Menu path
Modify Roof > Highlight
What it does
The Highlight command creates a highlight window along a ridge with an optional offside plane. It automatically cuts a hole in the roof plane where the highlight window is positioned.
🧾 Understanding highlight windows
A highlight window consists of:
Main highlight plane - extends from the selected ridge
Offside plane - optional secondary plane that creates depth
Cut hole - automatically created in the roof surface
Each ridge connects to two roof planes. You'll choose which plane the highlight extends from during the creation process.
How to create a highlight window
Select Modify Roof > Highlight
Click on the ridge where you want to create the highlight window
Choose which plane to extend from:
When prompted "Do you want to extend from this plane?", the software flashes the boundary of one plane:
Click Yes to extend from the flashing plane
Click No to extend from the other (offside) plane
Set your parameters in the Highlight plane defaults dialog box
Click OK to create the highlight window
🔧 Highlight window parameters
Parameter | Description |
Distance Along Ridge | Distance from the ridge end where the highlight window starts. The selected end will flash for reference. |
Highlight Width | Width of the highlight window |
Highlight Depth | Depth of the main highlight plane |
Side Overhang | Amount the highlight plane edges overhang the cut hole. Enter 0 for edges to match the hole exactly. |
Gable Overhang | Amount the front of the highlight plane overhangs the hole |
Offside Plane Depth | Depth of the offside plane. Set to 0 for no offside plane. |
Pitch Offside Plane | Pitch of the offside plane. Defaults to the pitch of the offside roof plane. |
With Off-Side dimensions set:
Plan View:
Isometric View:
💡 Controlling hole cutting
By default, Roof Wizard cuts a hole in the roof plane where the highlight window is positioned. To prevent hole cutting:
Formula: Highlight Depth + Offside Plane Depth = Verge Overhang
When these values are equal, no hole is cut in the roof surface.
⚠️ Important notes
The ridge end that flashes during setup indicates where distance measurement begins
Setting offside plane depth to zero creates a highlight window without an offside panel
Both highlight and offside planes are created simultaneously when you click OK
The hole is automatically positioned and sized based on your depth and overhang settings
🛠 Typical configurations
Simple highlight window: Set Offside Plane Depth to 0 for just the main highlight plane.
Full highlight with offside: Use non-zero values for both Highlight Depth and Offside Plane Depth.
No hole cutting: Ensure Highlight Depth + Offside Plane Depth equals your verge overhang measurement.