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Using Your Own Image for Site Context

Any topography or images generated with Add Location can be replaced with your own image.After using Add Location, Import the image you would like to add to your model and follow these steps:

Last updated 17 July 2026

Any topography or images generated with Add Location can be replaced with your own image.

After using Add Location, Import the image you would like to add to your model and follow these steps:

  1. Using the Tape Measure, draw vertical guides from identifiable landmarks. These guides can help to line up your image with the one generated by Add Location.
    using-your-own-image-site-context-1.png
  2. Unlock the base image.
    using-your-own-image-site-context-2.png
  3. Use the Sample Material mode (Alt on PC, Command on Mac) of Paint Bucket ( icon-paint-bucket.png ) on the imported image.
  4. Use the Drape mode of the Sandbox tool ( icon-sandbox-tool.png ) to further modify the image.
  5. Switch on terrain and repeat as needed.

3D Printing a Model

Before you print a model on a 3D printer, you need to make sure your 3D printer can understand your model data. Here's a quick overview of how to set up your SketchUp model for 3D printing:

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Adding an Environment to a Model

Environments allow you to add 360°panoramic backgrounds and image-based lighting conditions to your SketchUp models. The Environments panel is where you can add and manipulate environments, or import High Dynamic Range Image (HDRI) files or OpenEXR files to create a new environment.

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Adding Attributes

Attributes make components dynamic by telling SketchUp what to do. You can choose from predefined attributes or create custom attributes:

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Adding Premade Components and Dynamic Components

Components in SketchUp turn geometry in a model into reusable entities. For example, most buildings have at least one door and window. Instead of modeling these common objects, you can insert a component that you have already made, or even one made by someone else.Like all geometry in SketchUp, a component is still

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Adding Text, Labels, and Dimensions to a Model

In SketchUp, you can add four types of text:

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Still need help?

Technical support from our New Zealand team is available to customers with a current Procadsys SketchUp Pro Plus or SketchUp Studio Plus subscription. Self-help articles are public.

Contact SketchUp support