Build, Dig, and Wrap — Composition Tools
The Build, Dig, and Wrap tools combine two 3D-extruded shapes into a single composed result. Build stacks shapes additively, Dig subtracts one from another, and Wrap conforms the child's base to the parent's surface — essential for placing objects on sloped terrain.
Build, Dig, and Wrap — Composition ToolsThe Stack tool lets you compose two 3D-extruded shapes into a single relationship by choosing how the child shape affects the parent's surface. Six modes cover every scenario: Add raises the surface, Cut carves it down, Wrap drapes a constant offset over uneven ground, Highest and Lowest merge surfaces by taking the higher or lower value, and Replace overrides the parent's surface entirely inside the child footprint. Once stacked, moving the parent automatically carries its children — so you can model layered decks, sunken pools, or conforming pathways as a single coherent object. All modes operate on 3D-extruded shapes in the 3D editor; they do not apply to 2D annotations, plants, or terrain surfaces.
Click the parent shape, then the child shape
After activating the tool:
1. Click the parent shape — the shape that will be the base or host. It highlights to confirm selection. 2. Click the child shape — the shape that will be built onto, dug into, or wrapped onto the parent.
The composition is applied immediately. The two shapes are merged into a single composed 3D object.
Build result: The child shape appears stacked on top of the parent, with its base aligned to the parent's top surface. The combined height is the sum of both objects.
Dig result: The footprint of the child shape is removed from the parent's volume, leaving a recessed or hollow area.
Wrap result: The child shape's bottom surface deforms to follow the parent's top surface contour. The child retains its own height above the conforming base.
For Wrap, make sure the child shape's footprint overlaps the parent — the wrap only affects the overlapping area.
Undo or decompose the result
To reverse a composition, press Ctrl+Z (Windows) / Cmd+Z (Mac) immediately after applying it.
To decompose an already-saved composition, select the composed object and click Decompose in the Inspector. This separates the shapes back into independent objects, discarding the composition result.
Composed objects can be selected, moved, and transformed like any other 3D shape. The composition relationship is maintained — moving the composed object moves both parts together.
Use Wrap instead of Add whenever the parent surface is not flat — Wrap preserves the curvature of the parent while Add lays a new flat top surface over it.
Click the child shape, then the parent shape
With the tool active and a mode selected, click the child shape first — the shape that will be built onto, carved into, or draped over the parent. The child highlights to confirm it is selected. Then click the parent shape — the base or host object. The composition applies immediately and the two shapes are linked as parent and child. From this point, moving the parent also repositions any children attached to it.
For Cut and Wrap modes, the child's footprint must overlap the parent. If there is no overlap, the operation produces no visible result — move the shapes to overlap before stacking.
Adjust the surface offset
After stacking, select the child shape and open the Inspector panel. The Composition section shows the active mode and a Surface offset field. Increase the offset to float the child above the parent surface (useful for raised inlays or coping bands), or set a negative offset to recess it below. The offset value is always measured from the parent surface in meters (or feet in imperial mode). Changes update the 3D view in real time.
Change the mode after stacking
You can switch a stacked object's mode at any time without re-stacking. Select the child shape, open the Inspector, and use the Mode dropdown in the Composition section to pick a different mode. The change takes effect immediately in the 3D view. This is useful for experimenting between Add and Wrap on a path, or switching a planter from Add to Cut to create a recessed bed.
Detach or undo the composition
To reverse a composition immediately after applying it, press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Cmd+Z (Mac). To detach an already-saved composition, select the child shape and click Detach in the Inspector's Composition section. The child returns to an independent absolute position and the parent is unchanged. Multiple children can be stacked on the same parent — each can be detached individually without affecting the others.
Stacked relationships are preserved when you copy or duplicate objects. If you copy a parent that has children, the duplicate includes all children with their stack modes intact.
Detaching a child from a parent is non-undoable after saving the project. Undo (Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z) works within the current session, but once you save and reopen the project, the Detach action cannot be reversed.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| S | Activate / deactivate Stack tool |
Key Parameters
| Name | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Add (deck/planter), Cut (pool/pond), Wrap (path) | How the child shape modifies the parent surface. Options: Add, Cut, Wrap, Highest, Lowest, Replace. |
| Surface offset | 0 | Vertical distance between the parent surface and the child's base. Positive floats the child above; negative recesses it below. |
| Blend radius | 0.05 m | Softens the edge transition between child and parent at their boundary. 0 produces a sharp edge; higher values create a smooth chamfer. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Add and Wrap?
Add places the child flat on top of the parent's average surface — if the parent is sloped or domed, Add creates a flat cap that does not follow the contour. Wrap conforms the child's base to the parent's exact surface shape at every point, so a path or inlay follows even a steep slope naturally without manual adjustment.
Can I stack multiple children on the same parent?
Yes. Apply the Stack tool as many times as needed — each application attaches one additional child to the parent. Each child can have a different mode and offset. The order in which children were stacked determines how they are evaluated; you can reorder children in the Composition panel if the layering matters.
Does Cut work on overlapping footprints only?
Yes — Cut removes volume only where the child's footprint overlaps the parent. Anything outside the overlap is unaffected. If the child sits entirely outside the parent, no carving occurs. Move or resize the child so its footprint overlaps the desired area of the parent before stacking.
What do Highest and Lowest modes do that Add and Cut cannot?
Highest (max) keeps whichever surface is higher at each point — useful for merging two raised forms without doubling their height where they overlap. Lowest (min) keeps whichever surface is lower — useful for blending a depression into a raised form without over-cutting. These modes are rare in everyday garden design but useful for complex terrain-shaped compositions.
Does moving the parent break the stack?
No. Moving, rotating, or scaling the parent repositions all of its children automatically while preserving the composition relationship. The child always maintains its relative position and offset from the parent surface. Deleting the parent does detach its children first — they fall back to their last absolute positions.