Sketch menu: Project as Sketch tool

What is the Project as Sketch tool?

You can use the Project as Sketch tool to create sketch geometry from existing sketches or model geometry on a planar face or sketch plane. The resulting projection can serve as a reference for further sketching and modeling.

Common uses include:

• Creating reference sketches – Use existing edges or shapes as guides for new sketches.
• Reusing geometry – Project an existing shape onto another sketch plane or planar face.
• Combining sketch references – Bring geometry from separate sketches onto the same plane.

To create edges directly on a body's surface instead, visit Tools menu: Project as Edge tool.

How to use the Project as Sketch tool

Before you start

• Prepare the sketch or model geometry you want to project.
• Choose a planar face or sketch plane where you want the projected sketch to appear. Sketch projections are not created directly on curved faces.

Using the Project as Sketch tool

1. Open the sketch on the intended plane or planar face.
2. Go to Sketch > Project as Sketch. For more information about accessing tools, visit Accessing tools.
3. Select the sketches, edges, or faces you want to project onto the active sketch plane.
4. Optional: Turn on Linked Sketch to keep the projection associated with its source geometry.
5. To finish, select Done.

Understanding sketch projections

Project as Sketch creates sketch elements rather than edges that become part of a solid body's surface. This makes projected geometry useful for creating new profiles and referencing dimensions or shapes from other parts of a model.

• Planar destinations – Project onto a sketch plane or planar face where sketches can be created.
• Editable sketch workflow – Use projected geometry alongside other sketch elements to define new shapes.
• Visibility – Sketch projections can be shown or hidden with their sketch in the Items Manager.

Example: Creating a hole from projected edges

In this example, the goal is to create an elliptical hole that fits the rounded corners of a body.

Project the curved edges onto a sketch plane to use them as references.

Draw an ellipse using the projected sketch as a guide, then use Extrude to cut the hole.

Parameter Card and History Settings

Shapr3D records the tools you use as steps in History, allowing you to revisit and modify them later. Each History step stores its parameters, which you can access through the parameter card. You can adjust these parameters while using the tool or reopen the parameter card from History after completing the step.

Adjust Project as Sketch parameters

• Linked Sketch – Choose whether the projected sketch remains linked to the original geometry. Turn this on when you want changes to the source geometry to update the projection. Leave it off when you want a separate sketch reference that does not update with its source.

Edit Project as Sketch in History

To revisit a projection, locate the relevant sketch or projection step in History. The original Project workflow included the following sketch-projection settings:

• Plane – Change the plane or planar face used for the sketch.
• Projection – Modify the geometry referenced by the sketch projection.

When to use the Project as Sketch tool

Use Project as Sketch when you need existing geometry as a guide for a new sketch. For example:

• Matching existing shapes – Reference edges from another part of the model when drawing a new profile.
• Creating cutouts – Project geometry to a sketch plane before drawing and extruding a cut.
• Reusing sketch details – Bring existing geometry onto another plane instead of drawing it again.
• Choosing between projection types – Project as Sketch creates sketch geometry, while Project as Edge creates edges on a body's surface. To learn more, visit Tools menu: Project as Edge tool.

Best practices and troubleshooting

• Choose a planar destination. Sketch projections require a sketch plane or planar face. For projections onto curved body faces, use Project as Edge.
• Use Linked Sketch when the source may change. This keeps the projected geometry associated with its source.
• Check sketch visibility. If a projection seems to disappear, check whether its sketch is hidden in the Items Manager.