Terrain from Scratch
Create a terrain mesh without survey data. Start with a flat or sloped blank grid, then sculpt the ground surface with brush tools or set precise elevations with height points.
Terrain from ScratchCreate Terrain lets you generate a fully editable ground surface without any survey or import data. You define the terrain's width, depth, base elevation, and starting shape — flat, directional slope, bowl, or mound — and Scapiera computes a height grid along with contour lines, hillshading, and slope overlays automatically. This workflow suits concept-stage schemes, roof gardens, podium decks, and any project where you want to sketch a landform before real survey data arrives. Once the surface exists, every sculpt and grading tool in the Model flyout is available to refine it.
Enter the sculpt workspace
After creating the blank terrain (or clicking an existing terrain entity on the canvas), the terrain HUD appears at the top of the canvas.
Click the Edit tab in the HUD to enter the sculpt workspace. The canvas switches to terrain editing mode:
- The terrain mesh is highlighted
- The sculpt tools appear in the terrain HUD toolbar
- Other canvas entities are shown at reduced opacity while terrain editing is active
Press Escape or click Done Editing in the HUD to exit the sculpt workspace and return to the normal canvas.
Sculpt with brush tools
The sculpt workspace provides four brush tools:
- Raise (default) — push the terrain surface upward under the brush. Click and drag to apply continuously.
- Lower — push the terrain surface downward. Hold Alt to switch from Raise to Lower temporarily.
- Smooth — blend elevation differences within the brush area. Use after Raise/Lower to soften sharp ridges.
- Flatten — level the terrain within the brush area to a target elevation. The target elevation is the average elevation at the first click of the stroke.
Brush controls:
- Size — drag the Size slider in the HUD (or use [ / ] keys) to change brush radius
- Strength — drag the Strength slider to control how fast the elevation changes per stroke
- Falloff — controls how the brush fades from center to edge (hard or soft)
All sculpt edits are non-destructive and can be undone with Ctrl/Cmd+Z.
Use height points for precise elevation control
Height points allow you to set the exact elevation at specific grid locations — useful when you have a spot levels plan (e.g. from a surveyor's drawing) and want to translate it into the terrain mesh.
To add a height point: 1. In the terrain Edit tab, click the Height Points tool in the HUD toolbar 2. Click on the terrain surface to place a height point 3. A small pin appears with an editable elevation label 4. Type the desired elevation value and press Enter
The terrain surface is pulled toward the height point elevation. Multiple height points constrain the surface at multiple locations simultaneously.
Height points are visible as small pins on the terrain. Click a pin to select it and edit its elevation. Delete a height point by selecting it and pressing Delete.
Combine sculpting and height points
Sculpt brushes and height points can be used together on the same terrain:
1. Add height points at key control elevations (terrace level, lawn level, top of slope, bottom of slope) 2. Use the Raise/Lower brushes to shape the surface between the control points 3. Use the Smooth brush to blend transitions 4. Use the Flatten brush to create level areas (flat lawns, paved terraces) at specific elevations
This combination workflow produces terrain that matches the design intent (sculpted forms) while honoring specific elevation targets (height points at key positions).
Choose a starting terrain shape
Select one of four Terrain shape options: Flat generates a uniform level surface; Directional creates a linear gradient that falls toward a compass direction you choose with the 8-point direction picker; Bowl dishes the center downward; Mound raises the center upward. For any shape except Flat, drag the Elevation change slider to set how much the terrain rises or falls across its full extent.
Set slope direction and elevation change (Directional only)
When Directional is selected, an 8-point compass picker appears. Click the arrow that points downhill — for example, click S to make the surface fall toward the south edge. Then adjust the Elevation change slider to set the total drop from the high edge to the low edge. The dialog shows the resulting measurement in your current units as you drag.
Create the surface
Click Create Terrain to generate the surface. Scapiera computes the height grid and automatically generates contour lines, hillshading, and slope overlays. The surface appears in the canvas ready to view and refine. If a surface already existed, confirm the replacement prompt to proceed.
Choose a starting shape close to the real site conditions — a Directional slope with a rough grade takes far less sculpting to finish than starting flat and pushing every point up manually.
Creating a new terrain when one already exists replaces the current surface, including any sculpting work you have done. Confirm you have saved or no longer need the existing shape before clicking Create Terrain a second time.
Refine the surface with the Model tools
Open the Model flyout to shape the surface further. Volume Points are the best starting point — they pull broad mounds and dips across the whole surface. Use Spray Sculpt to add organic fine detail. The Grading Primitives let you carve out flat Pad areas, sloped pads, retaining steps, and hard breaklines for walls and edges. Watch the bottom hint strip in the workspace for per-tool controls and shortcuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace the from-scratch surface with real survey data later?
Yes. Once you receive a survey file (CSV, DXF, LandXML, or similar), use Import Terrain from the Data flyout. The import dialog will warn you that it replaces the existing surface. Any sculpting work done on the from-scratch surface will be lost, so import early if real data is expected soon.
What happens if I click Create Terrain when a surface already exists?
The dialog detects the existing surface and shows a replacement confirmation before proceeding. If you confirm, the old surface and all its sculpted height data are replaced. Cancel if you accidentally opened the dialog and want to keep your work.
What does Base elevation actually do?
Base elevation sets the absolute height of the terrain's lowest reference point in the project coordinate system. A value of 0 places the terrain at ground level. Setting it to a real-world datum (for example, 12 m above sea level) is useful when coordinating with drainage calculations or external survey data that uses the same datum.
Which sculpt tool should I reach for first after creating the surface?
Start with Volume Points to establish the major landform — hills, valleys, and broad grade changes. Once the large-scale shape is right, switch to Spray Sculpt for organic texture and fine adjustments. Finish with Grading Primitives to cut in specific flat areas, patios, or retaining details. This coarse-to-fine sequence avoids rework.
Can I change the terrain's width or depth after creation?
Re-opening Create Terrain and entering new dimensions is the fastest way to resize the surface, but doing so replaces the current height data. If you only need to shift or reposition the terrain, use the standard move/transform tools to reposition it on the canvas after creation.