Draw Window (custom)

 

Create custom-shaped windows with this tool. For example, make oval windows, arched windows, triangular windows and many other shapes.

 

Why use Draw Window (custom) instead of dragging in Directory windows? It's true. There are hundreds of highly detailed window styles in the Directory you can drag onto walls and resize. However, Draw Window (custom) lets you create windows of any shape. For example, create star-shaped windows, oval windows, arched windows and practically any other shape you can think of.

 

Contents

 

Draw a Window

Select Window

Resize Window

Delete Window

Move Window

Duplicate a Window

Paint and Materials

Crossbars

Reshape Window

Oval Window

Arch Window


Draw Window

To draw a window on a wall, roof or floor:

 

  1. In 3D or Elevation mode, choose Build> Draw Window (custom).

  2. Cursor will change to an arrow with a window.

  3. Click-and-drag at an angle - noting size as you drag.

  4. Adjust handles to set size if necessary.


Select Window

To select a window so you can manipulate or delete it:

 

  1. Select the wall the window is on.

  2. Click the window's center handle, edge or frame. Window is selected when you see blue and yellow handles.


Resize Window

Resize window in 3D or elevation modes, by first selecting it and then dragging the blue handles. Size is shown as you drag.

 

In blueprint mode you may resize the width of rectangular windows but changing odd shaped windows may distort the shape. It's better to resize the window in 3D or Elevation modes.

 


Delete Window

Select the window (handles show) and press the Delete or Backspace keys. You may also right-click a window and choose Delete from the pop-up menu.


Move Window

Select the window and drag center handle, edge or frame.

 

When you drag horizontally or vertically, the window will be constrained to that direction. Drag at an angle to position the window freely.


Duplicate Window

Duplicate a window by selecting it and choosing Edit> Duplicate.

 

You may also hold in the Q key and drag the window edge or center handle to peel off a duplicate - move cursor completely away from the first window to see the duplicate.

 

See Duplicate in the Edit menu for more information.


Paint and Materials

Drag paint colors and materials onto windows from the Directory. Also see Materials and Textures and Paint and Color.


Crossbars

Hide one or both crossbars in rectangular windows by right-clicking the window and choosing Crossbars>Hide Vertical Crossbar (or Horizontal .)

 

Non-rectangular windows don't show crossbars. However, you may add your own crossbars as well as create custom crossbars  using Edit> Draw Molding.

 

Example:

 


Reshape Window

Click-and-drag yellow handles to make windows into triangular, heart and other shapes. If necessary, Ctrl-click window edges to add and delete yellow handles. Hold in shift to move handles freely.

 

Also see Oval and Arch below.

 

Oval Window

Right-click window edge or handles and choose "Make Oval".

Note: Set window size while rectangular before making it oval. To make one side of a window rounded, see below.

Arch Window

Right-click top blue handle of window and choose "Make Edge Rounded." Handle will turn light-blue - drag it upward to make an arch. Actually, you may right-click other blue handles and make them rounded also.