Setup

Setting up your drawing experience.

In this page, we go over how to set up your model, and where each setting can be found.

Accessing your preferences

The default preferences are setup in your user preferences. Learn more about user preferences.

You may access your model's preferences from multiple areas in the editor. From the properties panel...

From the top left menu...

From the bottom right menu...

Modes & preferences

Modes and preferences offer a wide list of options to chose from. We list here the most important ones...

Navigation & zoom mode

Both modes allow you to choose how you prefer to move around in the model.

• The navigation mode defines whether you prefer to work with a Mouse or Trackpad.

• The zoom mode defines the direction of the scroll motion. Learn more about how to pan and zoom in the editor.

Command mode

You can switch between Shortcut or Command line to trigger commands. Shortcut will allow you to trigger commands by simply typing a character or two, while Command line will expect you to press Space (or Enter) to validate a command.

Wireframe mode

The wireframe mode allows you to focus on precision.

• All lines are displayed with a stroke of 1px and colored based on their layer.

• Solid, texture and image fills are disabled.

• Hatch fills are enabled.

Units & precision

The units and the decimal/fraction precision of lengths and areas can set at three different levels:

• In your user settings.

• In models, at the canvas-level, from right-side panel

• In annotation style.

Stroke scale

In Rayon, stroke weights are measured in paper size (e.g. 0.5mm or1/64"), that is, the size at which the thickness of lines will be on a printed paper, and therefore how they are displayed in any of your paper canvases.

However, you may want to magnify your line weights, to make them be more visible across your work in model canvases: that's when the Stroke scale property can be useful. It allows you to tune how lines appear on your screen. This allows you to change the appearance of line thicknesses while you work on any of your model canvases.

The stroke scale can be accessed in the canvas settings (it will be tuneable in any model canvas, and fixed to 1:1 in any paper canvas)...

...and can also be found in the Stroke menu of styles.

Snapping modes

Rayon offers a variety of snapping options. Editing these modes can be done from the snapping menu at the bottom of the right side panel. Snapping options cover the following:

• Endpoint

• Midpoint

• Center

• Nearest

• Perpendicular

• Quadrant

• Intersection

• Direction

• Bounding Box

• Grid

• Snapping cursor effect toggles a magnetic pull effect that draws the cursor toward the nearest snapping point, making precise snapping easier. This can be enabled or disabled via Menu > Preferences > Snapping > Snapping cursor effect.

Language

The language of the software can be changed. We offer today both English and French. Additionally, shortcuts can be set to a given language (see shortcut section on the topic).

Shortcut set

Rayon offers different sets of shortcuts, that is, lists of shortcuts that can be applied across the software. We offer today Rayon's native set of shortcuts. Additionally, we offer AutoCAD-like shortcuts, both in their English and French translation.

Model sync status

You don't have to worry about saving your work, as Rayon will automatically save all of your individual changes on the canvas. Make sure that you are connected to the internet so that your changes get synced across all of your devices. You may monitor your syncing status on hover in the top right of the editor.

Access your model history

You may access your model history by clicking in Menu > Show history or by clicking on the syncing status indicator in the top right of the editor. All of your drawing sessions, including the current one, are listed in the Version history panel.

Clicking on one of the sessions will open a new tab displaying your model at the selected timestamp. Clicking duplicate will give you copy of the opened snapshot.

Saving a model snapshot

At any point, you can save a specific version of your model. Either hitting CMD + S or the + button in the history panel, will open the save bar, where you will be able to name and save your snapshot.

Tutorial

For more step-by-step information, watch our tutorial about how to set up your model in Rayon:

---

We are always available

Book a demo with our team, right here. To get some support, reach out to us through our in-app support chat. More about our support policy right here.