Spaces and Planes

By default, shapes in CADit are drawn on a flat horizontal plane (the "world" space) and extrude upward. But you can create new drawing planes on any surface, allowing you to draw shapes that extrude in different directions. This is how you build complex 3D designs with features on multiple faces.

Understanding spaces

A "space" in CADit is a drawing plane with its own orientation. Each space has:

• A position in 3D (where the plane sits)
• An orientation (which direction shapes extrude from this plane)
• Its own set of shapes

The default space is called "world" - a horizontal plane at the base of your design. Shapes drawn in world space extrude upward.

When you create a new space on the side of an object, shapes drawn in that space extrude sideways from that surface. This lets you add details to any face of your design.

Place Space tool

The Place Space tool creates a new drawing plane on any surface you click. After placing a new space, you can draw shapes that extrude outward from that surface.

How to use:

1. Select the Place Space tool from the 3D toolbar (in the Space tools menu)
2. Click on any surface in the 3D view
3. A new drawing plane appears aligned to that surface
4. The 2D panel rotates to match the new plane orientation
5. Draw shapes on this new plane

The new space becomes the active drawing plane. Any shapes you draw will belong to this space and extrude perpendicular to the clicked surface.

Placement behavior

• The plane aligns to the face normal where you click
• The plane is positioned at the exact point you clicked
• The grid in the 3D view rotates to show the new plane orientation
• The 2D panel view adjusts to match the plane

Space Picker tool

The Space Picker tool switches between existing spaces. Use it to return to a previous drawing plane or to edit shapes in a specific space.

How to use:

1. Select the Space Picker tool from the 3D toolbar (in the Space tools menu)
2. Click on any shape in the 3D view
3. The active space changes to match that shape's space
4. The 2D panel shows shapes from the selected space

Click on empty space (not on any shape) to return to the world space.

When to use Space Picker

• Switch back to the base plane after drawing on a side
• Select a space to edit its shapes in the 2D panel
• Return to world space to add more base shapes

Drawing on different planes

Once you activate a space (either by placing a new one or picking an existing one), the 2D panel shows only the shapes in that space. Drawing works the same as on the base plane:

1. Select a drawing tool (pen, shapes, etc.)
2. Draw on the canvas
3. Shapes appear in the 2D panel and extrude in the 3D view

The extrusion direction follows the space orientation. Shapes on a vertical space extrude horizontally.

Practical workflow

A typical multi-plane design workflow:

1. Draw your base shape on the world plane
2. Use the Place Space tool to click on a face where you want to add detail
3. Draw shapes on the new plane
4. Use Space Picker to return to world space or switch to another face
5. Repeat for additional faces

Example: Adding text to a box

1. Draw a rectangle on the base plane
2. Extrude it to create a box
3. Select Place Space and click on the front face
4. Use the Text tool to add text
5. The text extrudes outward from the front face

Tips

• The 2D panel only shows shapes from the active space. If shapes seem to disappear, check that you are in the correct space.
• Each space maintains its own shapes independently. Moving between spaces does not affect shapes in other spaces.
• Use Space Picker to quickly navigate a complex design with many spaces.
• Shapes in different spaces can overlap in 3D. Use boolean operations if you need them to merge or cut.
• The grid helper in the 3D view always shows the current active space orientation.