Zoom In/Out & Pan

Zoom and Pan controls let you move around the sketch and change how much detail you see without changing any of the actual measurements in your drawing.

Navigation Overview

The sketch canvas is fully zoomable and scrollable. Use the zoom buttons to get closer or farther away, and use the pan tool to drag the view around. None of these actions change the real-world size of anything in your sketch — they only affect how it is displayed on screen.

  • Zoom In – see more detail in a smaller area.
  • Zoom Out – see more of the sketch at once.
  • Pan – move your view around the canvas at the current zoom level.

Using Zoom In & Zoom Out

The zoom buttons are located in the top toolbar. Use them any time you need to switch between an overall view and detailed editing.

  1. 1. Locate the zoom icons.
    In the top toolbar, find the magnifying glass icons:
    • Zoom Out – magnifying glass with a minus sign.
    • Zoom In – magnifying glass with a plus sign.
  2. 2. Zoom in for detail work.
    Click Zoom In to bring the sketch closer:
    • Useful when adjusting corners, snapping lines, or editing small shapes.
    • Combine with the pointer tool for precise edits.
  3. 3. Zoom out for context.
    Click Zoom Out to see more of the sketch at once:
    • Useful for checking overall layout and area relationships.
    • Helps confirm that all rooms and exteriors line up correctly.

Tip

It’s common to zoom in to make precise edits, then zoom back out to inspect the full sketch. Switching between the two is part of normal workflow.

Panning Around the Sketch

The pan tool lets you drag the canvas in any direction without changing the zoom level. This is especially useful when you are zoomed in.

Using the Pan Tool

  1. Click the Pan icon (hand symbol) in the top toolbar to activate panning mode.
  2. With the pan tool active, click and drag anywhere on the canvas to move your view.
  3. Release the mouse to stop panning. The sketch stays exactly where you left it on screen.

Switching Back to Editing

When you are done moving around:

  • Click the Pointer tool to go back to selecting and editing shapes.
  • You can switch between Pointer and Pan as often as needed while working.

Combining Zoom & Pan

Zoom and Pan are designed to be used together for efficient navigation, especially in larger or more detailed sketches.

  • Zoom in on a specific area, then use Pan to move to neighboring rooms or sections without zooming back out.
  • Zoom out to see the overall footprint, confirm alignment, then zoom back in where you need to adjust details.
  • Rulers, units, and grid settings (controlled from the bottom-right footer) work the same at any zoom level.

For more on rulers, units, and the grid, see the Sketch Features page. For drawing tools, refer to Draw Exterior, Draw Interior, and Free Form Draw.