> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://skatter.help.lindale.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://skatter.help.lindale.io/getting-started.md).

# Getting started

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5FxMayG_fQ>" %}

Two steps to quickly get you started with Skatter:

1. [**Download Skatter here**](https://lindale.io/skatter?download)
2. **Install it, then start the 15 days trial**\
   Once the trial is expired, you can [purchase a license here](https://lindale.io/skatter#buy)

## Tutorial

### 1. Create a new composition

In Skatter, we call a distribution of objects a *composition*. A composition has many parameters (density, distribution type, filters...) and controls *what* is scattered ([objects](/manual/scattered-objects.md)) and *where* ([hosts](/manual/hosts.md)).

A SketchUp model can contain many compositions. For instance, a landscape architect could create a composition for grass, another one for a tree grove, yet another one for gravel on the ground, and so on.

There are several ways to create a new composition:

* Click the *New composition* <img src="/files/-MkBegLl0Q4c36Eha0nW" alt="" data-size="original"> button in Skatter's toolbar
* Click the *Composition manager* <img src="/files/-MkCwkgs1u1YC5ImSdcq" alt="" data-size="original"> button in Skatter's toolbar and then click the <img src="/files/-MkCwp18QMH9JdaY7Em1" alt="" data-size="original"> icon
* Use `Extensions > Skatter 2 > New composition` in SketchUp's menus

![](/files/-MkCuUCAFoj7l5rxX-w_)

A composition is made of three main parts:

* The *What*: the [objects](/manual/scattered-objects.md) that you want to scatter. For instance, a tree model that you want to clone many times to create a forest.
* The *Where*: the location where you want to distribute these objects. In our forest example, that would be the terrain. These are the [hosts](/manual/hosts.md).
* The *How*: the parameters used to define how the objects are distributed. This can be the density, the objects' orientation, and other parameters used to fine-tune the distribution, such as [masks](/manual/masks.md) and [filters](/manual/filters.md).

### 2. Pick a host

We call the geometry that will receive scattered objects "[hosts](/manual/hosts.md)". Here, we select the terrain as a [surface host](/manual/hosts.md#surface-hosts).<br>

![](/files/-MkCu8VcuSbwRzDsKmwW)

### 3. Pick objects to scatter

Now, select which [objects](/manual/scattered-objects.md) will be automatically cloned thousands of times by Skatter. We call each copy of an object that is scattered on the host an *instance*.<br>

![](/files/-MkCub6V4dsWI-xg9FLn)

### 4. Generate the composition

Click the Generate button to create the instances in the SketchUp model

Congratulations, you just made your first Skatter composition!<br>

![](/files/-MkCufIo_kDQ2IdQXFcg)

Alternatively, switch to [Render only](/manual/generating.md#render-only-generation) mode. This time, instances won't be generated in the model, but they will be sent directly to your render engine (V-Ray in this example).&#x20;

This is very useful when you want to generate thousands of objects without slowing down SketchUp's viewport.

![](/files/-MkCuis9dgEpGneihUyQ)

### 5. Draw a mask

There are [many types of masks](/manual/masks.md) available to restrict where objects can and cannot be scattered.

![](/files/-MkCuo6X_SpZ40Im6ckU)

### 6. 3D Bazaar

Browse the [3D Bazaar marketplace](/manual/3d-bazaar.md) to find pre-configured Skatter compositions, like grass, trees, etc.

![](/files/-MkNX3qYwPqURaESzeqf)

### 7. Explore

You can now play with each setting to understand what they do.

All the parameters are described in [the manual](/manual/things-to-know.md), but there's nothing better than experimenting by yourself!<br>