Exporting your models from Minecraft toSketchUp

This guide will show you how to bring your objects and worlds created in Minecraft into SketchUp

Written By: Eric Schimelpfenig

Exporting your models from Minecraft to SketchUp

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INTRODUCTION

Minecraft is not only a really fun game it's actually a pretty powerful modeling tool. Players usebricks to build just about whatever they want. In the game's "creative" mode you get access tounlimited bricks and huge worlds that you can play in. You play from a first person view and you canplace blocks wherever you'd like. Think of it has having the digital version of every Lego evercreated.

Survival mode gives you limited supplies and you have to collect materials to build what you want,and protect what you have from creepers and other players.

Much like Legos, Minecraft fosters creative 3D problem solving.

Just as I grew out of Legos and moved on to CAD software, at some point kids are going to want todo more with their Minecraft models.

To that end here are a series of guides that show you how you can integrate SketchUp withMinecraft. Once you get your Minecraft models into SketchUp you can 3D print them, share them, orcontinue to model them using SketchUp's advanced modeling tools.

If you have a Minecraft player that wants to graduate to SketchUp for slightly more serious modelingthese guides are for you.

TOOLS:SketchUp PRO (1)

SketchUp Make (FREE) (1)

Minecraft PC (1)

Minecraft Mac (1)

Exporting your models from Minecraft to SketchUp

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Step 1 — Get Minecraft

You'll need Minecraft up and runningon your Mac or PC. You candownload it right here.

Step 2 — Get Mineways

First thing you're going to want to dois download Mineways right here

Follow the installation instructions

Mineways is a free Minecraft worldseditor that we will use to export yourMinecraft creations into SketchUp

Exporting your models from Minecraft to SketchUp

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Step 3 — Open Mineways

Open up Mineways. When you first open it you won't see a whole lot.

To open up your previously saved Minecraft world go to File>Open World>Find Your World

Using the "Find your World" link in the menu will automatically go to the location that Minecraftsaves your worlds, this is a lot easier than having to fine the the files yourself.

Make sure Minecraft is completely closed before you do this.

Exporting your models from Minecraft to SketchUp

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Step 4 — Open your world

Once you have your world openyou'll be able to zoom in out byscrolling. You can left click and dragto pan around.

To export a section of your worldright click and drag to select anarea.

Don't select anything bigger thanabout 85x85 blocks. These files getquite large and anything larger thanthis can really slow SketchUp down.If you want a larger area, exportsmaller sections in to multiple filesand combine them later in SketchUp.

Step 5 — Start the export

To start the export to SketchUp go to File>Export for Rendering

A dialog box will pop up asking you where you'd like to save that file. We recommend making afolder for each export as the export contains multiple files.

Exporting your models from Minecraft to SketchUp

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Step 6 — Fine tune the export

This is an important step. There area lot of export options. Getting themjust right will ensure that your exportworks perfectly.

Set your export dialog box just likethe one we have here and you'll beall set.

Click directly on the image to blow itup to clearly see the settings.

Step 7 — Install Quad Face tools OBJ importer

First open up SketchUp (Make or Pro)

Go to Window>Extension Warehouse

Search for "quad face tools"

Select Quad Face tools and click install.

You're done! Now have Quadface tools installed. You can now use this to import your OBJ filesfrom Minecraft.

Exporting your models from Minecraft to SketchUp

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Step 8 — Import it!

Open up a new SketchUp model and go to File>Import

In the import dialog set the format to OBJ and go find where you saved your file.

Click on Options and make sure "Meters" is selected and that "Sway XY coordinates is ticked"

The meter setting is important as it will scale all of your blocks to 1x1 meter. According to theMinecraft Wiki this will make sure that your blocks are properly sized in SketchUp

Click Import

If you've exported a big file, or you have a slower computer this can sometimes take a while. Justbe patient!

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This document was last generated on 2017-06-21 04:37:25 AM.

Step 9 — Blow it up (a little)

Now that you have your model imported you'll notice that it's one big group. We want you to be ableto move around and edit each block similar to how you do it in Minecraft. To achieve that we'll haveto do a little exploding.

Right click on your model anywhere and select "Explode" DO THIS TWICE.

Once you do that you'll be able to select, move, or otherwise modify each individual block.

Step 10 — Enjoy!

Have fun importing your models!

You can download some test importshere.

Share them on 3D Warehouse,render them, 3D print them, or usethem as a base for a new project.

Exporting your models from Minecraft to SketchUp

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