At a glance
- Use Loft to connect cross-sections with different shapes, dimensions and rotations.
- Use Sweep to carry one profile along a path, with controls for bends and twist.
- Define open or closed profiles, add thickness, and control the model’s edges and Floor Plan representation.
Model: choose Loft or SweepSelect the modelling method in Model → Setup.
Choose Loft when the cross-section needs to change along the form. The object connects between two and six sections. Each section has its own position, profile dimensions and rotation. For example, you can connect a rectangular section at one end to a circular section at the other.
Choose Sweep when one cross-section should continue along a route. The source profile is defined at Node 1 and remains the same along the path. The other nodes define the route, including its changes in direction and elevation.
Use Quick Axis to start with a vertical direction or a horizontal X or Y direction. Plan Angle and Elevation adjust the axis direction. In Loft mode, enable Follow Centreline if the sections should be arranged along an editable centreline instead of a straight axis.
Model: sections and path nodesSelect a section or node before editing its values.
In Loft mode, open Model → Sections and select the section you want to edit. Its position controls determine where the cross-section sits in the form. With a straight axis, the Station value positions the section along that axis. With Follow Centreline enabled, the centre coordinates position the section along the centreline.
In Sweep mode, the same settings page is called Path Nodes. Enter X, Y and Z values to position the selected node. Twist rotates the profile along the route. You can also use the 3D hotspots to edit node positions, twist and available bend radii directly in the model.
With a Linear sweep path, the intermediate nodes have a Radius setting that creates rounded bends between the straight segments. A Smooth path creates a continuous curve through the nodes and ignores their individual radii. Choose the path type in Model → Setup.
Model: profileDefine the shape of each Loft section or the Sweep source profile.
Open Model → Profile. In Loft mode, first select the section whose profile you want to edit. In Sweep mode, this page edits the single source profile stored at Node 1.
For a closed profile, choose Rectangle, Ellipse / Circle, Regular Polygon or Custom Polygon. Adjust the dimensions and the shape-specific settings. With a custom profile, select individual vertices to edit their positions and available corner radii.
An Open Polyline profile has ends that are not joined. Lofting between open profiles creates an open surface, which can be left without thickness or thickened using the Shell settings. Use a closed profile when you want a form with an enclosed cross-section.
Geometry: quality and edgesSet the model’s smoothness separately from the visibility of its edges.
In Geometry → Quality, choose Standard, Smooth or High resolution. Higher resolution creates more geometry and improves the smoothness of curved surfaces and plan cuts. Use the level of detail the form needs, particularly when placing several copies in a project.
In Loft mode, Profile Transition controls whether the change between sections is Linear or Smooth. Max Twist Step and Max Bend Step control the sampling of rotation and bends. These settings affect how the geometry is generated; they are separate from the path type selected in Model settings.
In Geometry → Edges, Smooth / Clean hides the seams generated between sampled parts of the form. The alternative edge settings let you show longitudinal edges and intermediate rings with their own pens. These controls change the edge representation without changing the shape.
Geometry: shell and thicknessAdd a hollow interior or give an open surface thickness.
For a closed profile, enable Hollow in Geometry → Shell and enter the Thickness. The shell is offset inward from the outer profile. Start Rim and End Rim close the wall thickness at the ends. When Hollow is off, the corresponding Start Cap and End Cap settings close the full end profiles.
For an open Loft profile, enable Thicken to give the surface thickness. Thickness is set for the selected section, so it can vary between sections. Alignment places the thickness to the Centre, Left or Right of the source profile. The source polyline remains in its original position.
If Thicken is off, the result is an open surface with no thickness. Check the model after increasing thickness around tight corners or small profile features, where an inward offset may not fit.
Plan: cut and projected appearanceControl how the object is drawn on the Floor Plan.
Use Plan → Cut to set the plan mode and the cut line and fill attributes. The cut geometry uses Archicad’s Floor Plan Cut Plane, so changing that plane can change the section drawn through the object.
Use Plan → Projection for the projected linework and cover fill, where available for the selected plan mode. Plan → Facets controls the additional lines generated by the sampled geometry. Use a clean representation for general documentation, or show more of the facets when they help explain the form.