Top Plugins and Extensions for Autodesk FormIt

If you use Autodesk FormIt regularly, you know the base tools are designed for speed and conceptual massing. But if you stop there, you are missing half the software’s capability.

Unlike SketchUp’s massive extension warehouse, FormIt’s power lies in a more curated, integrated ecosystem, specifically the Plugin Manager and its direct links to heavy-duty BIM tools. The right extensions don’t just add features; they fix the geometry and data gaps that usually slow down the transition from "concept" to "production."

Here is what actually makes a difference in a professional workflow.

1/ The "Plugin Manager" Essentials

FormIt introduced a built-in Plugin Manager that connects directly to GitHub repositories. These are lightweight JavaScript extensions that solve specific modeling frustrations. You don't need to hunt for them online; you enable them directly inside the software.

Validate + Clean Model

It scans your model for non-manifold geometry, watertight issues, and stray edges before you try to send anything to Revit.

Why it matters: FormIt models often break when imported into Revit because of "messy" geometry. This tool flags and fixes those errors before you export, saving hours of cleanup later.

Best for: Pre-export preparation and keeping models "solid."

Fillet 2D Corners

It instantly rounds off sharp corners on 2D linework with a precise radius.

Why it matters: Native FormIt tools make filleting tedious. This plugin automates it, which is critical for site plans, curbs, and realistic floor plate edges.

Best for: Site design, hardscaping, and detailing floor plans.

Properties Plus

It exposes data fields that the standard properties palette hides, such as specific object IDs and advanced selection filters.

Why it matters: As models get complex, selecting "all windows on the south facade" becomes a nightmare. This tool gives you granular control over selection sets based on data, not just geometry.

Best for: Managing complex scenes with hundreds of grouped objects.

2/ Visualization Connectors

FormIt is for modeling, not photorealism. To show a client what the design feels like, you need to get the geometry out immediately.

Lumion LiveSync

It creates a real-time, live link between FormIt and Lumion. Move a wall in FormIt, and it moves in Lumion instantly.

Why it matters: It removes the "export-import-fix" loop. You can model with lighting and materials visible in real-time on a second monitor, allowing for instant visual feedback during design iterations.

Best for: Interactive client presentations and testing lighting conditions.

Twinmotion (via Datasmith)

While not a "plugin" in the strictest sense, the Datasmith exporter is the official bridge to bring FormIt geometry into Twinmotion (and Unreal Engine) with metadata intact.

Why it matters: It handles texture mapping and material definitions better than standard FBX exports, ensuring you don't have to re-texture your entire model every time you update the geometry.

Best for: High-fidelity architectural visualization and VR walkthroughs.

3/ Computational Design (The "Infinite" Plugin)

Dynamo Integration

Dynamo isn't just a plugin; it is natively integrated into FormIt. However, it functions as an extension engine that allows you to run complex scripts, like placing trees along a path or generating louvers, without opening a separate window.

Why it matters: It turns complex parametric tasks into simple sliders. You can build a script once (or download one) and use it to generate complex geometry that would take hours to model manually.

Best for: Repetitive tasks, complex facades, and randomization (e.g., scattering vegetation).

4/ The Revit Bridge

FormIt Converter (Revit Add-in)

This is technically a plugin for Revit, but it is the single most important tool for a FormIt user. It translates .axm files into native Revit families, walls, and floors.

Why it matters: This is the reason professionals choose FormIt over SketchUp. It preserves "Intelligent Mesh" data, meaning your conceptual walls in FormIt become real, editable walls in Revit, not just dumb blocks.

Best for: Moving from Schematic Design (SD) to Design Development (DD).

Choosing what fits your work

FormIt’s ecosystem is smaller than its competitors, but it is sharper. You don't need fifty plugins to make it work; you just need the ones that ensure your data survives the trip to Revit or your rendering engine.

Start with Validate + Clean Model to keep your geometry healthy, and use LiveSync if you need instant visuals.

Bonus: Speed up rendering without leaving your workflow

If you need high-quality visuals but don't want to set up a heavy LiveSync connection or learn complex rendering software, Rendair is the fastest alternative.

Simply upload your FormIt views or screenshots, and let AI generate professional-grade renders in minutes. It respects your geometry while adding the realism, lighting, and material depth clients expect.

Start creating – try it free