How to Present and Animate Models with SketchUp Scenes

In SketchUp, scenes can be used to save different camera angles and view settings for a model. SketchUp Help Center’s page on creating scenes was updated on 13 October 2026, while its pages on animation and walking through a model were updated on 29 September 2026. This guide is based on the workflows in those official documents; because they do not specify a particular SketchUp version number, the steps cannot be tied to a specific version.

1. Create scenes for your presentation

Before adding scenes, prepare the part of the model you want to show. Set the camera angle and, if needed, adjust view settings such as style, fog, shadows, or section planes. Hide geometry that should not be visible and set tag visibility. SketchUp can save these view properties when you create a scene.

1. Open the Scenes panel. Set up the first view you want to show in your presentation.

2. Click Add Scenes. The new scene appears in the Scenes panel.

3. Edit the scene from Show Details. You can add a name and description, and choose which properties to save.

4. For scenes you want included in your presentation, check Include in Animation.

Scene details can include camera position, hidden geometry and objects, visible tags, active section planes, style and fog, shadows, environment, and axes settings. Your selections determine whether the scene restores only a camera position or other elements of the view as well. For example, you can present a floor plan and an interior view as separate scenes with different tag visibility.

When the model or scene settings change, select the relevant scene and save the changes with Update Scene. Otherwise, the scene may retain its previous view properties. Use the move options in the Scenes panel to arrange the presentation flow; you can also change the order of scene tabs in the modeling window.

2. Turn scenes into a sequence

Once you have created and arranged the scenes, you can play the animation in SketchUp. Select the first scene and follow View › Animation › Play. You can adjust transition and delay times in View › Animation › Settings or under Window › Model Info.

When Scene Transitions is enabled, the view eases from one scene to the next; you can also set the transition duration in seconds. Scene Delay determines how long the current view remains onscreen before SketchUp moves to the next scene. When sequencing close-ups, plan views, and overviews, the delay gives viewers time to examine each view.

3. Export the animation

Scenes can be exported as a video file or as a sequence of image files that can be assembled in other video software. The documentation lists H.264-encoded MP4, uncompressed AVI, VP8-encoded WEBM, and Theora-encoded OGV as video export options. AVI may be suitable when uncompressed video is needed for editing, but it produces a large file. MP4 is a compressed format supported by a wide range of software and devices.

You can choose an export resolution of 1080p Full HD, 720p HD, or 480p SD. For a custom resolution, you can also set the aspect ratio and frame size. The documentation lists 16:9, 4:3, or a custom value as aspect ratio options. If lines appear too thick or thin in the output, adjust their weight with Line Scale Multiplier. Before exporting, check the view at the selected frame size using Preview Frame Size.

4. Adapt the workflow for architecture and visualization

Architects and interior designers can use scenes to prepare different presentation views from the same model—for example, an overall view, a specific room, a section, or a view with different tag visibility. The main benefit is that you can switch between saved scenes instead of setting up the view from scratch for every presentation frame. Animation turns these views into a sequence; the image sequence option is also useful if you want to edit the video in another application.

You can use Position Camera, Look Around, and Walk to create a virtual tour of a model. When you click a point in the model with Position Camera, the camera is placed at a viewing point 5' 6" above that point; you can change the height by entering a new value in the Measurements box. With the Walk tool, you move by dragging the cursor; the distance between the cursor and its starting point affects walking speed. Collision detection is on by default. You can use the specified modifier key to enable walking through walls; the key is listed as Alt for Windows and Mac.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting to update a scene after changing view or tag settings, leaving the previous settings in the scene.

• Not checking Include in Animation for scenes you want to include in the animation.

• Overlooking the effect of resolution or frame rate on file size.

• Delivering an export without previewing the frame size for the lines in the output.

The documentation does not specify particular computer requirements or subscription plans for hardware, licensing, or compatibility. Before exporting, check that the file type you plan to use is compatible with the target software and that the output size is appropriate for your delivery method.