Drawing Shapes for Wizards
When you start a wizard (deck, patio, pool, walkway, etc.), the first step is to draw the footprint on the canvas using the Wizard Shape panel.
The Wizard Shape tool is activated automatically by the wizard. You do not activate it manually. It shows presets relevant to the wizard and lets you draw the footprint.
Shape presets
The panel shows preset shape buttons relevant to the wizard. Footprint wizards (deck, patio, pool, building) show closed-shape presets such as rectangle, rounded rectangle, oval, kidney, L-shape, T-shape, U-shape, hexagon, and octagon. Path wizards (walkway, fence, edging) show open-path presets such as straight, L-path, S-curve, arc, and zigzag.
Drawing freehand
Instead of using a preset, you can draw the footprint freehand on the canvas using any drawing tool. The drawn path becomes the wizard's footprint.
Presets that are highlighted with a subtle border are the recommended shapes for that wizard. For example, Pool highlights Kidney, Oval, Rectangle, and Rounded Rectangle; Gazebo highlights Hexagon, Octagon, and Circle.
Dimensions
Width and depth (or length for paths) fields are shown in the panel. Editing them resizes the drawn shape to match.
Or draw the footprint freehand
If you prefer a fully custom shape, select the Custom preset or use the sub-tool selector at the top of the panel to switch to a specific drawing tool — for example Bezier, Polygon, Polyline, or Arc. Draw the shape directly on the canvas just as you would with any standard drawing tool. The freehand path becomes the wizard's footprint.
If you already drew the shape you want on the canvas before starting the wizard, select it first and then start the wizard. The wizard will adopt your existing shape as the footprint — no need to redraw it.
Position the shape on the canvas
After placing a preset, click and drag to reposition it anywhere on the canvas. Use snapping to align the shape precisely to site boundaries, grid lines, or other entities. Rotate the shape by dragging the rotation handle that appears when the shape is selected.
Click Configure to proceed
Once the footprint is valid — a closed shape with area greater than zero, or an open path with length greater than zero — the Configure button at the bottom of the panel becomes active. Click Configure to open the wizard's detail steps where you set materials, railing styles, surface patterns, and all other object-specific settings.
Pressing Escape during the shape step cancels the wizard entirely and removes the footprint from the canvas. If you want to adjust the shape after clicking Configure, use the Back button inside the wizard to return to this step.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Escape | Cancel wizard shape step |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Configure button is greyed out — why?
The button stays disabled until a valid footprint exists. For closed shapes the enclosed area must be greater than zero; for open paths the total length must be greater than zero. Either pick a preset or finish drawing a freehand shape to enable it.
Why don't I see all the shape presets I expected?
The panel only shows presets that match the wizard type. Footprint wizards (Deck, Pool, Pergola, etc.) show closed-shape presets; path wizards (Walkway, Fence, Arbor) show open-path presets. Wizards like Hedge and Stepping Stones support both and show all presets. A Pool will never offer a Zigzag, and a Walkway will never offer a Kidney shape.
Can I change the footprint after clicking Configure?
Yes. Use the Back button inside the wizard to return to the shape step, adjust the footprint or pick a different preset, then click Configure again to continue. You can also edit the resulting object's boundary later using the Node Edit tool once the wizard is complete.
Can I use an irregular freehand shape instead of a preset?
Yes. Click the Custom preset or choose a drawing tool from the sub-tool selector — Bezier, Polygon, Polyline, or Arc. Draw any shape you like on the canvas. There is no restriction on vertex count or curvature. The wizard will accept any closed or open path as long as it has a non-zero area or length.
Does the wizard shape step work differently for path-based wizards like Walkway or Fence?
Path wizards use open paths instead of closed polygons. The dimension field shows Length instead of Width/Depth, and the preset grid offers Straight, L-Path, S-Curve, Arc, and Zigzag options instead of closed-shape presets. Everything else — freehand drawing, Configure button behavior, and Escape to cancel — works the same way.