Working with Objects

Combining Objects

Two or more objects can be combined using the Combine operations. These operations work with wall panels, niches, openings, floors and ceilings. The Pro edition lets you combine 3D objects such as Building Blocks, terrains, furniture and other objects. You can only combine objects of the same type. Depending on the size and location of the original objects and also on the used operation, the result can consist of one or more new objects. In order to combine objects, select two or more of them. Then bring up the context menu and choose a command from the Combine category.

The app supports the Union, Subtract, Intersect, Exclude and Divide operations. They take effect when the original objects overlap partially or completely in the 2D view, or one 3D object plunges into another in the 3D space. If the original objects don't overlap or touch, they will remain unchanged. These operations don't work with objects that are located on different levels (e.g., ceilings that belong to different stories).

Union

The result of Union is an object that includes the bodies of all of the original objects.

Original objects in 2D
The original objects to be combined in the 2D view.
Original objects in 3D
The original objects to be combined in the 3D view.
Result of Union in 2D
The Union operation was applied in the 2D view.
Result of Union in 3D
The Union operation was applied in the 3D view.

Subtract

The result of the Subtract operation is a part of the first selected object that was not plunged into another object (or covered in 2D).

Original objects in 2D
The original objects to be combined in the 2D view.
Original objects in 3D
The original objects to be combined in the 3D view.
Result of Subtract in 2D
The Subtract operation was applied in the 2D view.
Result of Subtract in 3D
The Subtract operation was applied in the 3D view.

The result also depends on which of the objects was selected first. Previously, the vertical yellow cylinder was selected first. If we select objects in a different order, the result will be as follows.

Result of Subtract in 2D, different selection order
The Subtract operation was applied in the 2D view.
Result of Subtract in 3D, different selection order
The Subtract operation was applied in the 3D view.

Intersect

The result of the Intersect operation is an object that includes only the areas where all of the original objects overlap.

Original objects in 2D
The original objects to be combined in the 2D view.
Original objects in 3D
The original objects to be combined in the 3D view.
Result of Intersect in 2D
The Intersect operation was applied in the 2D view.
Result of Intersect in 3D
The Intersect operation was applied in the 3D view.

Exclude

The result of the Exclude operation is one or multiple parts of the original objects that do not plunge (overlap) into each other.

Original objects in 2D
The original objects to be combined in the 2D view.
Original objects in 3D
The original objects to be combined in the 3D view.
Result of Exclude in 2D
The Exclude operation was applied in the 2D view.
Result of Exclude in 3D
The Exclude operation was applied in the 3D view.

If we move the created objects apart, we will see that there is a cavity in both of them.

Result of Exclude in 2D
The Exclude operation was applied in the 2D view.
Result of Exclude in 3D
The Exclude operation was applied in the 3D view.

Divide

The Divide operation doesn't actually combine objects but splits them into parts. The objects' surfaces in 3D (outlines in 2D) act as cut lines. The result of the Divide operation are parts of the original objects that take the same volume (area) that was taken before.

Original objects in 2D
The original objects to be combined in the 2D view.
Original objects in 3D
The original objects to be combined in the 3D view.
Result of Divide in 2D
The Divide operation was applied to images in the 2D view.
Result of Divide in 3D
The Divide operation was applied to images in the 3D view.

In the image above, we created three objects. In order to see their shapes, we have moved them apart in the following images.

Result of Divide in 2D, placed separately
The Divide operation was applied to images in the 2D view.
Result of Divide in 3D, placed separately
The Divide operation was applied to images in the 3D view.