Object Snap (OSNAP)
Object Snap detects geometric points on existing objects and snaps the cursor to them — endpoints, midpoints, centres, intersections, and more. Active by default during drawing.
When Object Snap is enabled, a snap indicator appears near the cursor showing the detected snap type. A small coloured marker shows exactly where the snap point is. A floating SnapHUD near the cursor shows the active snap type and its keyboard shortcut. Right-click the SnapHUD to open the snap override menu and force a specific snap type for the next click.
Snap types
Endpoint (on by default) — snaps to the start or end point of a path segment. Red diamond marker. Midpoint (on by default) — snaps to the midpoint of a segment. Green triangle marker. Center (on by default) — snaps to the centre of a circle or ellipse. Blue circle marker. Intersection (on by default) — snaps to where two paths cross. Yellow × marker. Quadrant — snaps to the four quadrant points of a circle (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°). Purple diamond. Nearest — snaps to the nearest point on any path. Cyan circle. Tangent — snaps to a tangent point on a curve. Orange triangle. Perpendicular — snaps to a point on a path that is perpendicular to the last drawn segment. Purple ⊥ marker.
Enabling and disabling snap types
Open the snap settings panel from the status bar. Each snap type has an individual on/off toggle. Endpoint, Midpoint, Center, and Intersection are on by default. Quadrant, Nearest, Tangent, and Perpendicular are off by default to reduce clutter.
Turn on Nearest snap when you need to attach a leader or callout to an arbitrary point on a curved border without having to place an explicit node there first.
Snap override
Right-click the SnapHUD near the cursor while drawing to open the snap override menu. Select a specific snap type to force the next click to use only that type, then reverts to automatic mode. This is useful when multiple snap points are close together.
Left-click a snap icon to toggle that type on or off permanently; right-click it to force it for just the next point.
Magnetic snap
Magnetic Snap is a second-layer attraction that pulls the cursor toward a snap point within a configurable radius (default 20 screen pixels). This makes snapping less precise and more forgiving — useful at lower zoom levels. Disable it when you need exact cursor placement.
Temporarily suspend snapping
Hold Alt while drawing or dragging to suspend all snapping, letting you land exactly where the cursor sits rather than being pulled to the nearest snap point. Alt suspends snapping only while held, so snapping resumes the moment you release it.
Use the Alt suspension when you need to place a point that intentionally does not connect to existing geometry — for example, starting a new isolated element close to an existing one.
Toggle snap types from the snap palette
Use the snap palette on the canvas (or the Snap tab in the Style & Display flyout) to turn individual snap types on or off at any time. Each toggle takes effect immediately, so you can flick a type on or off mid-command without interrupting your workflow. The master Snapping switch at the top of the palette disables everything at once when you need a fully freeform pass.
Object Snap only snaps to objects that already exist in the drawing. If nothing is snapping, confirm that the drawing contains at least one shape and that the snap type you need — for example Center for circles — is enabled in the snap panel.
Zoom in when multiple snap points cluster in a small area. More screen space between points means the correct snap type wins without needing a manual override.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt (hold) | Suspend all snapping (free placement) |
| Right-click its snap-palette icon | Force a snap type for the next point |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is nothing snapping?
Check three things: first, confirm the master Snapping switch is on in the snap palette (or the Snap tab) and that Object Snap is enabled. Second, verify the specific snap type you want is toggled on. Third, remember that Object Snap only works on existing objects — if the drawing is empty, there is nothing to snap to. Also make sure you are not holding Alt, which suspends snapping while held.
The cursor keeps jumping to the wrong snap point. How do I fix it?
Right-click the icon for the snap type you need in the canvas snap palette. That type is forced for your next point only, then the cursor returns to automatic selection. Alternatively, zoom in so the competing snap points have more screen space between them and the intended one wins automatically.
Can I snap to a point on a parametric object like a deck or fence?
Yes. Parametric hardscape objects expose their footprint outline as snappable geometry, so Endpoint, Midpoint, Center, and Intersection snaps all work on their boundary segments. Use Nearest snap if you need to attach something to an arbitrary point along a curved parametric edge.
How do I snap to the center of a rectangle rather than a circle?
Center snap targets the geometric center of circles, arcs, and ellipses only. For a rectangle, enable Intersection snap to lock to the crossing of its diagonal construction lines, or use the alignment guides to manually bisect the shape. If you need the exact centroid of an irregular polygon, place a temporary circle at that position to give Center snap a target.
Snapping feels sluggish or imprecise when I am zoomed far out. What should I do?
At small zoom levels many snap points are within a few screen pixels of each other, which makes selection less predictable. Zoom in to the area you are working in so snap targets have more visual separation. You can also temporarily disable Magnetic snapping in the snap panel to remove the extra pull radius and rely only on the tighter direct snap range.