The Clipping Tool lets users cut away part of a layer to reveal what sits inside or beneath it. It is useful for inspecting interior structures in an IFC model, isolating a section of a 3D mesh or point cloud, and removing surrounding data that gets in the way of a close inspection.
Clipping is applied per layer, and the clipped region is defined by a clipping box that users can move, resize, and rotate directly in the 3D viewer.
Important: Clippings are temporary. If the project is reopened, any active clippings are lost. To keep a clipping, users should create a saved View once the clipping box is positioned.
Starting a Clipping
Each layer in the project has its own clipping option.
In the layer tree, locate the layer to be clipped.
Open the clipping tool (
).
A clipping box appears around the layer in the viewer.
Note: Only the portion of the layer inside the clipping box remains visible. Everything outside the box is hidden until clipping is stopped or reset.
Adjusting the Clipping Box
With 3D controls enabled, the clipping box displays interactive handles in the viewer.
Drag a face handle to move that side of the box inward or outward, which grows or shrinks the visible region.
Optional: Use the rotation rings to rotate the box around an axis. Rotation is useful when the feature of interest does not align with the project axes, such as an angled wall or a sloping section of infrastructure.
Optional: Select Reset to return the clipping box to its default position and size.
Close the Clipping Tool once done. Users can create a saved View to preserve clipping.
Clipping Multiple Layers Together
By default, a clipping applies only to the layer it was started from. Other layers can be added so they are clipped by the same box.
In the layer tree, locate the layer to be clipped.
Note: All layers need to be clipped should be toggled on.
Open the clipping tool (
).
Optional: In the Clipping Tool panel, find the Select other items to clip together list. Use the Search field to narrow the list if the project contains many layers.
Check the box next to each layer that should be included in the clipping.
Drag a face handle to move that side of the box inward or outward, which grows or shrinks the visible region.
Close the Clipping Tool once done. Users can create a saved View to preserve clipping.
The selected layers are now clipped by the same box, so moving or rotating the box updates every included layer at once. This is helpful when comparing an IFC model against a captured mesh in the same cross section.
To remove a layer from the group, uncheck it in the list.
Clipping Tool Controls
Control | Description |
3D controls | Displays the interactive handles on the clipping box so it can be moved, resized, and rotated in the viewer. |
Stop Clipping | Temporarily turns off the clipping so the full layer is visible again. The clipping box settings are kept. Select Start Clipping to reapply them. |
Reset | Returns the clipping box to its default position and size. |
Search | Filters the list of layers available to clip together. |
Notes
Clipping affects only what is displayed in the viewer. It does not modify or delete any source data.
Stopping a clipping is temporary. The clipping box remains configured and can be reapplied with Start Clipping.
Layers added through Select other items to clip together are cleared from a saved view, so individual clippings should be used when a view needs to be shared or revisited.