Drawing Tools
BuildVision AI provides professional-grade drawing tools that match or exceed Bluebeam functionality.
Tool Overview
| Tool | Shortcut | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Select | 1 | Click to select, drag to move |
| Pan | 2 | Drag to move the view |
| Polyline | 3 | Multi-segment length measurement |
| Linear | 4 | Two-point distance measurement |
| Area | 5 | Polygon area measurement |
| Count | 6 | Single-click object counter |
| Region | 7 | Select area for AI analysis |
| Eraser | 8 | Delete measurements |
| Roof | 9 | Roof area with pitch |
| Cutout | 0 | Subtract from area |
| Calibrate | C | Set scale from known dimension |
Select Tool
Shortcut: 1
The select tool is used to select and edit existing measurements.
Basic Selection
- Click a measurement to select it
- Click empty space to deselect
Multi-Select
- Shift+click to add/remove from selection
- Selected items can be moved or deleted together
Editing
When a measurement is selected:
- Drag the shape to move it
- Drag vertices to reshape
- Click an edge to insert a new vertex
- Double-click a vertex to delete it
Polyline Tool
Shortcut: 3
Draws connected line segments and calculates total length.
How to Use
- Click to place the first point
- Click to add more points
- Double-click to finish
Tips
- Hold Shift to constrain to 45° angles
- Points snap to nearby vertices automatically
- Great for measuring walls, piping runs, conduit
Linear Tool
Shortcut: 4
Measures straight-line distance between two points.
How to Use
- Click the start point
- Click the end point
- Measurement appears automatically
Area Tool
Shortcut: 5
Draws closed polygons and calculates area in square units.
How to Use
- Click to place corners
- Double-click to close the shape
Area with Holes
To subtract areas (e.g., a stairwell from a floor):
- Draw the outer boundary with Area tool
- Select the area measurement
- Switch to Cutout tool (
0) - Draw the opening to subtract
Count Tool
Shortcut: 6
Places count markers for discrete objects.
- Single click to place a marker
- Each click adds +1 to the count
Cutout Tool
Shortcut: 0
Subtracts holes from existing area measurements.
How to Use
- Select an area measurement first
- Switch to Cutout tool
- Draw the hole to subtract
⚠️
You must have an area measurement selected before using Cutout.
Calibrate Tool
Shortcut: C
Sets the drawing scale by measuring a known dimension.
How to Use
- Find a dimension you know (door width, dimension line)
- Press
Cfor calibrate - Click start point, then end point
- Enter the real-world distance
Common Known Dimensions
| Item | Typical Size |
|---|---|
| Standard door | 3'-0" (36") |
| Double door | 6'-0" (72") |
| Parking space | 9'-0" wide |