Basic 3D Shapes

The 3D library allows you to draw 2D and 3D shapes in your space. It can be useful for validating clearances or filling in a blank space.

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Drawing a basic shape

RealityPlan offers three basic shapes: cylinder, cube, and plane. To place a shape:

1. Open the 3D library from the toolbar.

2. Select the shape you want to place.

   1. For cylinders or cubes, click the environment to insert the shape.

   2. For planes, click the environment multiple times to draw the shape’s outline. Click the first point a second time or press Enter to complete the outline definition.

3. You may adjust the size and position of the shape with the handles surrounding it. You can also show additional handles by pressing R on your keyboard.

Tip

• If you want to accurately resize the placed shape, use the property panel of the shape, where you can type-in numerical values.

• The plane shape may be used to do a manual hole filling after using the cut tool.

Coloring and texturing

You can easily texture and color the faces of the shapes using the shape’s Settings panel:

• Click the texture box to open the texture library, and apply a texture to the shape. You may import external textures using the import material button. The textures also support video playback.

  • Supported file extensions: png, jpg, jpeg, and mp4.

• Click the stretch texture button next to the texture box to repeat or extend the texture on the shape.

• Click the Select color box to change the shape’s color. You can then choose a custom color or pick one directly from the environment.

• Set simple Physically Based Rendering materials (e.g., glass, mirror, steel) by using the Material presets.

• Set advanced PBR properties by adjusting the transparency, smoothness, and metallic sliders

Face-Specific Texturing (Cube Primitive)

Use the Modify textures on individual sides button to apply different textures to each face of the cube primitive. This allows for more precise visual representation—such as showing a reference image (e.g., shelving) on one side—while keeping the remaining faces neutral or have it’s own texture.

Basic Positioning

By default, a shape’s origin sits at its geometric center. This origin is the shape’s pivot point: it is the point that meets the surface you click on, the point the shape rotates around, and the point where the handles appear — so it is where you grab the shape to move and rotate it.

To move the origin to the bottom of the shape instead, select the shape and enable Place origin at the base in its Settings panel. The pivot then sits at the lowest point of the shape’s bounding box, which is ideal for floor alignment or stacking.

This toggle is especially useful for fast and consistent shape placement without manually adjusting the pivot in the scene.

Tip

Place origin at the base is off by default, and every shape you draw from the 3D library starts with it off — the setting applies to the individual shape, not to the library. If you need several shapes with their origin at the base, set one up the way you want it and then copy and paste it, rather than drawing each one from the library.

Note

Imported 3D models use a four-option Origin setting instead of this toggle — see Choosing an origin.

Advanced Positioning: Change pivot point

This tool enables you to temporarily change the pivot of an object, placing it anywhere on the scene. This allows for more precise movement, especially for large assets.

To use this feature:

1. Select the object

2. Select the Change pivot option from the contextual menu using the mouse right-click. Click any point in the environment to relocate the pivot to the desired position.

Advanced Positioning: Use offset placement

This tool lets you move a shape by manually entering offset distances for translation and rotation angles.

To use this feature:

1. Select the object

2. Select the Use offset placement option from the contextual menu using the mouse right-click. Enter values for translation and rotation along axes X, Y and Z, then click Apply.

   

Exporting

Similarly to 3D models, the 3D shapes can be exported.