Be cautious if you downloaded a “BZ Toolbar” from a third-party site not affiliated with Trimble or the Extension Warehouse. Unofficial extensions can:
Absolutely. Despite being a "legacy" plugin, the SketchUp BZ Toolbar remains one of the most downloaded tools in the ecosystem for one simple reason: it does one thing (stretching/aligning) and does it perfectly without bloat.
For architects tweaking massing models, carpenters laying out joinery, or 3D printing enthusiasts resizing STL files, the BZ Toolbar saves minutes per click—which turns into hours per week.
While FredoScale is the Swiss Army Knife, BZ is the hammer: simple, reliable, and always effective.
Ready to speed up your workflow? Head to the SketchUcation Plugin Store, search for "BZ_Scale," install it via your Extension Manager, and never fight the native scale tool again.
Do you use the BZ Toolbar? Have you found a hidden feature we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
The BZ Toolbar (part of the Bezier Spline extension by Fredo6) is a powerful toolset for SketchUp designed to create and edit complex curves, polylines, and splines. While the native SketchUp Bezier tool is limited, the BZ Toolbar offers over a dozen curve types and advanced editing capabilities. 🛠️ How to Install and Set Up
To use the BZ Toolbar, you must install both the extension and its required library.
Download LibFredo6: This is the shared library required for all Fredo6 plugins.
Download Bezier Spline: Get the extension from the SketchUcation Plugin Store. Install via Extension Manager: In SketchUp, go to Extensions > Extension Manager.
Click Install Extension and select the downloaded .rbz files. Activate the Toolbar: Navigate to View > Toolbars. Check the box for BZ Toolbar or Bezier Spline. ✨ Key Features & Curve Types
The BZ Toolbar introduces several specialized tools that go beyond basic line drawing: Bezier Curve Tool - Extensions - SketchUp Community
1. Screen Real Estate Management Modern modeling often involves two monitors or high-resolution screens. The BZ Toolbar is designed to be docked unobtrusively on the side of the screen. It stays out of the way of your modeling canvas but remains instantly accessible. This is a massive upgrade over the default toolbars that can feel clunky and sprawling.
2. Logical Tool Grouping The genius of the toolbar lies in how it groups tools.
3. Visual Clarity The icons are clean, high-resolution, and distinct. Many third-party plugins suffer from low-res or confusing icons that look like they were drawn in MS Paint. The BZ Toolbar looks professional, matching the native SketchUp aesthetic so well that new users often assume it is a native feature.
4. Customization One of the standout features is the ability to toggle specific tool sets on and off. If you are strictly a 2D drafter, you can hide the 3D modification tools. If you are an architect, you can prioritize section cuts and views. This adaptability makes it useful across different disciplines, from interior design to mechanical engineering.
Be cautious if you downloaded a “BZ Toolbar” from a third-party site not affiliated with Trimble or the Extension Warehouse. Unofficial extensions can:
Absolutely. Despite being a "legacy" plugin, the SketchUp BZ Toolbar remains one of the most downloaded tools in the ecosystem for one simple reason: it does one thing (stretching/aligning) and does it perfectly without bloat.
For architects tweaking massing models, carpenters laying out joinery, or 3D printing enthusiasts resizing STL files, the BZ Toolbar saves minutes per click—which turns into hours per week.
While FredoScale is the Swiss Army Knife, BZ is the hammer: simple, reliable, and always effective.
Ready to speed up your workflow? Head to the SketchUcation Plugin Store, search for "BZ_Scale," install it via your Extension Manager, and never fight the native scale tool again. sketchup bz toolbar
Do you use the BZ Toolbar? Have you found a hidden feature we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
The BZ Toolbar (part of the Bezier Spline extension by Fredo6) is a powerful toolset for SketchUp designed to create and edit complex curves, polylines, and splines. While the native SketchUp Bezier tool is limited, the BZ Toolbar offers over a dozen curve types and advanced editing capabilities. 🛠️ How to Install and Set Up
To use the BZ Toolbar, you must install both the extension and its required library.
Download LibFredo6: This is the shared library required for all Fredo6 plugins. Be cautious if you downloaded a “BZ Toolbar”
Download Bezier Spline: Get the extension from the SketchUcation Plugin Store. Install via Extension Manager: In SketchUp, go to Extensions > Extension Manager.
Click Install Extension and select the downloaded .rbz files. Activate the Toolbar: Navigate to View > Toolbars. Check the box for BZ Toolbar or Bezier Spline. ✨ Key Features & Curve Types
The BZ Toolbar introduces several specialized tools that go beyond basic line drawing: Bezier Curve Tool - Extensions - SketchUp Community
1. Screen Real Estate Management Modern modeling often involves two monitors or high-resolution screens. The BZ Toolbar is designed to be docked unobtrusively on the side of the screen. It stays out of the way of your modeling canvas but remains instantly accessible. This is a massive upgrade over the default toolbars that can feel clunky and sprawling. Absolutely
2. Logical Tool Grouping The genius of the toolbar lies in how it groups tools.
3. Visual Clarity The icons are clean, high-resolution, and distinct. Many third-party plugins suffer from low-res or confusing icons that look like they were drawn in MS Paint. The BZ Toolbar looks professional, matching the native SketchUp aesthetic so well that new users often assume it is a native feature.
4. Customization One of the standout features is the ability to toggle specific tool sets on and off. If you are strictly a 2D drafter, you can hide the 3D modification tools. If you are an architect, you can prioritize section cuts and views. This adaptability makes it useful across different disciplines, from interior design to mechanical engineering.