01
Add pedestrian walkways
Choose Walkway in the Studio drawing toolbar, then tap two corners and add the area. Walkways are distinct from outdoor areas and render without enclosing walls. Join them to visitor entrances or passages; a gap means there is no connected route. PDF/image and CAD imports can recognize walkway labels or layers with measured outlines. Review candidates and use Area type to correct them; unlabelled or unclear paths may need manual drawing.
02
Start with a drawing or a blank canvas
Create a floorplan, name it and set its dimensions and units. Start blank to build your own layout, or select Import floorplan. Choose Standard import or AI-assisted import first; then choose your file. Supported drawings are PDF, PNG/JPG and ASCII DXF, up to 8 MB. Saved JSON plans use Standard import.
03
Choose your import method
Standard import converts selected pages into editable geometry. It costs 1 credit per page or drawing, charged only when you save the reviewed result. For AI-assisted import, choose one page or model space and request a fixed quote before confirming processing. See the AI import guide for costs and corrections.
04
Review the result and scale
Check the selected pages, detected elements, dimensions and units. Use a known measurement to calibrate the drawing when needed. Review missing or misclassified elements before saving. Imported geometry needs your approval and inspection; neither import method guarantees a perfect reconstruction.
05
Build and edit in 2D
Choose an element from the builder tools, then place it on the canvas. Select an element to edit its name, dimensions, position, rotation and appearance. Use the wall-drawing tool for walls and the element library for furniture, trees, stairs and elevators. Zoom in for small objects; use the selection controls to move and resize them. Save your changes regularly.
06
Preview floors and connect levels
Switch to 3D to check the layout. For a multilevel plan, choose a specific floor or show all floors. Place stairs or elevators and configure floor connections between their endpoints; placing an object alone does not define a route between levels. Check each connection before publishing.
07
Test Wayfinder before sharing
Choose a starting point and a destination, then select Guide me there. Verify the route follows walkable space and uses the right floor connections. GPS positioning requires calibration against real locations; a drawing alone does not provide geographic coordinates. Wayfinder is not an emergency evacuation system.
08
Choose Classic or Exhibition styling
Open Studio tools, Settings, then Appearance and select Classic or Exhibition. Exhibition adds suggested booth decoration; imported and hand-built plans use the same controls. Select a booth and choose Customize booth to edit the shell, furniture, displays and plants inside its footprint. Change the background color in Appearance and each hall floor color in its selected-object Appearance controls. Check both Edit 3D and Preview 3D. Save before publishing: the visitor link shows the last published snapshot. Colored styling is included in the normal publishing price; editable backups remain free.
09
Align a venue on a geographic map
Open Settings, Geographic map & QR locations. Choose Whole floorplan to retain the drawing arrangement or Individual halls to place buildings independently. Coordinates locate the drawing origin or each hall bounding-box corner; use meters per unit, not a screen zoom level. Expand Align using two known points, choose the target and enter matching drawing and real latitude/longitude coordinates for two distant corners. Calculate placement, enable the map, and Save & preview map. Check a third point and all entrances against reliable venue measurements. This computes a uniform scale and rotation; it cannot correct a distorted scan or guarantee survey accuracy.
10
Preview and activate geographic sharing
Preview map placement is free and does not publish or deduct credits. In Share, choose Open on geographic map and inspect the total before confirming. Standard publishing costs 10 credits for 90 days; geographic sharing adds 5 credits and expires with that publishing period, up to 90 days. Updates during the active add-on period are free. Adding the map late does not extend publishing. The link opens an embedded OpenStreetMap-compatible map on Build3D Floorplans, not a new floorplan uploaded to Google Maps. QR locations are fixed starting points; outdoor GPS is not reliable indoor tracking.
11
Choose Classic or Exhibition styling
Open Studio tools, Settings, then Appearance and choose Classic or Exhibition. Select a booth and choose Customize booth to try Premium showroom, Island pavilion or Hospitality suite. Edit the furniture, floor finish, colors and optional pavilion frame or glass display wall inside its footprint. In Appearance and settings, choose Explore for fast navigation or Showcase for richer lighting and shadows; visitors can switch quality, and phones start in Explore. Imported and hand-built plans use the same controls. Change the background color in Appearance and hall floor colors in selected-object Appearance controls. Save and check Preview 3D before publishing. Colored styling is included in publishing; editable backups remain free.
12
Align a venue on a geographic map
Open Settings, Geographic map & QR locations. Choose Whole floorplan to retain the drawing arrangement or Individual halls to position buildings independently. Coordinates locate the drawing origin or each hall bounding-box corner. Expand Align using two known points, choose the target and enter matching drawing and real coordinates for two distant corners. Calculate placement, enable the map, then Save & preview map. Verify a third point and all entrances. This computes uniform scale and rotation; it cannot correct a distorted scan or guarantee survey accuracy.
13
Preview and activate geographic sharing
Preview map placement is free and does not publish or deduct credits. In Share, choose Open on geographic map and review the total before confirming. Standard publishing costs 10 credits for 90 days; geographic sharing adds 5 credits and expires with that publishing period, up to 90 days. Updates during the active add-on period are free. Adding the map late does not extend publishing. The link opens an embedded OpenStreetMap-compatible map on Build3D Floorplans, not an upload into Google Maps. QR locations are fixed starting points; outdoor GPS is not reliable indoor tracking.
14
Publish for exhibition and event visitors
Save and review your floorplan, then use the sharing controls to publish. Publishing costs 10 credits for 90 days. Share the generated 3D link or embed the published viewer. Check the visitor view on a phone, including space names, entrances and routes. Saving a private project is separate from publishing it.
15
Resume AI work or report a problem
Open Import floorplan and select Recent AI imports and corrections to return to existing AI work without starting a new import. Save useful AI results within 7 days. If a drawing fails or important details are missing, use Import not working? to submit a private example; reporting uses no import credits.