Reviewed for Flex Version 3.0
Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes
In This Article You’ll Learn
How to use Layers
What each layer controls
Why items may appear to disappear
Why interior dimensions may not display
Best practices for working with layers
Overview
Layers control what you see while editing your floor plan.
Showing or hiding a layer does not change your project—it only changes what is visible on your screen.
If something appears to be missing, the first place to check is the Layers panel.
RENDR Principle
Hide what’s distracting. Keep what’s helpful.
Layers allow you to simplify the workspace so you can focus on the task at hand.
Opening the Layers Panel
Open the Layers panel from the editor toolbar.
From here you can independently show or hide different types of information throughout your floor plan.
Available Layers
Depending on your platform, you can control the visibility of:
Layer | Shows |
Walls | Floor plan walls |
Wall Labels | Wall names and identifiers |
Doors & Openings | Doors, windows, and openings |
Interior Dimensions | Interior wall measurements |
Exterior Dimensions | Exterior measurements |
Flooring | Flooring areas |
Rooms | Room names and room outlines |
Kitchen & Bath | Cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, appliances |
Objects | Furniture and general objects |
Freehand | Freehand markup |
Symbols | Markup symbols |
Pinned Notes | Photo notes and pinned annotations |
Custom Dimensions | User-created dimension lines |
Text | Text annotations |
Common Uses for Layers
Cleaning Up Wall Geometry
Hide:
Objects
Kitchen & Bath
Flooring
This gives you a clear view of the wall layout while editing.
Working with Flooring
Hide:
Markup
Wall Labels
Room Labels
This makes it easier to see flooring boundaries and exclusion areas.
Reviewing a Finished Floor Plan
Turn all layers back on to verify:
Walls
Flooring
Labels
Dimensions
Objects
Markup
before exporting or sharing the project.
If Something Disappears
If an item suddenly seems to be missing:
Open the Layers panel.
Verify the appropriate layer is turned on.
If the layer is enabled, confirm you’re in the correct editing mode.
Most “missing” items are simply hidden—not deleted.
Interior Dimensions Should Normally Be Visible
When the Interior Dimensions layer is enabled, Flex will automatically generate interior wall dimensions throughout the floor plan.
If interior dimensions are missing, there’s usually an underlying issue with the wall geometry rather than the dimension layer itself.
Common causes include:
Two walls that appear connected but aren’t actually joined.
Small gaps between wall endpoints.
Overlapping or messy wall junctions.
Wall fragments left behind after editing.
Use the wall editing tools to inspect each junction closely.
Zoom in and verify that:
Wall endpoints snap together cleanly.
Corners share a common vertex.
There are no tiny gaps or overlapping wall segments.
Once wall geometry is repaired, interior dimensions will often regenerate automatically.
💡 Pro Tip: If dimensions aren’t appearing where you expect them, don’t assume the dimension layer is the problem. Inspect the nearby wall connections first—they’re often the real cause.
Layers vs. Photos
The Photos panel is separate from the Layers panel.
Photos can be opened whenever you need to compare the floor plan to what was captured in the field.
They are not controlled by layer visibility.
Platform Notes
Web
The Layers panel allows you to control the visibility of walls, dimensions, flooring, rooms, objects, markup, and more.
Visibility changes take effect immediately and remain active while you work.
iPhone & iPad
The Layers panel provides the same visibility controls in a touch-optimized interface.
Your layer preferences are remembered, making it easy to return to your preferred editing workspace.
Best Practices
Hide unnecessary layers while making detailed edits.
Turn all layers back on before exporting.
Use photos to verify unusual geometry.
If dimensions disappear, inspect nearby wall junctions before assuming there’s a software issue.
Common Mistakes
Assuming an Item Was Deleted
Most missing items are simply hidden by a layer.
Leaving Layers Hidden
Before finishing your project, perform one final review with all important layers visible.
Ignoring Missing Interior Dimensions
Interior dimensions are generated automatically.
If they’re missing, it’s usually because nearby wall geometry needs to be cleaned up.
Frequently Asked Questions
My flooring disappeared. Did I delete it?
Probably not.
Check that the Flooring layer is turned on.
My room names disappeared.
Verify that the Rooms layer is enabled.
Why don’t I see interior dimensions?
First, confirm that the Interior Dimensions layer is turned on.
If it is, inspect nearby wall junctions for gaps, overlaps, or disconnected corners.
Can I hide only markup?
Yes.
Each markup type—including Freehand, Symbols, Text, Custom Dimensions, and Pinned Notes—can be shown or hidden independently.
Related Articles
Understanding the Flex Workspace
Navigating Your Floor Plan
Editing Walls
Understanding Snap Settings
Working with Photos