Editing Points

Many objects in Realtime Landscaping, 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 want to edit to select it.

2. To enable point editing mode, click the Edit Points button or press the E key. 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. 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 shape are set to Straight.

Spline

The Spline curve type indicates that the point is curved automatically based on the surrounding points. This is an easy way to create smooth flowing curves, but doesn't provide any options for changing it.

Bezier

The Bezier curve type has two handles that are linked together. The handles can be moved to change the shape of the curve.

Bezier Corner

The Bezier Corner curve type also has two handles, but these can be moved independently for even more control over the shape of the curve.

Scaling Bezier Handles

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

To scale Bezier curve handles:

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

2. Click Edit Points to enable point editing mode.

3. Click the point you want 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.

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 want to modify to select it. The object must be an unclosed shape-based object, such as retaining walls, hedges, and fences.

2. Click Edit Points to enable point editing mode.

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

4. Click Split Object.

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 want to join, hold the Shift key, and then click the second object. The objects must be shape-based, the same type, and neither may be closed.

2. Click Edit Points to enable point editing mode.

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

4. Click Join Objects.

Editing Points of Multiple Objects

The points of multiple objects can be edited at the same time, highlighting Realtime Landscaping’s powerful ability to simultaneously edit 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 Edit Points. For this feature to be available, the objects selected must be of the same type. For example, you could not adjust the points of a 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.