Step 4: Prepare your art for VR in Unity

Open Unity. Create a new project.

Now double click on the Google Cardboard SDK download, which should be called ‘CardboardSDKForUnity.unitypackage’.

If you get a screen like this, don’t worry about it — just click ‘go ahead.’

When it loads into Unity, make sure everything is checked and click ‘Import’.

Now let’s load in our Sketchup model. Unity is great with drag-and-drop, so find the saved file, and drag it into the Unity ‘Assets’ folder in the file explorer. Unity will now import the model and generate materials for it.

Drag the sketchup file now in your assets folder over into the ‘Hierarchy tab’. It should appear in your scene. If you don’t see it, it may be out of view or a strange size. Over in the ‘Inspector’ tab, try messing around with the x,y,z position or scale until it’s in a good spot. Finally, click the little checkbox that says ‘static,’ which tells Unity this object will not be moving.

Next, navigate to Assets/Cardboard/Prefabs in your Unity file explorer window. In there you’ll find a file called ‘Cardboard Main’. Just like with the sketchup file, drag that file into the Unity tab labeled ‘Hierarchy.’ In that same tab, delete the object called ‘Main Camera.’ We’re replacing that normal camera with a VR one, so we don’t need it.

Now is a great time to save your scene — go to ‘File,’ then ‘Save Scene.’ The scene should be saved somewhere in your Assets folder. Common practice is to create a new folder called ‘_Scenes’ (so it’s always the first folder), and save it in there. Feel free to conform, or be a rebel.