Punch! Home Design Software lets you import a digital photograph or a scanned image of your home and the landscape around it. From cars to pets, windows to chimneys, doors to neighbors, you can customize your design to match your dreams. You can even place an imported image of your own backyard, so when you look out a window, you’re home.

Tips for Using PhotoView

Punch! Home Design Software’s PhotoView lets you take digital pictures and add them to your landscape design. Although this is a straightforward process, there are a few hints that will make the ultimate result much more satisfying.

■ Verify that the image is level and square when taking a digital picture or scanning a photograph. If the initial photograph is not square, use your graphics software to rotate it in half-degree increments, until it is.

■ Photograph the feature when the sun is shining. This ensures more color saturation and detail of the image.

■ Double-check the dimensions when importing PhotoView images.

■ Take your time masking the image; the better the mask, the better the end result.

■ Images are placed in the center of the lot. When importing multiple images, move each image, as it is placed, to avoid stacking them on top of each other.

■ Images should touch the bottom of the image area. If it is centered in the area, it will float above ground level.

Importing PhotoView Images

Whether you want to import an image of your home’s facade to landscape around or you want to add a custom door or window, Punch! PhotoView makes it easy. You can import any image you want, even your pet or your neighbor.

To import PhotoView images

1 Choose Design > Launch a PowerTool. The PowerTool Launcher appears.

2 Click to select PhotoView and click Launch. The Open dialog appears.

3 Find the image you want to import and select it then click Open. The image appears in the design window.

Note: PhotoView Images appear as lines in the design window.

4 Click the Properties tab in the right sidebar to access the PhotoView image properties.

5 Enter the real-world Width and Height. Be sure to press the Return key to accept new values.

PhotoView Properties

Once you have imported your PhotoView image, you have the option of further customizing its appearance. This can be done at any time during the design process. You can resize, change elevation, rotate, flip it, and perform other editing tasks. To edit a PhotoView image, click to select it in the design window and the PhotoView Properties are displayed.

Note: Always press the Return to accept new values in a text field.

Size defines the Width and Height, in inches or feet and inches, for the image. You can also resize an image manually by dragging an endpoint until the image is the size you want. Dragging an endpoint only changes the width of the image; to keep proportions accurate, update the Height value manually.

Cast Shadows checkbox controls if the imported image generates a shadow or not. When selected, the image casts a shadow; when deselected no shadow is cast.

Flip Image button flips the image horizontally.

Image Information button opens the PhotoView Info dialog box, which shows the path where the file is located on your hard drive.

Set Image button allows you to set a different image in your drawing. You can search for a new image and add it to the design, replacing the existing image (the dimensions remain the same).

Tip: You will find it useful to store PhotoView images in the Content folder in the Punch! Home Design Software directory. The content folder is designed to be the first place searched for missing files, for instance, PhotoView files, custom materials, custom trims, and so on.

Landscaping Using PhotoView Images

One way to get started landscaping your yard is to import a PhotoView image of your home. You can then embellish your design with landscaping and other objects. Note: It’s very important to input the correct dimensions of your home. For more information, see “To import PhotoView images”

To landscape using PhotoView images

1 Import the image of your home, as explained previously, and open the 3D Window View so you have a 2D and 3D view of your design.

2 Using tools and techniques described in previous chapters, add pathways, furniture, topography, and so on.

3 Add landscaping and plants using tools and techniques described in previous chapters.

Note: For information on adding landscaping, see “Landscape Plan Tab” . For information on adding plants, see “Plants Libraries”.

Note: PhotoView images appear in the 2D design window as lines, similar to interior walls.

Right in Your Own Backyard

In Punch! Home Design Software you can even look out the window of your new home design and see your own backyard. By taking a digital picture of your backyard, you can position it so when you view your design in 3D View, you’re home.

Note: In this example, the PhotoView image is the line at the top of the design window.

To view your own backyard

1 Create your home design using tools and techniques outlined in previous chapters and then open the 3D Window View so you have a 2D and 3D view of your design.

2 Import the PhotoView image of your own backyard and drag the PhotoView image to a position where it can be viewed from your virtual home.