Material

Description

Custom appearance in each view

The Custom appearance in each view option determines whether the patio will appear differently in the Plan view than in the Perspective view. If this option is unchecked, the patio will appear the same in both views.

Plan

The Plan tab contains properties that affect the appearance of the patio in the Plan view. This tab will not be available unless the Custom appearance in each view option is checked.

Perspective

The Perspective tab contains properties that affect the appearance of the patio in the Perspective view. This tab will not be available unless the Custom appearance in each view option is checked.

Material

The Material property determines what type of surface the patio will use. To change the material, click the small image that displays the current material.

Material options

The appearance of the patio can be modified by clicking the small button that appears to the right of the material image.

Size

The Size property determines the scale of the patio material. For example, if the patio has a brick material, then the Size slider will adjust the size of each brick.

Angle

The Angle property determines the rotation angle of the patio material.  To change the material angle, move the Angle slider or type a value in the text field.

Offset X

The Offset X property determines the patio material’s left and right orientation. To shift the material left or right, move the Offset X slider or enter a value in the text field.

Offset Y

The Offset Y property determines the patio material’s forward and backward orientation. To shift the material forward or backward, move the Offset Y slider or enter a value in the text field.

Shininess

The Shininess property determines how glossy the material will appear. To change the appearance of the material, click the Shininess drop-down menu and select from the following options: Default, Off, Low, Medium, or High. The shininess property only affects the appearance of the material while in the 3D view.

Enable enhanced surface detail

The Enable enhanced surface detail property determines whether or not the patio will have increased detail when viewed up close.

Transparency

The Transparency property determines the opacity of the patio in the Plan view. To change the patio opacity, move the Transparency slider or type a value in the text field. Note that the Transparency property is only available when the Custom appearance in each view option is checked.

Line style

The Line Style… property determines the appearance of the outline of the patio in the Plan view. To change the line style, click the Line Style… button and select the style you wish to use from the dialog that appears. Note that a line style is only available when the Custom appearance in each view option is checked.

Options

Description

Elevation

The Elevation property determines the distance of the patio from the ground. To change the elevation, move the Elevation slider or type a value in the text field.

Height

The Height property determines how tall the patio is. To adjust the patio height, move the Height slider or type a value in the text field.

Edit points

Click the Edit points button to enable or disable point editing mode, which will allow you to modify the patio’s shape. See Editing Points for details.

Shape options

Click the Shape Options button to save the shape of the patio, or to load an existing shape. For more details, see Saving and Loading Shapes.

Border

Description

Custom appearance in each view

The Custom appearance in each view option determines whether the patio border will appear differently in the Plan view than in the Perspective view. If this option is unchecked, the patio border will appear the same in both views.

Plan

The Plan tab contains properties that affect the appearance of the patio border in the Plan view. This tab will not be available unless the Custom appearance in each view option is checked.

Perspective

The Perspective tab contains properties that affect the appearance of the patio border in the Perspective view. This tab will not be available unless the Custom appearance in each view option is checked.

Material

The Material property determines what type of surface the patio border will use. To change the material, click the small image that displays the current material.

Material options

The appearance of the patio border can be modified by clicking the small button that appears to the right of the material image.

Size

The Size property determines the scale of the patio border material. For example, if the border has a brick material, then the Size slider will adjust the size of each brick.

Angle

The Angle property determines the rotation angle of the patio border material.  To change the material angle, move the Angle slider or type a value in the text field.

Offset X

The Offset X property determines the patio border material’s left and right orientation. To shift the material left or right, move the Offset X slider or enter a value in the text field.

Offset Y

The Offset Y property determines the patio border material’s top to bottom orientation. To shift the material up or down, move the Offset Y slider or enter a value in the text field.

Shininess

The Shininess property determines how glossy the material will appear. To change the appearance of the material, click the Shininess drop-down menu and select from the following options: Default, Off, Low, Medium, or High. The shininess property only affects the appearance of the material while in the 3D view.

Enable enhanced surface detail

The Enable enhanced surface detail property determines whether or not the patio border will have increased detail when viewed up close.

Transparency

The Transparency property determines the opacity of the patio border in the Plan view. To change the border opacity, move the Transparency slider or type a value in the text field. Note that the Transparency property is only available when the Custom appearance in each view option is checked.

Line Style

The Line Style property determines the appearance of the outline of the patio border in the Plan view. To change the line style, click the Line Style button and select the style you wish to use from the dialog that appears. Note that a line style is only available when the Custom appearance in each view option is checked.

Border type

The Border type property determines whether the border will be flat, bullnose, seamless, or turned off entirely. To change the style of border, click the Border type drop-down list.

Length

The Length property determines the size of the border. To adjust the border size, drag the Length slider or type a value in the text field.

Height

The Height property determines how far down the side of the patio the border extends. To adjust the border height, move the Height slider or type a value in the text field.

Overhang

The Overhang property determines how far the border extends outside the patio. To adjust the border extension, move the Overhang slider or type a value in the text field.

Edit border

Click the Edit border button to enable or disable border editing mode. When enabled, click an edge of the patio to enable or disable the border at that location.

Information

Description

Area

The Area property displays the total size of the patio in square feet or meters.

Perimeter

The Perimeter property displays the total distance around the patio in feet or meters.