Transmutr vs FluidImporter
Transmutr vs FluidImporter: compare 24s vs 53s import, simplification quality, GLB/GLTF and Rhino support, materials, proxies, and UV preservation.
Transmutr and FluidImporter are both SketchUp importers. While FluidImporter has a unique native Rhino support, it lacks support for GLB/GLTF that is now an industry standard. Transmutr also offers much more powerful features like advanced geometry simplification, render-ready materials, and one-click V-Ray and Enscape proxies.
Where Transmutr is stronger
- More import formats than FluidImporter, including industry standards like GLB/GLTF
- Much better simplification quality and control
- Can simplify objects already in SketchUp
- Render-ready PBR materials and one-click V-Ray and Enscape proxies
- Flawless imports for common asset libraries
- Convert multiple files at once
When FluidImporter still makes sense
FluidImporter can generate meshes from NURBS Rhino files.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Transmutr | FluidImporter |
|---|---|---|
| Import formats | Yes (FBX, GLTF/GLB, USD/USDZ, OBJ, SKP, 3DS, DAE, STL, ZIP, folders, and common image formats.) | Yes (FBX, 3DM, OBJ, DAE, DXF, STL, 3DS, PLY.) |
| Clean hierarchy, units, scale, axes | Yes (Automatically handles unit conversion, up-axis mapping, and preserves component structure.) | Yes |
| Geometry simplification | Yes (Best simplification engine of the lineup (see benchmarks below).) | Yes |
| Advanced simplification | Yes (Magic simplification and per-object control.) | No |
| In-SketchUp simplification | Yes (Edit and simplify objects already in SketchUp.) | No (During import only.) |
| Materials | Yes (Render-ready materials for SketchUp, V-Ray, and Enscape, including materials-only conversion.) | Partial (Base texture and UVs.) |
| V-Ray and Enscape proxies | Yes (One-click proxies, blob proxies, automatic billboards, and Enscape Asset Library export.) | No |
| Curated asset-source imports | Yes (Flawless imports for Poliigon, Humano, Poly Haven, and similar libraries.) | No |
| Convert multiple files at once | Yes (Batch conversion and automations, Command-Line Interface.) | No |
| Standalone converter | Yes (No need to load the heavy file into SketchUp when you don't have to.) | No |
Performance benchmark
Tested on the same real-world 1 million face model (either as GLB or FBX). Import time includes processing times for loading the source file into the UI, applying a 70% simplification (when available), and the final SketchUp file generation phase. User manual actions are excluded.
Import speed
- Transmutr: 24s
- FluidImporter: 53s
Simplification quality
- Transmutr: 5 / 5
- FluidImporter: 2 / 5
Simplification quality
FluidImporter's simplification engine can produce gigantic holes in the mesh. There is an option to weld vertices that helps with this issue, but it completely breaks the UV mapping.