In practice, the need to move different objects at the same time often arises. It can be solar panels on the roof or pictures on the wall, and it would be ideal if there is some connection between these elements. This can be done using the Glue To function and in this lesson I will show you how to use it.

I have already added something that looks like a roof to my object, so with two successive clicks I will open this element and then select the side surface. After that, it won’t be difficult for me to draw a rectangle on it and thus mark the position of the skylight. If I create a new component from it, the program will automatically activate the Glue To option, which means that the window will be “glued” to the surface representing the roof.

If you don’t need it, simply select the None option, and the symbol representing the main axes will return to its normal appearance. On the other hand, if you select another item, the selected element will be connected to the nearest surface, which is confirmed by the symbol in the form of a blue cross.

In addition to the linking function, this frame also has an option that allows you to automatically “cut” part of a surface. It is called Cut opening, and if you activate it and close this box, the program will automatically form a new component and at the same time remove part of the surface that is directly below it.

To show you how it looks in practice, I will first copy this opening and then select the source element and assign it the appropriate material. Since I would like this part of the roof to be transparent, I will opt for blue glass and this change will immediately be reflected on the other opening.

Unfortunately, regardless of the material that guarantees transparency, it is currently not possible to see the inside of the building, and there is a valid reason for that. To show you what it’s really about, I’ll temporarily remove all other objects by selecting the Hide Rest Of Model option and then show the underside of the roof. As you can see, it also has a horizontal surface that prevents the interior from showing, so I’ll take the opportunity to remove that and re-render the entire model. Now the sunroofs will indeed become transparent which confirms that I have successfully completed this task as well.

Before moving on to the next topic, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that you can only use the Cut opening function on plain surfaces. In this case, that condition is met, but if I turn the roof plate into a real spatial object, the program will not be able to create an opening on it.

I’m going to undo this change right now, because I’d like to show you what effects you can achieve using the Glue To function. I mentioned it to you at the beginning of the lesson and automatically applied it to these skylights. Since they are now “glued” to the roof surface, I can freely change its size and position, and this will automatically be reflected on both openings.

I will connect the elements inside the object in the same way. To that end, I will first select the surface that represents the floor and then draw a rectangle on it that will serve as a carpet. If I make a new component out of it, the program will allow me to apply the Glue To option at the same time and thus connect the two elements. Since I don’t want an opening to appear in that place, I will turn off the Cut opening option and select the Create button to complete this process. In the end, I just need to raise the new surface by a few centimeters and separate it from the base. This avoids overlap that can look like a mistake, especially if you choose different materials for these two surfaces. It is for this reason that I recommend you to assign a certain thickness to the carpet and avoid such problems.