Drawing View — User Guide

Drawing View is a Blender add-on for creating clean architectural drawings at real scale directly inside Blender.

The workflow is built around four main stages:

Layout → Graphics → Annotations → Export

Create a Drawing View Layout directly in the 3D View. Choose Paper or Screen output, generate architectural linework, add annotations and export the finished Layout as PNG or PDF.

1. Installation and Updating

1.1. Installation

1. Download the Drawing View ZIP file.
2. Drag the ZIP file into the Blender window and confirm the installation.
3. Open the Drawing View tab in the 3D View Sidebar.

Drawing View works locally inside Blender. An internet connection is not required for its core functionality.

1.2. Updating

If Superhive is connected to Blender as a Remote Repository, available Drawing View updates can be installed through Blender.

You can also update from a downloaded package. Open Drawing View's add-on preferences, click Update from ZIP..., and select a Drawing View ZIP file from a source you trust.

Project data is stored in the .blend file. If an update changes the saved line data used by an existing Layout, Drawing View will indicate that the linework needs to be rebuilt.

2. Quick Start

A typical Drawing View workflow looks like this:

1. Click Add Layout in the Drawing View panel.
2. Choose Paper or Screen, set the format and drawing scale, and click in the 3D View to place the Layout.
3. Select the Layout and press Tab (or use its Enter button) to open the drawing view.
4. Refine the composition and apply Shaded Style if you want a shaded base.
5. Click Build Lines.
6. Use Hide / Show Lines if any generated linework needs local refinement.
7. Click Activate Annotations.
8. Add measurements and notes, including Dimensions, Area, Radius / Diameter, Elevation Marks, Text and Callouts.
9. Export the finished Layout as PNG or PDF.

Multiple independent Layouts can coexist in one .blend file.

3. Layout

3.1. Creating a Layout

Click Add Layout to place a new Layout directly in the 3D View. You no longer need to create a Blender camera first.

A preview frame follows the pointer during placement. Move it onto the required model surface, choose the orientation and output settings, and click to confirm. Creating a Layout does not automatically enter its view or build linework.

• Auto follows the surface orientation;
• World X / Y / Z fixes the view direction to a world axis;
• Reverse switches the viewing side;
• Paper / Screen, orientation, size and drawing scale can be chosen before placement.

While placing the Layout, use X, Y or Z for an axis, A for Auto, R to reverse, or Esc to cancel.

Each Layout retains its own view, format, scale, presentation settings, source-filter choices and annotations. A newly placed Layout starts with the current default configuration: A4 Landscape, 1:100 and an orthographic view.

3.2. Layout List

Drawing View Layouts in the current Scene appear in the Layout list.

• Select a Layout row to make its frame the active drawing entity.
• Use the Enter / Exit control on the row or press Tab with a Layout selected to open it; press Tab again to return to the normal 3D View.
• Edit the Layout name directly in the list.
• Use the eye icon on a row to show or hide that Layout in the normal 3D View.
• Use the eye control above the list to show or hide all Layouts together.

Visibility controls affect the Layout frame and its direction markers, not the architectural drawing content or exported result. The Tab shortcut operates on a selected Layout or the Layout currently being viewed, without replacing Blender's normal editing modes for ordinary objects.

3.3. Paper and Screen Formats

The Layout section provides two output modes. Each Layout stores its Paper and Screen settings independently; switching between them keeps the settings of the other mode available.

Paper

Paper uses physical dimensions in millimetres. Quick presets include A4 and A3; the expanded Custom Format controls include A-series, B-series and presentation/poster formats, or a custom Width and Height.

Choose Landscape or Portrait orientation. Paper mode uses 300 DPI for raster output, and the current output resolution is shown in the panel.

Screen

Screen uses pixel dimensions. Quick presets include FHD, QHD and 4K; the expanded Custom Resolution controls also include 8K, Instagram Square Post, Portrait Post, Story / Reel and custom resolutions.

Custom Screen sizes provide Width and Height fields, optional aspect-ratio locking, preset aspect ratios and Landscape / Portrait orientation. Screen uses a 150 DPI reference to preserve predictable lineweight and annotation sizing in pixel-based output; this does not describe the physical DPI of a monitor.

Changing Paper / Screen mode or the Layout size changes the framing of the drawing. Run Build Lines again whenever the projection changes. Large outputs may require substantial system memory.

3.4. Drawing Scale

Drawing View uses real architectural drawing scales for orthographic Layouts, in both Paper and Screen modes. The Layout scale controls how much model space is represented in the chosen output area.

Quick scale presets are 1:50, 1:100 and 1:200. Choose Custom Scale to enter another denominator.

Scale is stored separately for each Layout. Paper-space lineweights, text sizes and annotation sizes remain predictable as the drawing scale changes. Screen mode uses its reference density for the corresponding pixel sizes.

After changing scale or another setting that alters the projection, run Build Lines again.

3.5. Positioning and Composition

During Add Layout, place the frame directly on or near the intended model location. Use Auto alignment to follow a surface or choose a world axis and Reverse to control its direction.

After placement, the Layout frame is selectable in the 3D View. Use Blender transforms and Layout view navigation to refine its position and composition.

For sections and plans, the position of the Layout plane controls where the model is cut. Move it to the required level or section position and then run Build Lines.

3.6. Duplicating Layouts

Shift+D duplicates a selected Layout as a new independent drawing entity and immediately starts moving it.

The duplicate inherits the source Layout's view and configuration, including its Paper / Screen settings, scale and source filters, but does not copy its generated linework or placed annotations.

A newly created Layout may inherit the previous active Layout's Exclude, Use Excluded as Mask and Linked Geometry choices as starting values. Each new Layout then keeps those choices independently.

Alt+D linked duplication is not supported for Drawing View Layouts.

3.7. Hiding and Deleting Layouts

Select a Layout in the ordinary 3D View or its list to manage it.

• H hides the selected Layout entity.
• The eye icons in the Layout list control individual or collective Layout visibility.
• X or Delete removes selected Layouts with confirmation.

4. Graphics

4.1. Shaded Style

Apply Shaded Style applies a predefined Solid viewport appearance intended as a clean architectural base for Drawing View linework.

The shaded base is optional. You can use linework by itself or combine it with the shaded representation.

After Shaded Style has been applied, you can control:

• Shadow — turn the architectural shadow on or off;
• Density — adjust shadow strength;
• Direction — Left, Right or Custom;
• Azimuth and Elevation for a Custom shadow direction;
• Shading Tint;
• Background Color.

These appearance settings are kept with the active Layout, so different Layouts can use different presentation states.

You can also adjust Blender's Solid Shading controls manually. Applying Shaded Style again restores the Drawing View preset for the active Layout.

4.2. Build Lines

Click Build Lines while viewing the active Layout to generate its architectural linework.

Drawing View distinguishes several drawing categories:

• Silhouette;
• Boundary;
• Crease;
• Intersection;
• Section.

The status below the Build button indicates whether the drawing is ready, needs rebuilding, has been cleared, or is currently being generated.

When model geometry, object positions, the Layout projection or another relevant Build setting changes, Drawing View can show Lines need rebuild. The existing completed drawing remains visible where possible until a new Build is ready.

Use the clear button next to Build Lines to remove the generated linework from the active Layout.

4.3. Hide / Show Lines

Hide / Show Lines refines generated architectural linework without editing or hiding the underlying Blender model.

1. After Build Lines, choose Hide to remove unwanted line segments from the drawing.
2. Click a line or drag across several lines, then release to apply the change.
3. Choose Show to see hidden lines as temporary dashed guides and restore any selected segments.
4. Press Esc or Enter to finish the operation.

The visibility edits belong to the current Layout and are reflected in its export. They are preserved with compatible generated linework. If a later Build produces different line geometry, the hidden-line choices may need to be applied again.

4.4. Crease Threshold

Crease Threshold controls the minimum fold angle displayed as a Crease line.

After Build Lines has been completed, changing the threshold updates the visible Crease result directly without running the full Build again.

The Crease Threshold is shared by Drawing View Layouts in the current Blender Scene, providing a consistent crease definition across the project.

4.5. Exclude

Exclude allows you to choose a collection whose mesh objects should not generate Drawing View linework.

Meshes in child collections are excluded as well.

This is useful for:

• helper geometry;
• vegetation;
• high-detail context;
• objects that should remain visible only in the shaded representation.

Each Layout keeps its own Exclude collection, allowing the same Blender Scene to be represented differently in different drawings.

4.6. Use Excluded as Mask

When Use Excluded as Mask is enabled, excluded geometry does not create Drawing View lines, intersections, Section graphics or model snap anchors, but its visible surfaces can still hide drawing lines behind them.

Disable the option when excluded geometry should be ignored completely by Drawing View.

This choice belongs to the active Layout. Changing it requires Build Lines again.

4.7. Linked Geometry

Enable Linked Geometry when the active Layout should include read-only mesh geometry linked from external .blend files, including linked collection instances.

Linked geometry can participate in normal linework, visibility, intersections and Section graphics.

The Layout's Exclude collection still takes priority, so linked geometry contained in an excluded collection remains excluded.

Linked Geometry is enabled independently for each Layout. Changing it requires Build Lines again.

4.8. Line Settings

Line Settings are available after the first successful Build Lines. In 1.3 their appearance controls sit inside a collapsible Line Settings section; Build inputs such as Crease Threshold, Exclude and Linked Geometry remain visible above it.

Open the section to adjust the shared appearance of Drawing View linework:

• Line Color;
• Base Lineweight;
• Section Lineweight;
• Section Fill — Fill or Hatch;
• Fill Color;
• Hatch Lineweight;
• Hatch Spacing.

These settings are shared by all Drawing View Layouts in the current Blender Scene. Lineweights are paper-space values in typographic points (pt) and remain stable when the viewport is zoomed.

Annotations inherit the Graphics Line Color by default. A separate color can be enabled in Annotation Global Settings.

4.9. Sections

Section graphics are generated where model geometry crosses the active Layout plane.

To create a section:

1. Position the Layout plane at the required cut.
2. Run Build Lines.
3. Adjust Section Lineweight and Section Style in Line Settings.

Fill produces a solid material fill. Hatch produces diagonal vector hatching on a white Section background.

Section appearance uses the shared Line Settings, so changes to Section lineweight, fill or hatch styling affect Drawing View Layouts in the current Scene.

4.10. Intersections

Intersection lines are calculated between separate objects or separate participating mesh structures.

Self-intersections within a single mesh are not calculated.

If an intersection is required between logically separate parts of one complex mesh, split those parts into separate objects where appropriate.

4.11. Large Scenes

Build time depends on the amount and complexity of geometry participating in the drawing.

Drawing View can display a warning before processing an unusually large scene. If Build Lines is slower than expected, hide or exclude geometry that does not need to participate in the final drawing, such as helper objects, dense vegetation or distant high-detail context.

The option to suppress Large Scene warnings lasts only for the current Blender session.

5. Annotations

5.1. Annotation Workspace

Drawing View uses a dedicated 2D Annotation layer for measurements and drawing information that should remain separate from the 3D model. Annotations are saved with each Layout and exported with its linework.

Enter a Layout, then click Activate Annotations. The toolbar is organised into two groups of Tool Tiles:

• Measurements — Orthogonal Dimension, Aligned Dimension, Radius / Diameter, Area, Elevation Mark and Scale Bar.
• Notes — Text, Header, Flag and Callout.

Select a tool to create an annotation. The relevant controls appear in the Annotations section when a tool is active or an existing annotation is selected. Area, Flag and Callout can be configured before placing the next item; an existing annotation keeps its own local appearance.

Use Esc or Deactivate Annotations to leave the workspace. Annotation Global Settings are editable while the Annotation workspace is active.

5.2. Tool Availability

Measured annotation tools are available where their projected measurement is unambiguous:

• Plan Layouts — Dimensions, Radius / Diameter, Area, Elevation Marks and Scale Bars.
• Vertical elevation and section Layouts — the same measured tools are available.
• Tilted and axonometric Layouts — Text, Header, Flag and Callout remain available, while measured tools are disabled.

Elevation Marks work differently by orientation: on a plan they read the height of a selected model surface; in a vertical Layout they are placed using model elevation anchors and a horizontal shelf.

Drawing View uses orthographic Layouts for drawing measurements. Perspective Layouts are not supported in this version.

5.3. Snapping

Orthogonal / Aligned Dimensions and Radius / Diameter use model snap points prepared by Build Lines. Vertical Elevation Marks use those anchors as well.

On plan Layouts, Elevation Marks can pick a visible model surface directly. This does not require the same point-by-point snapping workflow as a vertical Elevation Mark.

Area allows you to place free points in the drawing plane. Snapping is optional; where available, you can use model snap points, existing Area vertices and visible drawing segments.

Text, Header, Flag and Callout are free paper-space annotations and do not require model geometry. Free elements use alignment guides while being moved. Callout leader editing also provides soft orthogonal snapping; hold Ctrl while adjusting its anchor or knee to temporarily disable that snap.

5.4. Selecting and Editing Annotations

With Annotations active:

• Click an annotation to select it; use Shift-click to add or remove items from the selection.
• Drag across an empty part of the Layout to make a box selection; hold Shift for additive box selection.
• G moves supported selected annotations using Blender-style interaction.
• X, Delete or Backspace deletes selected annotations.
• Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+Shift+Z undo and redo Annotation operations.

Free text and leader annotations can be moved in paper space. Model-based measurements keep editing controls appropriate to their anchors. A selected Area reveals its editable perimeter and vertices; Radius / Diameter provides controls for its measured points and label placement.

5.5. Dimensions

Drawing View provides two Dimension tools:

• Orthogonal Dimension — creates a horizontal or vertical dimension. The direction in which you move the dimension shelf determines its orientation.
• Aligned Dimension — follows the projected direction between the measured model points.

Dimensions require model snap anchors from Build Lines and are available in plan and vertical Layouts.

Orthogonal Dimension

1. Choose Orthogonal Dimension.
2. Click the first model point.
3. Click the second model point.
4. Move perpendicular to the measured points. Drawing View resolves the dimension as Horizontal or Vertical from the shelf direction.
5. Click to place the shelf.

Additional model points can be added to the chain before placement.

Press X or Y during creation when you want to explicitly lock the current Orthogonal Dimension to the corresponding axis.

After the dimension has been placed, the tool remains active. Click another model point to begin the next dimension without restarting the tool, or press Esc to finish.

Aligned Dimension

1. Choose Aligned Dimension.
2. Click the first model point.
3. Click the second model point.
4. Move the dimension shelf to the required offset and click to place it.

Aligned Dimensions follow the projected direction between their model anchors instead of resolving to Horizontal or Vertical.

The tool remains active after placement so another dimension can be started immediately.

Dimension Chains

A selected Dimension chain provides controls for adding further model anchors or removing individual internal points from an existing chain.

This allows the chain to be refined later without recreating it.

Dimension Settings

When a Dimension is selected, the following controls appear:

• Dimension Style — Minimal, Architectural Tick or Open Arrow;
• Extension — Compact Extension or Full Extension;
• Units — mm, cm or m;
• Rounding — available values depend on the selected unit;
• Show Units — adds the selected unit suffix to dimension values.

Although these controls are shown while a Dimension is selected, they define the common Dimension presentation for the current Blender Scene. Changing them affects all Drawing View Dimensions in that Scene.

Dimension labels use the default Font Family, Font Weight and Font Size defined in Annotation Global Settings.

5.6. Radius / Diameter

Radius / Diameter measures a projected circular feature from three model snap points. You do not need to model a dedicated circle object, but the three points must define a valid arc.

1. Run Build Lines, activate Annotations and choose Radius / Diameter.
2. Click three model snap points on the curve.
3. Move the pointer to position the arrow and measurement label.
4. Click to commit the measurement. The tool remains active for another measurement; press Esc to finish.

Select a finished mark and choose Radius or Diameter under Type. Radius displays an R value; Diameter displays Ø and measures across the complete diameter.

Radius Style and Extension control Radius / Diameter artwork separately from regular Dimension styles. Units, rounding and unit display follow the shared Dimension settings in the current Blender Scene, while the Radius / Diameter Type belongs to the selected mark.

If the three points are coincident, nearly collinear or cannot form a reliable projected circle, choose a different set of model points.

5.7. Area

Area measures the region enclosed by a polygon you define on the active orthographic Layout. It does not require closed walls, a room object or a connected model boundary.

1. Activate Annotations and choose Area.
2. Click at least three vertices around the region. Free points are allowed, and snapping can be used where helpful.
3. Press Enter or double-click the last point to complete the contour. Backspace removes the previous point. Esc accepts three or more fixed points and exits the Area tool.
4. The resulting Area annotation displays the calculated value. Double-click its text to enter or edit an optional label.

The perimeter is always treated as closed. During selection or editing, the contour and its vertices become available for adjustment; you can move vertices, add points along an edge and reposition the label. An invalid or self-intersecting contour must be corrected before a reliable area value can be displayed.

Area Appearance

A finished Area shows its measurement and optional label without a permanent contour outline. Appearance controls whether the enclosed region also receives a visual treatment:

• None — only the Area label and value remain visible;
• Fill — a colored surface with adjustable Fill Color and Opacity;
• Hatch — hatch lines with adjustable lineweight and spacing, without a solid background.

When Fill or Hatch is active, Text Mask can keep a clear area around the annotation label and value. The chosen surface appearance and caption styling belong to the Area annotation; controls for an active Area tool act as defaults for the next item.

Area Units and Measurement

Area values can be displayed in m², cm² or mm², with selectable rounding. Unit and rounding choices are shared by Areas in the current Blender Scene.

The measured area is the projection enclosed by the contour in the Layout plane. For a plan this represents horizontal projected area; for a vertical view it represents projected elevation or section area, not the actual surface area of sloping geometry.

5.8. Elevation Marks

Elevation Marks display height relative to a shared zero-level reference. They are available in vertical elevations / sections and, in Drawing View 1.3, on plan Layouts.

Vertical Elevation Marks

1. Run Build Lines to prepare model snap points.
2. Choose Elevation Mark and click a model point.
3. Move horizontally to position its shelf and click to place it.
4. Continue placing marks without restarting the tool; press Esc when finished.

Plan Elevation Marks

On a plan Layout, choose Elevation Mark and click a visible model surface. Drawing View places a small triangular level marker at the picked location and displays that point's elevation. A selected plan mark lets you place the value on the Left or Right of the triangle.

Elevation Settings and Zero Level

Available controls include Units (m or mm), Rounding, and Elevation Style (Compact or Extended) for vertical marks. Plan marks use their own triangular presentation.

Select an Elevation Mark and choose Set as Zero to use its elevation as the zero level for all Elevation Marks in the current Blender Scene. Reset to World Zero restores the world-Z reference.

Units, rounding, vertical style and the zero-level reference are shared across the Scene. Font Family, Font Weight and Font Size come from Annotation Global Settings.

5.9. Scale Bars

Scale Bar adds a graphical scale reference linked to the active Layout's drawing scale.

Scale Bars are free paper-space annotations and can be moved independently on the sheet.

Up to ten Scale Bars can be placed on one Layout.

At architectural scales up to 1:2000, a selected Scale Bar can use one of three styles:

• Architectural;
• Graphic;
• Classical.

For scales above 1:2000, Drawing View automatically uses a compact Cartographic scale-bar configuration.

The selected style belongs to that Scale Bar, so several Scale Bars on the same Layout can use different styles.

Scale Bar labels use the default Font Family, Font Weight and Font Size from Annotation Global Settings.

5.10. Text

Text creates a regular paper-space text block.

Choose the Text tool, move the block to the required position and click to place it.

Text supports multiple lines and automatic wrapping inside a resizable text box.

Double-click an existing Text block to edit its content directly on the Layout.

5.11. Header

Header creates a larger text preset at the standard top-left position of the Layout. After creation, a Header behaves as an editable Text block and supports the same typography, formatting and inline editing controls.

5.12. Inline Text Editing

Double-click a Text, Header, Flag or Callout to edit its text directly on the Layout.

While the inline editor is active:

• click and drag to select text;
• double-click to select a word;
• triple-click to select a paragraph;
• Enter inserts a new line;
• Ctrl+Enter applies the edit;
• Esc cancels the current edit;
• Ctrl+A selects all text;
• Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X and Ctrl+V provide standard copy, cut and paste;
• Ctrl+Shift+V pastes text without its formatting;
• Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I and Ctrl+U apply Bold, Italic and Underline;
• Ctrl+Z and Ctrl+Shift+Z provide Undo and Redo inside the current text-editing session.

The text-box width handle remains available while editing, so wrapping can be adjusted without leaving the inline editor.

5.13. Text Formatting

When Text, Header, Flag or Callout is selected, its typography can be adjusted directly from the Annotation panel.

Available controls include:

• Font Family;
• Weight;
• Bold, Italic and Underline;
• Size in points;
• Line Spacing;
• Text Box Width.

A Text or Callout initially inherits the default Annotation font family. Choosing another family creates a local override for that annotation. Choosing the current default family again returns it to the shared default.

When no inline text range is selected, typography changes apply to the selected annotation. During inline editing, Font Family, Size, Weight, Italic, Underline and Line Spacing can be applied to a selected range of text, allowing several text styles inside the same annotation.

Regular Text and Header also provide Left, Center and Right alignment.

Frame adds a persistent paper-space outline around a regular Text or Header block.

Shift+D duplicates selected Text, Header, Flag or Callout annotations and immediately starts placing the duplicate.

5.14. Flags

Flag creates a compact paper-space note with a vertical leader.

1. Choose Flag.
2. Click the leader start point anywhere on the sheet.
3. Move vertically to define the Flag height.
4. Click again to place it.

A selected Flag provides:

• Side — place the text to the left or right of the vertical stem;
• Leader End — Dot, Open Arrow or None;
• the same font, size, formatting, spacing and text-box controls used by Text.

Flags are free paper-space annotations. They do not require model snap anchors and can be used in plan, elevation, section and axonometric Layouts.

5.15. Callouts

Callout creates a free leader connecting an anchor point to a knee, followed by a horizontal shelf and text.

1. Choose Callout.
2. Click the anchor point.
3. Move to define the knee and shelf position.
4. Click again to place the Callout.

The leader uses soft orthogonal snapping during creation and editing. Hold Ctrl to temporarily disable this snap when a free angle is required.

After placement, the anchor, knee, shelf length and text-box width can be edited directly on the Layout.

Dragging the Callout by its text or leader moves the complete annotation.

Leader End can be set to Dot, Open Arrow or None.

Callouts use the same local typography and rich-text controls as Text and are available in plan, vertical and axonometric Layouts.

5.16. Global Settings

The Global Settings disclosure at the bottom of Annotations contains common defaults shared across Drawing View Layouts in the current Blender Scene. These controls are available while Activate Annotations is enabled.

Default Font Family

Default Font Family sets the default family used by Drawing View annotations.

Drawing View includes the Inter family and can also use supported font families installed on the system.

Dimensions, Elevation Marks and Scale Bars use this family directly. Text, Header, Flag and Callout inherit it unless a different Font Family is chosen for that annotation.

Font Weight

The global Font Weight controls the shared weight used by Dimension, Elevation Mark and Scale Bar labels.

Text, Header, Flag and Callout have their own rich-text Weight controls and can therefore use different weights within the same project or within the same text block.

Font Size

Font Size sets the default point size for measurement values and Scale Bar labels across the current Blender Scene.

Text, Header, Flag and Callout keep their own local font-size controls. Area captions can also have their own text formatting.

Custom Annotation Color

Annotations inherit the Graphics Line Color by default.

Enable Custom Annotation Color to use one separate Annotation color across the current Blender Scene.

Annotation Thickness

Annotation Thickness sets the shared paper-space lineweight used by annotation graphics such as Dimension lines, Elevation Marks, Scale Bars, Text frames, Flag leaders and Callout leaders.

It controls annotation geometry rather than font weight.

6. Export

6.1. Export Requirements

Before exporting:

• a Drawing View Layout must be active;
• the current 3D View must be inside that Layout;
• the viewport must use Solid shading;
• Build Lines must have been completed for the active Layout.

Export PNG and Export PDF open Blender's file browser so you can choose the destination and filename.

6.2. PNG

Normal PNG export contains the finished Layout at the output dimensions shown in Paper or Screen settings, including its shaded base, linework, Section graphics and annotations.

Paper uses its physical format at 300 DPI; Screen exports to the chosen pixel resolution. PNG remains a raster format intended for presentation and further image editing.

With Vector Lines Only, the shaded model and background are omitted, and Drawing View graphics are rendered on a clean white page. The PNG file itself is still raster.

6.3. PDF

Normal PDF export combines the shaded viewport presentation as a raster base with vector Drawing View graphics.

Architectural linework, Section graphics, Dimensions, Radius / Diameter, Area annotations and other drawn annotations remain vector. Where selected, Area Fill or Hatch is included as vector artwork.

The vector drawing is organised into three named PDF layers:

• Basic Lines;
• Section Lines;
• Annotations.

These layers make the main architectural graphics easier to isolate, edit and post-process in compatible PDF and graphics applications.

6.4. Vector Lines Only

Enable Vector Lines Only when you do not need the shaded viewport base.

For PDF export, this creates a clean vector drawing containing Drawing View linework, Section graphics and annotations without the raster model or background.

Vector Lines Only is a shared Export option in the current Blender Scene rather than a property stored separately for each Layout, so check its state before exporting.

6.5. Text and Fonts in PDF

Annotation text is exported as real embedded PDF text where the selected font supports the editable text workflow. This keeps text searchable and copyable and allows further text editing in compatible applications.

Drawing View's bundled Inter family supports this workflow.

Other installed fonts can also be used when they provide compatible static TrueType outlines and allow editable embedding.

Some OpenType/CFF fonts or fonts with restrictive embedding permissions cannot be used for editable PDF text. If an unsupported font is selected, Drawing View reports the export problem rather than silently replacing the intended result.

7. Common Workflows

7.1. Create an Elevation

1. Click Add Layout and place it facing the required elevation.
2. Choose the page and scale.
3. Refine the Layout position and composition.
4. Apply Shaded Style if required.
5. Run Build Lines.
6. Activate Annotations.
7. Add Dimensions, Elevation Marks, Scale Bars and text as required.
8. Export the Layout as PNG or PDF.

7.2. Create a Section

1. Create a vertical Layout.
2. Move the Layout plane through the model to the required cut position.
3. Run Build Lines.
4. Choose Fill or Hatch and adjust Section lineweight as required.
5. Add Dimensions, Elevation Marks and other annotations.
6. Export the Layout.

7.3. Create a Plan

1. Click Add Layout, choose a Paper or Screen format and align the Layout to the required plan direction.
2. Place the Layout at the intended cut level.
3. Select it and press Tab to enter the plan view.
4. Run Build Lines.
5. Add Dimensions, Area measurements, Scale Bars and plan Elevation Marks as needed.
6. Use Text, Header, Flag or Callout for additional information.

Plan Elevation Marks measure the clicked model surface and can use a shared custom zero level.

7.4. Update a Drawing After Model Changes

1. Make the required changes to the Blender model.
2. Return to the affected Layout.
3. If Drawing View shows Lines need rebuild, run Build Lines again.
4. Review measured annotations if the geometry they refer to has changed.

Annotations are stored separately from generated linework. Rebuilding lines does not recreate or remove the Annotation layer.

7.5. Create Dimensions Continuously

1. Run Build Lines to prepare model snap anchors.
2. Activate Annotations.
3. Choose Orthogonal Dimension or Aligned Dimension.
4. Create and place the first dimension.
5. Click the next model point to begin another dimension immediately.
6. Press Esc when the dimensioning sequence is finished.

7.6. Edit Text Directly on the Layout

1. Activate Annotations.
2. Double-click a Text, Header, Flag or Callout.
3. Edit the content directly in place.
4. Select a text range if only part of the annotation needs different formatting.
5. Adjust Font Family, Weight, Size or other typography controls while editing if required.
6. Press Ctrl+Enter to apply the edit.

7.7. Export a Clean Vector Drawing

1. Enter the active Layout.
2. Make sure the viewport uses Solid shading.
3. Run Build Lines.
4. Enable Vector Lines Only.
5. Click Export PDF.

The resulting PDF contains Drawing View linework, Section graphics and annotations as vector content without the shaded raster base.

7.8. Create an Area Measurement

1. Open an orthographic plan or vertical Layout and activate Annotations.
2. Choose Area, then click at least three points around the intended region.
3. Press Enter or double-click the final vertex to confirm.
4. Optionally edit the label and choose None, Fill or Hatch in Area Settings.
5. Select the Area again to adjust its perimeter or label.

7.9. Measure a Radius or Diameter

1. Run Build Lines, activate Annotations and select Radius / Diameter.
2. Pick three model snap points on the intended circular feature.
3. Position the measurement arrow and label, then click to confirm.
4. Select the mark and use Type to switch between Radius and Diameter.

7.10. Refine Generated Lines

1. Enter a Layout and run Build Lines.
2. Choose Hide under Hide / Show Lines, then click or drag across unwanted lines.
3. Choose Show to restore hidden segments when needed.
4. Press Esc to leave the tool and export the finished drawing.

8. Capabilities and Limitations

8.1. Orthographic Drawing Views

Drawing View is built around orthographic architectural Layouts and real drawing scale.

Perspective Layouts are not currently supported as scaled Drawing View drawings.

8.2. Measured Annotations

Dimensions, Radius / Diameter, Area, Elevation Marks and Scale Bars are available in plan and vertical orthographic Layouts.

Plan Elevation Marks pick a visible model surface; vertical Elevation Marks use model snap points. Area measures a 2D projected contour, not a sloping model surface.

Tilted and axonometric Layouts support free notes and linework, but measured annotation tools are disabled.

8.3. Model Geometry and Annotations

Drawing View linework is generated from Blender model geometry.

Annotations remain separate paper-space drawing information and do not modify the 3D model.

8.4. Updating Linework

Generated linework is not recalculated continuously while the model changes.

Drawing View marks an affected Layout for rebuilding, allowing you to decide when to run Build Lines again.

Crease Threshold is an exception: after a successful Build it can adjust the visible Crease result without recalculating the complete drawing.

8.5. Linked Geometry

Linked and instanced geometry is opt-in.

Enable Linked Geometry on each Layout that should include read-only geometry linked from external .blend files.

8.6. Intersections

Intersection lines are generated between separate participating objects or mesh structures.

Self-intersections within one mesh are not generated.

8.7. Layout Duplication

Shift+D duplicates a Layout configuration as a separate drawing view. Generated linework and placed annotations are not copied to the duplicate.

Add Layout creates a new drawing directly in the 3D View, without requiring a pre-existing camera.

9. Saving and Restoring Projects

Drawing View project data is stored inside the .blend file.

Each Layout preserves its Paper / Screen format, scale, view and shading state, source-filter settings and annotations. These include Area contours and labels, Radius / Diameter measurements and plan Elevation Marks.

Completed linework can be restored when compatible generated drawing data is available. Local Hide / Show Lines choices are also retained while they remain compatible with the generated lines.

If model changes or an update invalidate the stored linework, Drawing View indicates that the affected Layout needs rebuilding. Run Build Lines again, and review measured annotations and hidden-line choices if the underlying geometry has changed.

Annotations remain separate from generated linework and are not erased simply because lines are rebuilt.

10. Troubleshooting

10.1. Lines Need Rebuild

Return to the affected Layout and run Build Lines.

This status normally appears after model, Layout or Build-input changes that affect the drawing result.

10.2. Dimensions or Elevation Marks Cannot Find Model Points

Run Build Lines to prepare model snap points for Dimensions, Radius / Diameter and vertical Elevation Marks.

Plan Elevation Marks instead pick model surfaces. Make sure the surface is visible in the plan view and belongs to the geometry included by Drawing View.

Area can be created using free points; Build Lines is needed only for the model or line snapping you choose to use.

10.3. Measured Annotation Tools Are Disabled

Check the Layout orientation and whether Activate Annotations is enabled.

• Dimensions, Radius / Diameter, Area and Scale Bars require a plan or vertical orthographic view.
• Elevation Marks are now available in both plan and vertical views.
• Text, Header, Flag and Callout remain available in tilted or axonometric views.

10.4. Linked Objects Are Missing from the Drawing

Enable Linked Geometry for the active Layout and run Build Lines again.

If the linked geometry belongs to the Layout's Exclude collection, Exclude takes priority and the geometry remains excluded.

10.5. Excluded Geometry Still Hides Lines

Check Use Excluded as Mask.

When enabled, excluded objects do not create their own Drawing View graphics but their visible surfaces can still hide lines behind them.

Disable the option and rebuild the Layout if that geometry should be ignored completely.

10.6. An Expected Intersection Is Missing

Drawing View does not calculate self-intersections within a single mesh.

If the required intersection is between logically separate parts of one mesh, split those parts into separate objects where appropriate and rebuild the Layout.

10.7. Export Is Unavailable

Check that:

• a Drawing View Layout is active;
• you are currently looking through that Layout;
• the viewport uses Solid shading;
• the Layout has completed Build Lines.

10.8. PDF Export Reports a Font Problem

Use Drawing View's bundled Inter family or another compatible installed font that permits editable PDF embedding.

Some OpenType/CFF fonts and fonts with restrictive embedding permissions cannot be used by the editable PDF text workflow.

10.9. Line Engine Fallback

Line Engine 2 is enabled by default.

If you experience problems with line generation, open Drawing View's add-on Preferences and enable Use Line Engine 1 under Line Build Backend.

The change takes effect the next time you run Build Lines. Line Engine 1 remains available as a compatibility fallback and may be slower.

To return to Line Engine 2, disable Use Line Engine 1 and Use CPU Backend (if enabled), then rebuild the drawing.

10.10. Build Lines Is Slow on a Heavy Scene

Build time depends on scene complexity and the amount of geometry participating in the drawing.

Hide or exclude geometry that does not need Drawing View linework. Dense vegetation, helper geometry and high-detail context are common candidates.

10.11. An Area Value Is Missing or the Contour Is Invalid

Select the Area to show its vertices and perimeter. Check that the contour has at least three distinct points, does not cross itself, and encloses a measurable region. Move or insert vertices to repair it.

Area does not automatically detect room boundaries or close gaps in walls; the user-defined perimeter determines the measured region.

10.12. Hidden Lines Reappear After a Rebuild

Hide / Show Lines choices belong to the generated result. If model or Layout changes produce different linework, the previous hidden-line selection may no longer match. Run Build Lines and hide any unwanted segments again.

10.13. Annotation Settings Are Unavailable

Enter the active Layout and click Activate Annotations. The tool settings and Annotation Global Settings are edited inside the Annotation workspace, not from an inactive Layout frame in the normal 3D View.

11. Compatibility

Officially supported versions and platforms:

• Blender 4.5–5.2
• Windows — full feature support

Drawing View works directly inside Blender and does not require external applications or online services for its core functionality.