Editing Points

Many objects in Realtime Landscaping Architect, such as ponds, edging, and houses, use an outline to define their shape. To edit the points that define an object’s outline, click the Edit Points button.

To enable point editing:

1.   Click the object you wish to edit to select it.

2.   To enable point editing mode, click the Edit Points button, or press the E key on your keyboard. When enabled, the points that make up the object’s outline will be visible in your design.

3.   Modify the points as desired. See the following topics for more details.

To disable point editing:

1.   Click the Edit Points button, or press the E key on your keyboard. This will disable point editing mode and the object's points will no longer be visible.

While you are editing points, you will not be able to modify or select any other objects, and are limited to manipulating the points of the selected object. To select and modify other objects, first disable point editing.

Editing Curve Types

Some objects support only straight lines between points, such as fences and houses. However, objects such as lot boundaries, swimming pools, and ponds allow for straight or curved lines. Whether a line is straight or curved is specified at each point.

To achieve a maximum level of control, four curve types are available: Straight, Spline, Bezier, and Bezier Corner. Each type of curve is explained below.

Straight

The Straight curve type indicates that the point is not curved, but is a sharp corner. In the picture below, all four corners of the square patio are set to Straight. To set a point to Straight, first click on the point to select it, then click on the first of the Curve type options that appear just below the Edit Points button. Note that before a point can be edited, the Edit Points button must be pressed.

Spline

The Spline curve type indicates that the point is curved in a simple and non-adjustable way. In the picture below, the selected point of the patio shape is set to Spline. To set a point to Spline, first click on the point to select it, then click on the second of the Curve type options that appear just below the Edit Points button. Note that before a point can be edited, the Edit Points button must be pressed.

Bezier

The Bezier curve type indicates that the point is curved in an advanced and adjustable way. In the picture below, the selected points on the four patio shapes are set to Bezier, and the blue handles that are used to adjust Bezier curves are moved differently in each shape. To set a point to Bezier, first click on the point to select it, then click on the third of the Curve type options that appear just below the Edit Points button. After a point is set to Bezier, it is given two handles that are linked together. These handles can be moved to change the shape of the curve. Note that before a point can be edited, the Edit Points button must be pressed.

Bezier Corner

The Bezier Corner curve type indicates that the point is curved in an advanced and very adjustable way. In the picture below, the selected points on the four patio shapes are set to Bezier Corner, and the blue handles that are used to adjust Bezier Corner curves are moved differently in each shape. To set a point to Bezier Corner, first click on the point to select it, then click on the fourth of the Curve type options that appear just below the Edit Points button. After a point is set to Bezier Corner, it is given two handles that are not linked together. These handles can be moved independently to change the shape of the curve. Note that before a point can be edited, the Edit Points button must be pressed.

Scaling Bezier Handles

The Scale tool can be used to influence the shapes of Bezier curves, which is especially useful when adjusting the curvature of symmetric shapes.

To scale Bezier curve handles:

1.   Click the object you wish to adjust to select it.

2.   Click the Edit Points button that appears to the right of the screen.

3.   Click the point you wish to scale. If more than one point needs to be selected, hold the Shift key while clicking on additional points.

4.   Click the Scale tool that appears to the left of the screen.

5.   Move your mouse over one of the blue handles.

6.   Click and hold the left mouse button as you move the mouse to scale the Bezier curve.

In the picture below, two shapes are shown with all points selected and set as Bezier curves. The Bezier handles of the shape to the right have been scaled following the steps shown above.

Splitting Objects

The Split Object tool can be used to separate an object that is not closed, such as edging, rock borders, retaining walls, and so on. This is useful when you want to split one of these objects into two separate objects.

To split an object:

1.   Click the object you wish to modify to select it. The object must be an unclosed shape-based object, such as retaining walls, hedges, and fences.

2.   Click the Edit Points button that appears to the right of the screen.

3.   Click the point at which you wish to separate the object into two.

4.   Click the Split Object button.

Joining Objects

The Join Objects tool is used to combine two separate shape-based objects into a single object. To be joined, two similar unclosed shape-based objects must be selected, such as panel fences, plant rows, and contour lines. Joining objects is useful for combining two shape-based landscaping objects into one.

To join objects together that are closed shapes or different object types see Using Booleans.

To join objects:

1.   Click one object that you wish to join, hold the Shift key on your keyboard, and then click the second object. The objects must be shape-based, the same type, and neither may be closed.

2.   Click the Edit Points button that appears to the right of the screen.

3.   Click the endpoint of one object, hold the Shift key on your keyboard, and then click the endpoint of the other object.

4.   Click the Join Objects button.

Editing Points of Multiple Objects

The points of multiple objects can be editing at the same time, highlighting Realtime Landscaping Architect’s powerful nature of allowing the simultaneous editing of several items at once. For example, if you have constructed a multilevel deck out of three different deck objects, you could edit the points of all three deck objects at once by selecting the decks and clicking the Edit Points button. For this feature to be available, the objects selected must be of the same type. For example, you could not adjust the points of patio and a house at the same time.

Tips:

•      By clicking an edge of a shape, you can quickly select the two points that form it.

•      Object shapes can be saved and loaded, even if the shapes were created using different objects. For details, see Saving and Loading Shapes.

See also:

Selecting Points
Moving Points
Rotating Points
Scaling Points
Inserting & Deleting Points
Beveling Corners
Rounding Corners
Using Automatic Dimensions
Undoing and Redoing Changes
Saving and Loading Shapes