Web Sketch: How to create Shapes Inside Shapes
A practical Web Sketch guide for appraisers based on the How to create Shapes Inside Shapes tutorial.
Use this article when you are working in Web Sketch and need a practical reference while building or reviewing a sketch for a report. The video walkthrough is linked below, and the article restates the workflow in appraiser-friendly terms.
Watch the tutorial
Before you begin
Open the correct report and confirm you are sketching the intended subject, dwelling, unit, or related structure. If the sketch will support GLA, exhibits, or report commentary, keep your field notes, measurements, photos, and assignment requirements available while you work.
What this tutorial covers
- Labels and custom labels clarify what each shape or area represents.
When to use this
Use this article when one sketched area needs to sit on, overlap, or be placed inside another area, such as porches, patios, cutouts, or interior features.
Video walkthrough in article form
Start in the correct sketch context
This section explains defining areas within existing shapes.
Check each shape before moving on
Right now the workspace includes the shape that we just created.
The workspace includes a couple actually, but For example, you can split this up. You can simply just grab this at any point that I want. If you want to grab this.
You can use these pop points that are available to me. You can just shift to the left, shift left here. For example, you can start breaking off this room here.
I press Enter, and then you can simply just go from that point and say, you want to close this. Now as soon as you are in this blue state here, you can just click there and now you are prompted to define this area and it is helpful to know that this whole area was defined from an existing shape inside of itself.
In our previous example, we talked a little bit about how you can define new shapes and areas outside of a shape.
It also works the same way if you are drawing it inside other shapes as well.
So, uh, make this above grade level one unfinished area and confirm.
If we then were to go and define this area too, these square footages would also adapt.
Label the sketch clearly
If we went to level one finished here as well, confirm. You will notice that this square footage and this is the sum of both and if you want to, For example, move a wall, the same thing would also occur where those, this square footage decreased in value while this one increased and For example, you can move that label to just be more here.
Now you can do that as well. That's how a good example of how you can define shapes inside other shapes as well.
Practical workflow
Start with the main shape, then add the secondary shape in the correct relationship to it. Use snapping and visual alignment to keep the geometry clean.
Assign area definitions and labels after the relationship between shapes is correct. This helps separate calculated areas from visual-only elements.
Review the calculation panel to confirm the added shape affects totals the way you expect. If the feature should not change GLA, verify that its definition supports that outcome.
Field review tips
Overlapping or nested shapes need extra review because they can affect both the visual exhibit and area calculations.
Appraiser review checklist
- Confirm the sketch is attached to the correct report and property structure.
- Confirm labels, areas, and totals match your field notes and intended report use.
- Confirm any generated exhibit is readable before relying on it in the report.
- Recheck the report section where the exhibit or calculated area appears.
Related Web Sketch tutorials
This article is part 10 of 14 in the Web Sketch tutorial series. Use the Help Center search for web sketch to find the other drawing, labeling, calculation, and exhibit guides.