Standard SketchUp tools like "Follow Me" are great for uniform extrusions, but they fail when a shape needs to transition—for example, turning a square base into a circular top.
Ensure there are no "gaps" in your contours; small breaks in the lines can cause the script to fail or create "deleted vertex" errors.
This tool requires two sets of curves: profiles and a guiding path.
This tool creates surfaces by taking a profile shape and sweeping it along a specific guide path or rail. This is essentially a more advanced and flexible version of SketchUp’s native "Follow Me" tool, capable of handling complex geometry while ensuring the surface adapts properly to the path's curves. 3. Skinning (Contour/Skinning) curviloft 18
With the release of SketchUp 2018 (and subsequent versions), high-DPI monitor support became a requirement.
Despite its power, Curviloft is not a magic "make perfect surface" button. Being aware of its limitations will save you hours of frustration.
is a refined iteration that brought significant workflow improvements. While later versions exist, 1.8a is widely considered a highly stable and feature-complete release. The key hallmark of the 1.8 series is the emphasis on real-time preview and editing . Standard SketchUp tools like "Follow Me" are great
: Creates a surface bounded by 3 or 4 contiguous contours, perfect for complex architectural roofs or tensile structures. Getting Started: Installation Requirements , you must first install the shared library (v14.3b or above for newer versions). Download the SketchUcation ExtensionStore Install it via SketchUp's Extension Manager Restart SketchUp to ensure the plugin loads correctly. Free vs. Paid: What You Need to Know While older versions like were widely known as free, most extensions transitioned to a paid model in early 2022. Trial Period : You can download the latest version for a 30-day full-featured free trial : After the trial, a perpetual license for costs approximately for up to three seats at SketchUcation Bundle Options : If you use multiple Fredo6 tools, the Fredo6Bundle (including 8 plugins) is available for Pro Tip for Complex Meshes When generating a surface, use the Preview Mode
The SketchUp community is unanimous in its praise for Curviloft's utility, though there are some considerations to keep in mind. Here are some direct quotes from users on forums like SketchUcation and Reddit:
As of this writing, the developers are hinting at CurviLoft 19, which is rumored to include AI-based edge prediction and cloud-based curve sharing. However, remains the gold standard for stability, and it is unlikely to be deprecated anytime soon given the massive user base in the architectural rendering community. This tool creates surfaces by taking a profile
It is one of the most essential free tools in the SketchUp community for organic modeling. Getting Started: Installation and Setup (2026)
Curviloft generates a temporary preview grid, allowing you to adjust parameters like segment density and vertex matching before finalizing the geometry. Curviloft - SketchUcation