System Model Catalog
The system catalog contains built-in 3D models in categories such as furniture, pots and planters, water features, garden accessories, and structural elements.
The System Model Catalog is a built-in library of pre-built 3D objects that ships directly with Gardenly3D — browse and place without managing any files. Models are organized into a two-level category hierarchy (such as Furniture > Dining Sets) and are also searchable by keyword. Use the catalog to quickly populate designs with generic furnishings, decorative items, or feature objects, then supplement with your own imported geometry for client-specific assets.
Searching
Type in the search field at the top of the catalog panel. The search filters models by name, keywords, and ID. Results update as you type.
Selecting and placing
Click a model card to select it. The panel shows the model details: name, category, and dimensions. Click Place in Drawing to enter placement mode. Alternatively, double-click a card to enter placement mode directly. Click on the canvas to drop the model.
Drill down with a subcategory
When a top-level category chip is active, a second row of subcategory chips appears directly beneath it. Click a subcategory — for example Dining Sets inside Furniture, or Pots & Urns inside Planters — to narrow the grid further. Click All in the subcategory row to return to the full top-level category view.
Search the catalog by keyword
Type in the Search models... field at the top of the panel to find objects by name, keyword, or model ID. The grid updates instantly as you type and searches across all categories at once, regardless of any active category filter. To return to category browsing, clear the search box — the category chips reappear automatically.
Use short, generic search terms for best results — try 'bench' rather than 'teak garden bench', or 'pot' rather than 'terracotta planter'. The catalog matches against model names, tags, and IDs.
Review model details before placing
Click any model card to select it without placing it yet. A details area at the bottom of the panel shows the model's Name, Category, file Size, and Dimensions so you can confirm it reads at the right scale for your design. Triangles and Meshes counts are also shown when available, so you can gauge geometry complexity.
Place the model in your drawing
With a model card selected, click Place in Drawing in the details area to enter placement mode. Your cursor changes to a placement crosshair — click anywhere on the canvas to drop the model at that position. Once placed, the model becomes a standard entity you can move, rotate, and scale like any other object.
Double-clicking any model card skips the details panel entirely and immediately enters placement mode — the fastest workflow when you already know which model you want.
The catalog is cached locally after the first load, so it opens instantly in subsequent sessions. The cache is tied to the catalog version and refreshes automatically whenever new models are published — you never need to clear it manually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Search returns no results — what should I try?
Clear the search box and browse by category instead. Try shorter or more generic terms — 'bench' instead of 'teak garden bench', or 'fountain' instead of 'stone wall fountain'. The search matches model names and keywords, so an overly specific phrase may miss a model filed under a broader name.
Can I move, rotate, or scale a placed catalog model?
Yes. A placed catalog model is a standard entity in your drawing. Select it with the arrow tool and use the on-canvas transform handles or the inspector panel to move, rotate, and scale it exactly like any other object.
Can I resize or reorient a catalog model?
Yes. A placed catalog model is a standard entity, so you can move, rotate, scale, and elevate it from the on-canvas handles or the inspector. The catalog models are ready-made objects placed as a single piece, so their internal geometry is not edited within the design — choose a different catalog model, or import your own file, when you need a different shape.
How is the catalog different from importing my own models?
Catalog models are bundled with the app and require no file management — just browse and place. Importing lets you bring in OBJ, GLB, FBX, or other formats for project-specific or client-specific assets. The two approaches complement each other: use the catalog for standard furnishings and accessories, and import custom geometry when the catalog doesn't have what you need.
Does placing many copies of the same model hurt performance?
No — repeated instances of the same catalog model share the same underlying geometry and are rendered efficiently. It is safe to use multiple copies of a chair, planter, or accessory throughout a large design without a performance penalty.