Once you've imported a PDF, image, or CAD file into Snaptrude, you can select it, reorder it, adjust its visibility, and trace over it with ease. This article covers everything you need to know about working with imports after they're on your canvas.
Selecting Imports
Click to Select
When you click on an area with overlapping imports, Snaptrude selects them in stacking order — the most recently imported item is selected first, followed by older imports. This order is saved with your project and persists across sessions.
Cycle Through Overlapping Imports
Press Tab on your keyboard to cycle through overlapping imports from top to bottom in the stacking order. This is useful when you need to reach an import that's underneath another one.
Marquee (Box) Selection
Drag a selection box across your canvas to select multiple imports at once. The direction of your drag determines what gets selected:
Left to right (Enclosure) — Selects only imports that are fully inside the selection box.
Right to left (Crossing) — Selects any import that partially overlaps the selection box.
Pro-Tip: If you're familiar with AutoCAD or other CAD tools, this follows the same selection convention you're used to.
Reordering Imports
You can control which import sits on top of the stack by right-clicking on a selected import and choosing:
Bring to Front — Moves the import to the top of the stack so it's selected first on click.
Send to Back — Moves the import behind all other imports.
These options only appear when they're applicable (e.g., you won't see "Bring to Front" if the import is already on top).
Pro-Tip: If you're actively tracing over a specific import, use Bring to Front so it's always the first thing selected when you click — no more cycling through other layers to find it.
Adjusting Import Opacity
Each import has an Opacity slider in the Properties Panel. By default, imports are placed at 50% opacity so your reference is visible without overpowering your design.
To adjust opacity:
Select the import on the canvas.
Open the Properties Panel.
Use the Opacity slider to increase or decrease visibility.
Tracing Over Imports
Your imported references stay visible at all times — even while you draw spaces, site elements, slabs, roofs, ceilings, or other geometry on top of them. You don't need to worry about new objects blocking your reference.
Imports remain at the base level of the story but are rendered so they're always visually accessible. You can see your reference clearly while still being able to select and work on new geometry above it.
Note: If an import feels too prominent while you're drawing, lower its opacity in the Properties Panel. A value around 30–50% usually works well for tracing.
Quick Reference
Click — Select the topmost import in the stacking order.
Tab — Cycle to the next import underneath.
Right-click → Bring to Front / Send to Back — Reorder the stacking order.
Left-to-right drag — Enclosure selection (fully inside only).
Right-to-left drag — Crossing selection (partially overlapping).
Properties Panel → Opacity — Adjust import visibility (default 50%).