchUp that contains the objects that you want to animate.
2. Select one or more objects that you want to move, rotate, scale, or reflect.
3. Click the Record button on the Keyframe Animation toolbar. This will create a keyframe for the selected objects at the current scene.
4. Move to another scene or create a new one.
5. Move, rotate, scale, or reflect the selected objects as you wish.
6. Click the Record button again. This will create another keyframe for the selected objects at the new scene.
7. Repeat steps 4-6 until you have created all the keyframes that you need for your animation.
8. Click the Play button on the Keyframe Animation toolbar to preview your animation in SketchUp.
9. If you want to edit your animation, you can use the Edit button on the Keyframe Animation toolbar to modify or delete any keyframe.
10. If you want to export your animation to a video, animated GIF, or image sequence, you can use the Export button on the Keyframe Animation toolbar. You can also generate a tweens model with the object animation \”baked-in\”. The tweens are more functional and compatible with some third-party rendering apps, such as V-Ray, Twilight, Shaderlight, and Thea.

Tips and Tricks for Keyframe Animation

Here are some tips and tricks that can help you create better animations with Keyframe Animation:

• You can use groups and components to animate multiple objects as one unit.
• You can use layers to control the visibility of objects during your animation.
• You can use section planes to cut through your model and reveal hidden details during your animation.
• You can use shadows and styles to enhance the appearance of your model during your animation.
• You can use easing functions to adjust the speed and acceleration of your animation between keyframes.
• You can use interpolation modes to change how objects move between keyframes. For example, you can use linear interpolation for constant motion, spline interpolation for smooth motion, or step interpolation for abrupt motion.

Conclusion

Keyframe Animation is a powerful and easy-to-use plugin for SketchUp that