Add a dimensions layer to a scene

You can use the Dimensions tool to communicate information about the dimensions of objects in a scene. Each dimensions layer allows you to create multiple dimensions with labels that display the horizontal, vertical, or diagonal distance between the points. You can group the dimensions into themes, with different colors and sizes for the lines and labels for each layer, allowing you to customize the visualization. The dimensions are saved in the scene and can be used in slides to share with stakeholders, such as for existing and proposed developments.

Create a dimensions layer

To create a dimensions layer, complete the following steps:

1. Click Add Layers on the Designer toolbar.
2. Click Dimensions to open the Dimensions pane.
3. Click in the scene to place the first point and move the mouse.
4. Click again to place the endpoint.
5. Click in the scene to place more dimensions.
6. Click Stop anytime to stop adding dimensions.
7. To adjust the dimensions, do any of the following:
   1. Click a dimension and drag any of the points to edit the distance.
   2. If available, rotate the positioning of the dimension.
   3. Click an orange bar to change the dimension edge and drag to position the label.
   4. For Line, click Color to change the line color, and do any of the following:
      • Choose a color from the color picker.
      • Create a custom color by the Hex, RGB, or HSV values.
      • Under Saved, you can temporarily save colors.
      • Click or to add or remove a color.
      • Click Done to apply the settings and return to the previous pane.

      You can also click one of the recent colors.

   5. For Label, click  Color to change the color of the label through the color options. You can also click one of the recent colors.
   6. For Size, choose small, medium, or large to set the size for both the line and the label.
8. Click Add to add more dimensions.
9. Click Clear all to clear the dimensions for that layer and start over.
10. Click Done when you are finished.

    A new dimension layer is added to the layer list in the Layer Manager pane.

11. Click Cancel to return to the previous pane.

Modify an existing dimensions layer

To modify an existing dimensions layer, complete the following steps:

1. Click Layer Manager to open the Layer Manager pane.
2. Select the dimensions layer or click Options and click Edit Dimensions to open the Dimensions pane.
3. To edit a dimension, do any of the following:
   1. Click a dimension and drag any of the points to edit the distance.
   2. Click an orange bar to change the dimension edge and drag to position the label.
   3. If available, rotate the positioning of the dimension.
   4. For Line, click Color to change the line color, and do any of the following:
      • Choose a color from the color picker.
      • Create a custom color by the Hex, RGB, or HSV values.
      • Under Saved, you can temporarily save colors.
      • Click or to add or remove a color.
      • Click Done to apply the settings and return to the previous pane.

      You can also click one of the recent colors.

   5. For Label, click Color to change the color of the label through the color options.

      You can also click one of the recent colors.

   6. For Size, choose small, medium, or large to set the size for both the line and the label.
4. Click Add to add more dimensions.
5. Click Stop to stop adding dimensions.
6. Click Clear all to clear the dimensions for that layer and start over.
7. Click Done when you are finished.
8. Click Cancel to return to the previous pane.

Tip:

Press the Ctrl key to temporarily disable snapping to the orange visual cues. Release the Ctrl key to enable snapping again.