This is the number one issue for new users. If you download the raw RB file and put it in your Plugins folder, SketchUp may crash or fail to load the extension. The solution is surprisingly simple: rename the .rb file. Rename it to something short like "ffd.rb" . It works perfectly.
Create your basic shape and use a tool like SubD , Curviloft , or native splitting to subdivide the faces. Ensure the object is grouped. Step 2: Apply the Control Cage sketchy ffd sketchup plugin
takes a fundamentally different approach: instead of deforming an object interactively with control points, it asks you to select a target curve, and then it bends the object to follow that curve. This is ideal for creating paths, railings, or curved architectural elements with predictable outcomes. However, Shape Bender offers very little manual control once the deformation is applied. Sketchy FFD, by contrast, gives you complete freedom to push, pull, and tweak any region of the shape until it matches your creative vision. This is the number one issue for new users
Ensure the object you want to deform is a single group or component consisting only of faces and lines. Rename it to something short like "ffd