Polygons, rectangles, circles

CityEngine offers tools to draw polygons, rectangles, and circles.

Tip:

  • To use the CityEngine tools, ensure the Tool Options window Tool options is open by clicking Window > Tool Options in the main menu.
  • Not all CityEngine tools have options under Tool Options.

Draw a polygon

To draw a polygon, click the Polygonal Shape Creation tool Polygonal shape creation tool or press S. You can also click Shapes > Polygonal Shape Creation in the main menu.

Click to create the first vertex and click again to place additional vertices. To finish the shape, click the first vertex. You can also double-click or press Enter to finish the shape. See Polygonal Shape Creation Tool Options for shape creation options.

Polygonal Shape Creation tool
Polygonal Shape Creation tool

Draw an arc

While you are drawing, you can switch between a line and an arc with the Arc Mode toggle key in the Tool options Polygonal Shape Creation tool options or press (a). You can adjust the tangent of the arc with the handles.

Drawing an arc
Drawing an arc

Polygonal Shape Creation Tool Options

Polygon tool options

The Tool options Polygonal Shape Creation tool includes the following options:

Tool options Polygonal Shape Creation
Snapping

Snapping options

Turn snapping options on and off in the scene. See Snapping.

Edge Length (m)

The length of the current edge in meters. You can enter a value before or while drawing to lock the edge length. Press Enter to apply the value.

Arc Mode

Change the edge into an arc.

  • Enter a value for the resolution of the arc. The smaller the value, the more sides the arc has.
  • Change the value by using the scroll wheel or the up and down arrow keys.
  • Press (a) to switch between an edge and arc.
Force New Shape

When creating a shape that connects to an existing shape, force a new shape to be drawn instead of combining it with the other shape.

Force Planar

Force the polygon to be planar. Press (t) to turn force planar mode on and off. See Force Planar.

Automatic Closing

Create a shape that closes along the edges of connected shapes. See Automatic closing.

Draw a rectangle

To draw a rectangle, click the Polygonal Shape Creation tool Polygonal shape creation tool and then click the Rectangular Shape Creation tool Rectangular Shape Creation tool in the Tool Options window Tool options. You can also press Shift+S or click Shapes > Rectangular Shape Creation in the main menu.

Click to start drawing and click again to define the first edge. Drag the rectangle to the size you want and click. The rectangle is constrained to the line perpendicular to the first edge. Squares can be drawn by snapping the second perpendicular edge to the length of the first. See Rectangular Shape Creation Tool Options for shape creation options.

Rectangular Shape Creation tool
Rectangular Shape Creation tool

Rectangular Shape Creation Tool Options

Rectangle tool options

The Tool options Rectangular Shape Creation tool includes the following options:

Tool options Rectangular Shape Creation
Snapping

Snapping options

Turn snapping options on and off in the scene. See Snapping.

Edge Length (m)

The length of the current edge in meters. You can enter a value before or while drawing to lock the edge length. Press Enter to apply the value.

Force Planar

Force the rectangle to be planar. Press (t) to turn force planar mode on and off. See Force Planar.

Draw a circle

To draw a circle, click the Polygonal Shape Creation tool Polygonal shape creation tool and click the Circular Shape Creation tool Circular Shape Creation tool in the Tool Options window Tool options. You can also press Shift+C or click Shapes > Circular Shape Creation in the main menu.

Click once to set the center of the circle, move the pointer to define the radius, and click again to finish. See Circular Shape Creation Tool Options for shape creation options.

Circular Shape Creation tool
Circular Shape Creation tool

Similarly to the arc mode, you can change how many sides the circle has.

Circle changed to multiple sides
Circle changed to multiple sides

Circular Shape Creation Tool Options

Circle tool options

The Tool options Circular Shape Creation tool includes the following options:

Tool options Circular Shape Creation
Snapping

Snapping options

Turn snapping options on and off in the scene. See Snapping.

Radius (m)

The radius length in meters. You can enter a value before or while drawing to lock the radius length. Press Enter to apply the value.

Segments

The number of segments the circle has. You can enter a value or use the scroll wheel or the up and down arrow keys to change the number of segments.

Force Planar

Force the circle to be planar. Press (t) to turn force planar mode on and off. See Force Planar.