Using Clip Planes

Clip planes (also called cut planes) let you slice through your 3D model to reveal what’s inside. Instead of hiding entire objects, a cut plane removes everything on one side of an infinite plane. This makes it easy to explore interiors, check alignments, and communicate design intent.

How it works

• A cut plane is defined by:

  • Point – a position in the model that the plane passes through.

  • Normal vector – the direction the plane faces; this controls which side is visible.

• Geometry on the “clipped” side of the plane is hidden.

• The exposed surface can be tinted with a solid color or given a soft fade size for clarity.

Typical uses

• Slice through floors to see room layouts.

• Create cross-sections for structural inspection.

• Hide outer walls to explore building interiors.

Controlling cut planes

• Multiple planes can be added, moved, or disabled.

• Individual objects (for example, floors or reference geometry) can be excluded so they are never cut.

• Colors and fade settings can be adjusted to improve readability.

Example

💡 Tips & Best Practices

• Disable backface culling: this ensures that interior faces are visible after cutting, giving a more realistic cross-section view.

• Exclude key objects: set ignoreClipPlanes = true on elements like floors or reference meshes if you want them always visible as context.

• Use strong contrast: pick a cut color (e.g., black or bright red) that stands out against model materials.

• Slide the plane: moving the plane point along an axis is a quick way to “scroll” through your model.

• Flip the normal: inverting the normal vector instantly switches which side is clipped, useful for quickly changing perspectives.

• Combine planes: multiple cut planes can intersect, allowing box-like sections or very focused slices.