Creating Steps from a Wall Pattern

Here's a trick you can try when you need steps but do not have an image of steps to work with. The technique uses a wall image with a capstone and a slight shadow cast by the capstone. You will find many of these in the Content Explorer >> Paver Tab >> Wall Patterns. In this example I am using a Techo-bloc wall.

1. Pull the wall image from the Content Explorer to your project.
   
   
2. Using the Rectangle Area tool, drag a rectangle around the capstone and the top two courses of the wall.  When you release the rectangle you will get a popup, select Create New Object.  This will create a slice of wall as shown in #2.  Right click on the  slice and select Duplicate, in this example duplicated 3 times to create a total of 4 steps.
   
   
3. Stack the steps one over the next and make the next level down a little wider and taller so they appear to taper and have perspective.
   
   
4. A final touch is to use the Flip Horizontal tool from the toolbar and flip every other step.  This technique will alternate the steps so the do not look rubber stamped.
   

​

      If you build the steps on a solid white background, you can also save the set of steps into your library as a permanent object. Also, using the image tab you can change the coloration of the pattern, it is a good idea to do this prior to starting step #2.

• Related Articles

• Railroad Tie steps

  Go to draw >> miscellaneous >> stairs Using the stairs tool Now before you draw the stairs. Set your stair and tread width. Then select the line type you want to use. Setting the stair width and tread width Then simply draw your stairs. In this ...

• Creating a deck using the 2d cad polyline method

  This is just one method of creating a deck. Go to draw >> 2d cad >> polyline >> single. Doesn't matter which side you start. I used a combination of the O key to go straight and the U key to go at an angle to create the deck shape you see below.   Go ...

• Creating a PDF Doc - V 14-20

  Make sure you drawing grid size is the same as your output size and everything fits on the grid.   Go to File > Print. Selected the Drafix PDF Writer Make sure that under VIEW TO PRINT it says Page View Make sure that under SIZING METHOD it say ...

• Software not registering manual file registration steps

  There could be many possible issues from installation problems, firewalls, permissions, etc. In almost all cases they can be resolved, but for some odd ones. Follow the steps below. The registration file is attached to this email.  1. Download and ...

• Creating Favorites

  To add an object to Favorites, right click on the object and select Add to Favorites. In Image Editor you can add an object that is on a project to Favorites. Select the appropriate folder or press Add Folder to create a new folder. To organize your ...