Tutorial: Create Architectural Diagram with Sun Diagram & Dynamic Symbols

Welcome back! In this tutorial, we’re sharing the updated workflow for creating an architectural diagram animation using two plugins: Sun Diagram and Dynamic Symbols. Both are available as free plugins.

Applicable for:

  1. Site analysis diagrams

  2. Sun path and shadow studies

  3. Architectural diagram

  4. and more

Softwares used:

  1. SketchUp: Modeling and editing 3D before export 

  2. Sun Diagram Free: https://sundiagram.com/sun-diagram

    or: https://extensions.sketchup.com/extension/5aa1ab3d-36ff-4510-ae63-84f677a36f3a/sun-diagram

  3. Dynamic Symbols Free: https://sundiagram.com/dynamic-symbols

    or: https://extensions.sketchup.com/extension/21085584-a984-474d-8407-33087adec402/dynamic-symbols

Reference Diagrams

All Resources used in the tutorial are included

All project files (2D + 3D) are included

FREE DOWNLOAD VIA GOOGLE DRIVE

Let’s get started.

Tutorial (step-by-step guide and videos):

Step 1: Import Terrain and Map Data
Step 2: Create Terrain and Contour Lines
Step 3: Create a 3D Sun Path with Sun Diagram Plugin
Step 4: Add Symbols (Wind, Views, etc.) with Dynamic Symbols Plugin
Step 5: Export Animations to Create an Animated Diagram
Step 6: Combine Images and Videos into a Final Animated Diagram

Final Result

Let’s get started !

STEP 1: Import Terrain and Map Data

  1. Go to File > Add Location
    – Enter the location name or coordinates
    – Click Set Location, then continue by selecting Add Context
  2. 📥 Choose the elements you want to include:
    1. Flat site
    2. Elevated site
    3. Map texture
    4. Terrain mesh
    5. 3D building
  3. Once selected, highlight the area you want to focus on and click Import Site Context. SketchUp will automatically download terrain data and satellite maps.

STEP 2: Create Terrain and Contour Lines

  1. In the Tags (Layers) panel: Turn off the flat map layer, Turn on the terrain layer
  2. Draw rectangles at 10-meter intervals, perpendicular to the terrain.
    1. Group them into Components for easier management and selection.
    2. Use Intersect Faces, With Model to generate intersections between the planes and terrain.
    3. These intersection lines will become the contour lines we need.
    4. Delete any unnecessary flat surfaces, keeping only the contour lines.
  3. Let’s add a box to represent the project building: Resize the box so it matches the scale of the diagram

STEP 3: Create a 3D Sun Path with Sun Diagram Plugin

  1. Use the first function of Sun Diagram: Create Sun Path
    1. Choose From Model mode (location already set in Step 1)
    2. Disable DST if working in Vietnam or other regions without daylight saving
    3. Adjust the size of the sun path and change its style:
  2. Go to Sun Diagram Style,
    1. choose Style 02, Apply
    2. Tip: Color the contour lines so they appear more subtle, reducing visual clutter.

STEP 4: Add Symbols (Wind, Views, etc.) with Dynamic Symbols Plugin

  1. Click a symbol from the Dynamic Symbols toolbar to insert it
  2. Scale the symbol to fit your diagram
  3. Replace it by selecting another symbol from the toolbar
  4. Change its color using Custom Color
  5. Repeat for other symbols as needed

STEP 5: Export Animations to Create an Animated Diagram

  1. Combine related layers (tags) to keep the model easier to control.
    1. Organize all layers (tags) generated by Sun Diagram into a dedicated folder named Sun Path
    2. Assign the contour lines and the box to their own separate layers (tags) for better control
    3. That everything is ready, let’s set a proper camera view for exporting the diagram
  2. Choose a suitable camera angle: Ensure sun path lines are clear and not overlapping
  3. Hide the Feb_DynamicSymbols layer, we’ll export it later on its own
  4. Use Sun Diagram to export shadow analysis animations: 
    1. Go to Export Shadow Analysis
    2. Select the time range (default: 6:00–18:00)
    3. Set output folder and resolution
    4. Click Apply to export the images
    5. Note: Disable the ground shadow, since our sea level is lower than the ground plane.
    6. These images can later be combined into a video using Photoshop, CapCut, etc. (explained in Step 6).(Since I’m using the Free version, I can only export shadows for December)
  5. We’ll animate the symbols with the Dynamic Symbols plugin
    1. Disable all other layers (tags), keeping only Feb_DynamicSymbols visible
    2. Select a symbol, click Create Animation for Dynamic Symbols
    3. Use Test Animation to preview
    4. Disable animations for all scenes except Feb_F1, Feb_F2, Feb_F3
    5. Go to File, Export, Animation
    6. Export Options: Set resolution to 2K to match the shadow analysis images, Uncheck Loop to starting scene
    7. OK then Export

STEP 6: Combine Images and Videos into a Final Animated Diagram

Here, I’ll be combining them using Photoshop

  1. Load images into Photoshop. Go to file scripts
    1. Load files into stack to import all the images you want to combine.
    2. Important. Make sure the images are arranged in the correct order
    3. Check image order and create a timeline
    4. Set the frame rate. In this example, I’m setting it to 1 frames per second.
    5. Convert the video to frame animation.
    6. Fix the video duration important. Now, drag the last frame slightly forward and then back to its original position. This forces the video’s end point to snap to the actual last frame
    7. Press play to preview the animation
    8. Export the video.
  2. We’ll continue by adding the animated symbols (wind arrows) that we exported in Step 5.
    1. Load files into stack: Load the shadow analysis and winds videos into a stack
    2. Click OK and wait for Photoshop to load the videos as layers.
    3. Set the frame rate: setting it to 24 frames per second
    4. Drag the Winds layer above the Shadow Analysis layer
    5. We’ll remove the dark background and keep only the moving arrows:
      1. Right-click on the Winds layer and select Blending Options.
      2. Under Blend If, Current Layer, move the left (black) slider towards the right until the dark background fades out and only the arrows remain
      3. Let’s lower the Winds layer opacity to about 80–90% so it blends in nicely
    6. Just duplicate the Winds layer until it covers the full length of the timeline for a continuous loop
    7. Press play to preview the animation
    8. Once everything looks good, go ahead and export the animation as a video
    9. And that’s it. Here’s the final result.

Final Result

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That’s it! 🎉 You now have a complete architectural diagram animation combining Sun Diagram and Dynamic Symbols.

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