Google has announced the new features available in 3D modelling software SketchUp 8. This version includes easier tools for modeling Google Earth objects, texturing them, tagging their location, and uploading them to Google Earth.

You can build models from scratch, or you can download what you need. There’s no limit to what you can create with SketchUp 8. It’s a huge, searchable repository of models, and it’s free.

As usual, Google SketchUp is also available as pro version. For the $500 Pro users, it now includes Boolean objects and the ability to export in DXF. These are features easily available in other 3D modeling programs, some of which are cheaper, so it’s surprising it took so long. However, Pro users also get LayOut, which offers 2D text and model integration for making presentations. That is a reason to upgrade to Pro.