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Input

• Group containing one closed edge path.
• Group containing one closed edge path, plus edges inside.
• Group containing one closed edge path, plus edges, points or both inside.

All geometry inside the group should be raw. Avoid nested groups.

Operation

Direct

1. Pre-select valid inputs.
2. Run Grade.
3. To adjust result, type values.

To finish, switch to any other tool.
To keep , continue to item 2, below.

Alternatively:

Picking

1. Run Grade with nothing selected.
2. While running Grade, Pick valid inputs.
3. To grade, click Enter or Doubleclick.
4. To adjust result, type values.

To finish, switch to any other tool.
To keep , repeat from item 2, above.

While running, type VCB values anytime.
Values control active result, and next result.

Learning by Watching

Master the Nature-Culture Interface

A core challenge for real-world site grading is accurately controlling the interface between nature and culture. The nature-culture interface is where terrain connects to built objects.

For instance, consider a building on a slope, or retaining walls along a winding road, or a flight of steps up a hill.

The architect or landscape designer knows where along a built object that the terrain ought to connect. The challenge is to force the terrain to connect to the interface, while keeping transitions controlled.

Landshape Grade was invented to solve this problem.

Edges Embody the Shape

In Grade, the nature-culture interface is represented by edges. Edges are easy to draw. They can embody the core information required to shape terrain. Edges combine simplicity and data compactness. This is why they are used in Grade.

Learning to Grade

Start with a plot of varied terrain, in a slope. E.g. use Plot. Try quaking the output until you get a slope. Put a simple building in the slope. A grouped cube can work well.

1. First, simply draw edges where you want the terrain to connect to your built object. The edges can be single straight lines, continuous line segments, or smooth curves. This is your nature-culture interface.
2. Second, you need to explicitly tell Grade which exact terrain area should be affected. This is done by drawing another set of edges. Make it a simple closed path around the area. Give it plenty of space around the building. The closed path should sit roughly on the terrain. You can use the Landshape Draw tool for this. Alternatively, draw a rectangle, select it, and run Drape Edge.
3. Third, select both your interface, and the area path, and Group them. Both should be raw edges inside a group. This is your Grade group.
4. Fourth, Select your Grade group.
5. Finally, run Grade. The terrain should move.

To interatively vary the result, enter your Grade group. Edit or move the interface edges. Run Grade again.

Note that you cannot have edges stacked right on top of each other. But you can have edges that are quite close. In plan view, there has to be space between edges.

Tips

• To get terrain to move exactly to where your interface is, first Embed the interface. Embedding gives your terrain the required local sharpness. Then Grade again to express the grade group more accurately. You may do this iteratively.
• You can keep grading while inside the grade group. While inside the grade group, hit Grade to regrade. This enables an iterative workflow, where you edit control edges, then grade, then edit control edges, and so on.
• If you use Ease on an interface in your Grade group, you can make Grade influence the result softly.
• Grade accepts points as input.
• Don't be afraid to experiment. Start a sandbox model, and play around!

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🌱 ...this Learn section is still incomplete. Expect more content in a future Landshape update. Keep Landshape updated and check back soon.