---

name: bonsai-impl-drawing description: > Use when generating 2D drawings from IFC models in Bonsai -- plans, sections, elevations, annotations, or sheet layouts. Prevents the common mistake of creating views without proper drawing style configuration (getting empty or unfiltered output). Covers the complete documentation pipeline from model views through annotations to printable SVG sheet output. Keywords: drawing, plan, section, elevation, annotation, sheet, SVG, titleblock, documentation, 2D drawing, Bonsai drawing, create floor plan, generate section view, print drawings. license: MIT compatibility: Designed for Claude Code. Requires Python 3.x. metadata: author: OpenAEC-Foundation version: "1.0"

Bonsai Drawing and Documentation: Implementation Guide

Version: Bonsai v0.8.x | Blender 4.2+ | Python 3.11 Module path: bonsai.bim.module.drawing — NEVER blenderbim.bim.module.drawing Dependencies: bonsai-core-architecture (Bonsai tool/core/operator pattern)

1. Critical Warnings

• ALWAYS use bonsai.bim.module.drawing — NEVER use blenderbim.bim.module.drawing (legacy name)
• ALWAYS activate a drawing camera before calling bim.create_drawing
• NEVER edit generated SVG files directly — ALWAYS modify annotations in Blender and regenerate
• ALWAYS install InkScape before using sheet composition or PDF export
• Annotations are ONLY generated for orthographic camera views — NEVER for perspective views
• ALWAYS sync IFC data before generating drawings (sync=True or save first)
• ALWAYS use project-relative paths for titleblock SVG templates

2. Architecture Overview

The drawing module follows Bonsai's core/tool/operator pattern:

bonsai/core/drawing.py        → Pure logic (no Blender imports)
bonsai/tool/drawing.py         → Blender-specific implementation
bonsai/bim/module/drawing/
├── operator.py                → 40+ Blender operators
├── prop.py                    → Property definitions
├── ui.py                      → Panel UI
├── annotation.py              → Annotator class (geometry creation)
├── svgwriter.py               → SvgWriter class (SVG engine)
├── sheeter.py                 → SheetBuilder class (sheet composition)
├── decoration.py              → Viewport decorations
├── gizmos.py                  → Interactive annotation gizmos
├── handler.py                 → Event handlers
├── helper.py                  → Utilities (format_distance, BoundingBox)
├── scheduler.py               → Schedule/table generation
├── shaders.py                 → GPU shaders for viewport
├── workspace.py               → AnnotationTool workspace + keymaps
└── data.py                    → Data loading and caching

3. Drawing Types Decision Tree

What type of drawing do you need?
│
├─ Floor plan (top-down view)        → target_view="PLAN_VIEW"
├─ Vertical section (cut through)    → target_view="SECTION_VIEW"
├─ Facade/external view              → target_view="ELEVATION_VIEW"
├─ Reflected ceiling plan            → target_view="REFLECTED_PLAN_VIEW"
└─ 3D perspective/axonometric        → target_view="MODEL_VIEW"

Each drawing is backed by:

• An IfcAnnotation entity in an IfcGroup
• Properties in EPset_Drawing property set:
  • TargetView — one of the five view types
  • Scale — diagram scale (e.g., "1:100")
  • HumanScale — display string for scale
  • HasUnderlay — render-based background image toggle
  • HasLinework — vector line drawing toggle
  • HasAnnotation — annotation overlay toggle

4. Complete Drawing Pipeline

4.1 Step 1: Create a Drawing

# Bonsai v0.8.x: Add a plan view drawing
import bpy

bpy.ops.bim.add_drawing(
    target_view="PLAN_VIEW",
    location_hint=0  # 0 = auto-detect from active storey
)

Location hint rules:

• PLAN_VIEW / REFLECTED_PLAN_VIEW: location_hint maps to building storey index
• SECTION_VIEW / ELEVATION_VIEW: location_hint represents direction (N/S/E/W)
• MODEL_VIEW: location_hint is ignored

Core function (bonsai/core/drawing.py):

# Bonsai v0.8.x: add_drawing creates:
# 1. Unique drawing name from target_view
# 2. Camera matrix from target_view + location_hint
# 3. IfcAnnotation via ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity")
# 4. IfcGroup for annotations
# 5. IfcDocumentReference to SVG output path
# 6. EPset_Drawing properties (TargetView, Scale, etc.)
# 7. Blender camera object assigned to collection

4.2 Step 2: Configure Camera Properties

# Bonsai v0.8.x: Camera/drawing configuration
# Access via camera object's BIMCameraProperties

# Scale options (metric):
#   1:5000, 1:2000, 1:1000, 1:500, 1:200, 1:100, 1:50,
#   1:20, 1:10, 1:5, 1:2, 1:1, CUSTOM
# Custom scale: custom_scale_numerator / custom_scale_denominator

# Camera type: ORTHO (orthographic) | PERSP (perspective)
# Raster resolution: raster_x, raster_y (default 1000 px each)
# DPI: default 75
# View dimensions: width, height (default 50 m each)
# NTS flag: is_nts (Not To Scale)

Layer toggles (control what the drawing contains):

• has_underlay — render-based background image
• has_linework — vector line drawing
• has_annotation — annotation overlays

Filter mode: NONE or include/exclude filter groups for element visibility control.

4.3 Step 3: Add Annotations

# Bonsai v0.8.x: Add annotations to the active drawing
import bpy

# PREREQUISITE: MUST have active drawing (camera view)

# Add a text annotation
bpy.ops.bim.add_annotation(object_type="TEXT")

# Add a dimension with type reference
bpy.ops.bim.add_annotation(
    object_type="DIMENSION",
    relating_type_id=42  # IFC ID of annotation type
)

Supported annotation types:

Type	Description	Blender Data
TEXT	Text labels	Mesh
TEXT_LEADER	Text with leader line	Curve
DIMENSION	Linear dimensions	Mesh
ANGLE	Angular dimensions	Mesh
SECTION_LEVEL	Section cut markers	Mesh
PLAN_LEVEL	Level indicators	Mesh
ELEVATION	Elevation markers (SVG symbols)	Mesh
GRID	Grid line references	Mesh
FILL_AREA	Hatching and fills	Mesh
STAIR_ARROW	Stair direction indicators	Mesh
HIDDEN_LINE	Hidden/dashed lines	Mesh
BREAKLINE	Break line symbols	Mesh

Text properties (BIMTextProperties):

• Font sizes (mm): 1.8, 2.5, 3.5, 5.0, 7.0
• Horizontal alignment: left, middle, right
• Vertical alignment: top, middle, bottom
• Literals support 16 categories: Basic, Attributes, Property Sets, Material, Task, Cost, etc.
• SVG output supports markdown: bold, italic, links, bullet points

4.4 Step 4: Generate SVG Drawing

# Bonsai v0.8.x: Generate SVG from active drawing
bpy.ops.bim.create_drawing(
    sync=True,         # Pre-sync IFC data (ALWAYS recommended)
    print_all=False,   # False = active drawing only; True = all checked drawings
    open_viewer=False  # Launch viewer after generation
)

SVG generation pipeline:

CreateDrawing Pipeline (bim.create_drawing):
1. Initialize camera and drawing metadata
2. Sync IFC file (if sync=True)
3. Generate UNDERLAY (raster render → PNG → embedded in SVG)
4. Generate LINEWORK (vector):
   ├─ OPENCASCADE mode → HLR via OCC library (precise, slower)
   └─ FREESTYLE mode → Blender Freestyle SVG Exporter (artistic, faster)
5. Generate ANNOTATIONS (via SvgWriter, orthographic only)
6. Combine all SVG layers into final output

Linework mode decision:

Situation	Use
Precise hidden-line removal needed	OPENCASCADE mode
Artistic line styles preferred	FREESTYLE mode
FREESTYLE mode selected	ALWAYS verify Freestyle SVG Exporter add-on is enabled

Fill modes (fill_mode): NONE, SHAPELY (polygon fills), SVGFILL (SVG-native patterns)

Cut modes (cut_mode): BISECT (Blender mesh bisect), OPENCASCADE (OCC section cutting)

4.5 Step 5: Compose Sheets

# Bonsai v0.8.x: Sheet composition pipeline

# Step 1: Create sheet with titleblock
bpy.ops.bim.add_sheet()
# Creates IfcDocumentInformation + IfcDocumentReference
# Generates base SVG layout from titleblock template

# Step 2: Add drawings to sheet
bpy.ops.bim.add_drawing_to_sheet()
# Links drawing (IfcDocumentReference) to the sheet

# Step 3: Build final sheet
bpy.ops.bim.create_sheets()
# Composes all drawings into sheet SVG
# Optionally exports to PDF/DXF (requires InkScape)

SheetBuilder (sheeter.py) composition process:

1. Titleblock Processing: embeds titleblock SVG, applies geolocation data
2. Drawing Integration: embeds drawing SVGs with style isolation via ensure_drawing_unique_styles() (prefixes CSS classes), applies clipping paths
3. Document Assembly: incorporates schedules, resolves mustache-syntax template variables

Auto-layout (next_drawing_location()):

• Default start: (30, 30) mm
• Padding: 10 mm between drawings
• Horizontal placement within rows, new row when exceeding titleblock width
• Default titleblock width: 840 mm

4.6 Step 6: Export and Open

# Bonsai v0.8.x: Open generated outputs
bpy.ops.bim.open_drawing()   # Open SVG with system viewer
bpy.ops.bim.open_sheet()     # Open sheet with system viewer
bpy.ops.bim.open_layout()    # Open SVG layout file

5. SVG Coordinate Pipeline

The SvgWriter converts 3D model coordinates to SVG canvas:

3D world coordinates
    → project_point_onto_camera() (plane intersection)
    → camera-space coordinates
    → offset to canvas center, scale by (diagram_scale × 1000)
    → SVG canvas coordinates (millimeters)

Unit conversion: IFC meters → SVG millimeters.

convert_to_mm() normalizes CSS length units (cm, in, pt, px, Q, pc) to millimeters for positioning.

6. Key Operator Reference

Operator	bl_idname	Purpose
AddDrawing	bim.add_drawing	Create new drawing view with camera
CreateDrawing	bim.create_drawing	Generate/refresh SVG
DuplicateDrawing	bim.duplicate_drawing	Copy drawing (optional annotation copy)
AddAnnotation	bim.add_annotation	Add annotation to active drawing
AddAnnotationType	bim.add_annotation_type	Create annotation type template
AddSheet	bim.add_sheet	Create new sheet document
CreateSheets	bim.create_sheets	Build sheets with PDF/DXF export
AddDrawingToSheet	bim.add_drawing_to_sheet	Link drawing to sheet
OpenSheet	bim.open_sheet	Open sheet with viewer
OpenDrawing	bim.open_drawing	Open SVG with viewer
OpenLayout	bim.open_layout	Open SVG layout file
ActivateModel	bim.activate_model	Switch to 3D model view
SelectAllDrawings	bim.select_all_drawings	Batch select drawings
SelectAllSheets	bim.select_all_sheets	Batch select sheets

7. Annotation Workspace

The AnnotationTool workspace provides dedicated annotation editing:

Shortcut	Action
Shift+A	Add new annotation
Shift+T	Bulk tag (auto-adjust to selected objects)
Shift+G	Readjust tags based on assigned products
Shift+E	Edit text annotations

8. Drawing Style Configuration

DrawingStyle PropertyGroup controls rendering appearance:

• render_type: DEFAULT (Blender render settings) or VIEWPORT (viewport shading)
• raster_style: JSON-formatted render configuration string

9. Reference Files

• references/methods.md — Complete drawing API signatures
• references/examples.md — Working drawing workflow examples
• references/anti-patterns.md — Drawing anti-patterns and mistakes to avoid

10. Dependencies

• InkScape: REQUIRED for sheet composition and PDF/DXF export
• OpenCASCADE (via ifcopenshell): REQUIRED for OPENCASCADE linework/cut modes
• Shapely: REQUIRED for SHAPELY fill mode and polygon operations
• Freestyle SVG Exporter: REQUIRED when using FREESTYLE linework mode (Blender add-on)