This guide shows how to use the drawing tools (Rectangle, Line, Arc & Circle) to create 'Spaces' for conceptual modeling in the 'Design mode' on Snaptrude.
Drawing Spaces using Freeform Mode
Follow the steps below to draw spaces using the line, rectangle arc & circle tools:
Line
Step 1: Activate the Draw Line tool from the design tab or use the shortcut 'L' to start drawing the spaces. Then select "Space" and "Freeform" draw mode from the object type panel.
Step 2: Drag your mouse in a particular direction to form a closed loop and create a space using the free form draw mode. Enter the dimensions for accuracy such as length & angle. Switch between these input fields using the 'Tab' key on your keyboard. Press enter once you have entered the respective values to draw a line.
Pro-tip:
1. Lock the axis using the arrow keys for precision in cursor movement.
Rectangle
Step 1: Select the rectangle tool or press 'R' to activate the rectangle draw option
Step 2: Drag the mouse diagonally, to create a rectangle. (While dragging if the orange diagonal line appears, that means you are creating a square).
Pro-tip:
Enter the length and width for better accuracy. Use the Tab key to switch between fields and to lock a value. Locking a dimension (e.g., length) keeps it fixed while the other (width) remains adjustable.
Arc
Step 1: Next, let's draw some spaces using arcs. Navigate to the design tab and select 'Arc' or use 'A' as a shortcut key.
Step 2: Click the left mouse button to start modeling. Define the distance, angle as well as the radius of the arc by either dragging the cursor or entering a precise value. Follow the same steps to form a closed loop and create a space.
Pro-tip:
1. Enter the dimensions for accuracy such as length & angle. Switch between these input fields using the 'Tab' key on your keyboard.
2. You can work with both Line & Arc tools consecutively while by toggling between both the tools from the design tab or using the shortcuts 'L' and 'A' as shown below.
Circle
Step 1: Now, let's draw some spaces using the draw circle tool. Select the Draw circle tool in the design tab.
Step 2: Click where you want the center of the circle to be and drag the mouse away or enter the radius value and press enter to create the space.
Drawing Spaces using Offset Mode
Offset modes work by taking the points you provide as reference and then offsetting the space centrally, externally, and internally within a defined width. This method of drawing particularly useful when you wish to create surrounding spaces such as pathways, roads, lawns, etc.
Step 1: Start by activating the draw tool (line, rectangle, arc or circle). Make sure 'Space' is active in the 'Object type' tab. Then, select one of the offset modes, i.e., center, external or internal, as per your requirement and input the offset width as needed.
Step 2: Begin sketching the space on the design canvas. Drag the cursor to define the sketch boundary (you can also input the dimension value manually for accuracy). Press enter to finish.
Assigning Space Type
By default all spaces created will of the 'Room' type. You can re-assign these to different space type from the 'Type' dropdown in the object properties panel after selecting a space. The following types can be assigned to spaces:
Note: Assign spaces to Road, Garden, Deck, Pool & Walkway will not only change the height but all the material of this space based on the label. To view this, switch from the default 'Department' color mode to 'Texture' mode from the 'View Settings' in the 'Views' Panel.
Once the 'Type' is assigned, you can give labels to these spaces in the 'Label' option from the properties panel.
Other properties:
After selecting a space, use the properties panel to edit dimensions, assign story, areas and assign tags.
Edit Dimensions: Update the length, width, and height of a space by entering the desired values. By default, room and program block heights follow the story height—unlock this to set a custom height.
Assign Story & Duplicate to above/below stories: In multi-story projects, reassign spaces to another story using the story dropdown. Use the up arrow to duplicate spaces to the story above and the down arrow to duplicate them to the story below, creating identical copies.
Assign & Lock area: Lock a space’s area by clicking the lock icon. (Note that the spaces sharing boundaries cannot be edited after locking their area). Control how the area is counted in the Areas Dashboard: select Gross to include it in carpet area, Net to include it in built-up area, or exclude it by deselecting both options (double-click either option).
Assign Tags: Define and assign tags such as 'Department' (default), Zoning, Building, Phases, etc using 'Tag'. (Visit 'Working with Space Tags' article to learn more on this.)
Note: If multiple-spaces are selected together you will also find the align, Boolean operations & adjacency creation options.
Editing Spaces
1. Splitting Spaces: To divide a large space into smaller areas, activate the draw tool (line, rectangle, circle or arc) and select the 'Split the space on overlap' option in the object type panel . Start drawing from one edge to another of the space and space will then be split into smaller sections based on your sketch. This can be done with freeform as well as offset draw modes.
2. Creating Embedded Spaces: Enabling embedded mass enhances the draw tool, allowing you to create masses within larger ones without overlap. This enables flexible space manipulation, including creating space for courtyards or atriums. Follow the steps mentioned above for this.
3. Erase Edges: Navigate to the design tab and choose the 'Erase' tool, or press 'E' as a shortcut. Hover over the edge you want to delete, and press Tab to toggle between different spaces. This is useful for selecting between adjacent spaces with different labels and ensures the new space created after erasing the edge inherits the appropriate label.
4. Other editing options: Use the available editing tools available in the design tab such as Push/pull, Copy/Array, Rotate, Flip, Boolean operation, etc to further edit the spaces created. For detailed information on using these tools, visit the Model Editing Tools help page.