Sherpa Render for SketchUp
Everything you need to get going: installing, signing in, rendering from your viewport, what each setting does and what to do when something goes wrong.
What you need
SketchUp for Web does not support extensions. No account yet? Create one for free — you get 5 renders to test with.
1. Install
Sherpa Render is listed on SketchUp's official Extension Warehouse. That is the easiest route — SketchUp handles the installation and keeps track of new versions for you.
From the Extension Warehouse
- 1 Open SketchUp and go to Window › Extension Warehouse.
- 2 Search for Sherpa Render and click Install.
- 3 Confirm SketchUp's prompt. After a few seconds the extension is installed.
- 4 You'll find Sherpa under Extensions › Sherpa Render and on its own toolbar.
Prefer your browser? Open the Extension Warehouse listing and click Install there — SketchUp picks it up.
Toolbar not showing?
Turn it on through View › Toolbars (Windows) or View › Tool Palettes (Mac) and tick Sherpa Render. If the menu item does nothing, check in Window › Extension Manager that Sherpa Render is set to Enabled.
2. Sign in
Open Extensions › Sherpa Render. The Sherpa panel appears next to your model — you can move and resize it, and leave it open while you work in SketchUp.
Sign in with the same email address and password you use on sherpa-render.com. Your credit balance and plan then show at the top of the panel.
You only need to do this once: the session persists between SketchUp sessions. Only a refresh token is stored locally, never your password. You can sign out at the bottom of the panel.
3. Rendering from your viewport
Set your camera
Sherpa renders exactly what you see in your viewport, in your aspect ratio. The clearer the view, the stronger the result.
Capture it
Click the capture area in the Sherpa panel. Sherpa saves your viewport with the long edge at 1600 pixels. Not happy with it? Click ↻ Retake for a new one.
Choose your settings
Type, mood and resolution — what each option does is explained below.
Click Render
The credit cost is shown on the button itself. While it runs you see progress with a timer; you can leave the panel open and carry on working.
Save your render
Click Save and choose a folder. Use + New render to go straight on to the next one. Every render lands in your dashboard on sherpa-render.com regardless.
4. What each setting does
Some settings only appear once they apply — a moodboard, for instance, shows up for interiors only.
- Type
- Exterior or Interior. This choice determines which other settings appear.
- Mood
- Day, Sunset or Night. For an exterior you can also pick Sketch.
- Light
- Sunlight or Cloudy. Only appears for an interior with the Day mood.
- Resolution
- 1K and 2K cost 1 credit, 4K costs 2. 4K is available from Pro onwards.
- Moodboard
- Optional style reference (JPG or PNG). Interior only.
5. Credits
The extension uses the same credit balance as the website. One image up to 2K costs 1 credit, a 4K export costs 2. Your balance sits at the top of the Sherpa panel and updates after every render.
If a render fails, your credits are refunded automatically.
Buy credits or change your plan on sherpa-render.com.
6. When something goes wrong
I cannot find Sherpa in my menu
Look under Extensions › Sherpa Render. If the toolbar is missing, turn it on through View › Toolbars (Windows) or View › Tool Palettes (Mac). If the menu item does nothing, check in Window › Extension Manager that Sherpa Render is set to Enabled.
“Sign-in failed. Check your email and password.”
Use the same email address and password as on sherpa-render.com. If you normally sign in with a magic link, set a password first through Forgot password on the login page.
“Session expired — please sign in again.”
Your stored session is no longer valid, for example after a password change. Sign in again and the session will persist as before.
“No connection”
The extension talks to qheeizjmzhrbtjlnnsot.supabase.co over HTTPS (port 443). Behind a corporate firewall or proxy, allow that host. A VPN that reroutes all traffic can block the connection too.
“This resolution is not available on your plan.”
4K export starts at Pro. Choose 2K, or upgrade your plan from your account on sherpa-render.com.
The render is taking a long time
A render normally takes a few minutes. If it runs past a quarter of an hour the extension will tell you. Credits are refunded automatically when a render fails.
Something else went wrong
Open Window › Ruby Console before you try again — error messages appear there. Send that text to [email protected] along with your SketchUp version and operating system.
Still stuck? Email [email protected] with your SketchUp version, your operating system and the message you see — we'll take a look.
Frequently asked questions
Which SketchUp versions are supported?
SketchUp 2021 or newer, on both Windows and Mac. You also need an internet connection and a free Sherpa account. The extension does not work in SketchUp for Web, which does not support extensions.
Does the extension cost anything?
No, the extension itself is free. Renders run on your Sherpa account credits: 1 credit per image up to 2K, 2 credits for 4K. A new account gets 5 free renders, no credit card needed.
Why can I not select 4K?
4K export starts at the Pro plan. On Starter or a free account 2K is the maximum and the 4K button stays disabled. You can see which plan is active next to your credit balance in the extension.
Where do I find my renders?
Save a render with the Save button and pick a folder yourself. Every render also appears in your Sherpa dashboard on sherpa-render.com, whether you made it from SketchUp or through the website.
Do I stay signed in?
Yes. After signing in once, the session persists between SketchUp sessions. Only a refresh token is stored locally — never your password. You can sign out at the bottom of the Sherpa panel.
What happens to my images?
Your viewport captures and renders are never used to train AI models, you keep full ownership of input and output, and files are deleted automatically after 30 days. A data processing agreement (GDPR) is available on request.
More about how it works: AI rendering for SketchUp
Ready to render
Install the extension and render your first viewport. Five free renders, no credit card.