Patio Wizard
The Patio Wizard creates a tiled patio from a shape you draw on the canvas. Draw the patio outline first, then configure elevation, tile pattern, border, and accents in the sidebar.
Patio WizardThe Patio Wizard turns any closed shape you draw into a parametric tiled patio surface, complete with paver dimensions, grout gaps, and a choice of Grid, Running Bond, or Herringbone laying patterns. A separate border band and one or more accent rows let you add framing and inlay detail without manual editing. The wizard also supports elevated patios with a configurable height above ground. Because everything is parametric, you can reopen the wizard at any time to change the pattern or materials without redrawing the footprint.
Step 2 — Pattern
Set tile dimensions (width and height) and the grout gap. Choose the tile laying pattern: Grid (square/rectangular grid), Running Bond (staggered brick-style offset), or Herringbone (interlocking zigzag — only available when the tile aspect ratio is 2:1). Set the pattern rotation angle. Choose a surface color from presets or a PBR material from the catalog.
Step 3 — Border
Toggle the border band on or off. Set the border tile width and choose a separate surface color or material for the border tiles to create a framing effect around the patio perimeter.
Elevated patios automatically generate side walls in 3D view so the structure looks solid from any camera angle.
Step 4 — Accents
Add decorative accent tile rows within the tile field. Set the accent band width and choose a color or material distinct from the main surface to create inlay patterns.
Apply a color or material to the paver field
Still in the Pattern step, click the color swatch to set a solid fill color for the paver surface, or open the Material picker to assign a photoreal material from the catalog (stone, concrete, brick, and more). The material applied here covers the entire paver field and will appear in 3D view and AI renders.
Add a border band
In the Border step, toggle Border on to add a framing band around the patio perimeter. Set the border Width to control how many pavers deep the band runs. Assign a separate color or material to the border so it visually distinguishes the edge from the field — a contrasting stone or darker color is a common professional choice.
Add accent rows
In the Accents step, toggle Accents on and click Add Accent to insert one or more decorative inlay bands within the paver field. Each accent has its own Width and color or material. Multiple accents can be added to create banded inlay patterns. Select any accent in the list to edit or delete it individually.
Apply the patio
Click Apply at the bottom of the wizard sidebar to commit the patio to the drawing. The patio becomes a parametric entity you can select and edit at any time by clicking it and choosing Parameters in the inspector — this reopens the full wizard sidebar with all your settings intact. The patio also appears in the cost estimation table if unit rates are configured for paving materials.
Herringbone requires a 2:1 paver ratio — for example 40×20 cm or 8×4 inches. If the ratio is not exactly 2:1, the Herringbone option is disabled. Switch to Grid or Running Bond, or adjust the paver dimensions to unlock it.
For a natural-looking large-format stone patio, try 60×30 cm (or 24×12") pavers in Running Bond with a 2–3 mm grout gap and a light sandstone photoreal material. This combination reads clearly in both 2D plans and 3D photoreal renders.
Changing the paver dimensions after placing the patio will reflow the entire tile layout. If the client has approved a specific pattern, lock the entity on its layer to prevent accidental edits.
Key Parameters
| Name | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Paver Width / Height | 0.3 × 0.3 m (30 × 30 cm) | Nominal face dimensions of each paver tile, stored in meters. Quick-pick presets available for both metric and imperial unit systems. |
| Grout Width | 0.01 m (10 mm) | Gap between adjacent pavers. Affects the visual density of joint lines. |
| Pattern Kind | grid | Laying pattern for the paver field. Herringbone is only available when paver width:height ratio is exactly 2:1. |
| Rotation | 0 | Rotates the entire tile layout relative to the footprint. Use 45° for a diagonal grid. |
| Elevation Height | 0 | Height above ground for elevated patios. Only active when Elevated is toggled on. |
| Border Width | — | Width of the perimeter border band. Only active when Border is toggled on. |
| Accent Width | — | Width of each individual accent inlay band. Multiple accents can be added. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Herringbone is greyed out — how do I enable it?
Herringbone only activates when the paver Width and Height are in a 2:1 ratio. Set them to a 2:1 ratio — for example 40×20 cm (metric) or 8×4 inches (imperial) — and the Herringbone option becomes selectable.
The wizard sidebar didn't open after I finished drawing. What happened?
The sidebar opens only once the footprint is a closed shape. If you used the polyline or bezier tool, make sure you clicked back on the first point to close the path. An open path will not trigger the wizard. If the sidebar still doesn't appear, try clicking the shape to select it — a Parameters button in the inspector will reopen the wizard.
Can I draw a curved or organic patio outline?
Yes. Draw the footprint with the bezier or freehand tool before starting the wizard. The patio fills the exact boundary you draw — curves and irregular shapes are fully supported. The tile pattern fills the interior while the border follows the curved perimeter precisely.
How do I edit the patio after applying it?
Click the patio entity to select it, then click the Parameters button that appears in the inspector panel on the right. This reopens the full wizard sidebar with all your existing settings loaded so you can adjust pattern, material, border, or accents without redrawing the footprint.
Can I change the footprint shape after applying?
Yes. Select the patio and use the standard path-edit tool to move anchor points and handles on the footprint boundary. The tile pattern reflows automatically to fill the updated shape.