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How Can I Draw a Floor Plan from a Blueprint?

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Do you want to import a floor plan, a blueprint, or a sketch into RoomSketcher? With a RoomSketcher Pro or Team subscription, you can upload (import) it and then trace over it. You will easily create a professional digital floor plan – no technical experience needed. 

New! AI Convert — Skip Manual Tracing
Besides tracing over a blueprint manually, you can now upload a blueprint and let RoomSketcher’s AI Convert automatically transform it into an editable floor plan within seconds. This is ideal if you want a fast digital floor plan with minimal effort. Learn more here: Can I Import a Blueprint and Let AI Create My Floor Plan?

In this article, we walk you through the steps of uploading a blueprint and then manually tracing over it: 

 

How Do I Upload My Blueprint, Image, or Sketch to RoomSketcher?

You can upload your blueprint either from Web Portal or directly in the RoomSketcher App. Both options create a RoomSketcher project with your blueprint ready to use as a background for tracing.
 

Start in Web Portal

You can start your project in your web portal in a browser on any device. Upload and prepare your blueprint there, then open the project in the RoomSketcher App to start tracing the floor plan.

  1. Sign in to your web portal.
  2. Click New Project.
  3. Click Trace Manually.

    web portal - trace manually.png
     
  4. Upload your blueprint. You can use a PDF, JPG, or PNG file.
  5. Preview your blueprint. If needed, use the tools to straighten, rotate or crop the image, then click Done.
    1. Straighten: If the plan looks slightly crooked, click Straighten to let our AI Agent fix the alignment.

      AI Convert - straighten blueprint.png
       
    2. Rotate: Click Rotate to turn the blueprint 90 degrees clockwise. Repeat as needed until the blueprint is in the correct orientation.
    3. Crop: Press and drag the grey lines close to the edges of the blueprint to remove any extra text or space around it.
       
  6. Next, scale your blueprint: 
    1. Drag the Scale Bar along a wall that you know the exact length of.

      AI Convert - set length.png
       
    2. Click Set Length. A new window opens where you enter the length of the measurement line. 
    3. Click Done. 
  7. On the right, click Trace Manually. 

    Top tip: If your blueprint is a digitally created floor plan (for example an older floor plan created by a computer), you can also try to convert it with AI. Click Start AI Convert instead of Trace Manually and AI will draw walls, windows, doors and stairs. You can read more about AI Convert here. 
     
  8. Enter your project details and click Create. A new project is created. 
  9. Click Edit Floor and then Edit in App to continue drawing in the RoomSketcher App.

Once the project opens in the RoomSketcher App, open the yellow menu in the top left corner, and under View, select Blueprint so that it has a checkmark next to it. The blueprint will then appear in the drawing pane and you can trace over it.
 

Start in the RoomSketcher App

You can also upload the blueprint directly in the RoomSketcher App. You can follow the steps below or watch this short video:


Here are the steps for the RoomSketcher App:

  1. Click the Plus plus_new_project_app.jpg icon in the top menu. 
  2. Choose Import a Sketch. 
  3. The Blueprint Upload page appears. Press Upload in the lower right.
  4. Select a PDF, JPG, or PNG image on your device and then click Open.
    For PDF files, you might be asked to specify the page number.
  5. The blueprint appears in the Blueprint Properties area.

If you're using an iPad, please ensure that the RoomSketcher App has access to your Photos or any other apps from which you want to upload a blueprint.

 

Scale, Rotate, and Crop the Uploaded Blueprint

The Blueprint Properties page has 3 tabs on the top right side: Rotate, Scale, and Crop.

mceclip0.png
 

1) Rotate

(Optional) Using the Rotate tab in the RoomSketcher App, you can quickly fix the blueprint orientation or straighten it before you start drawing.

To rotate or straighten a blueprint:

  1. On the Rotate tab, press and drag the center of the Rotation tool to move it. Place it so that one end (the + part) is on a wall.
  2. Now press and drag the blue arrows on the other end of the tool and stretch it so that it is parallel to the wall. Your blueprint automatically straightens.
  3. (Optional) Press Rotate 90 clockwise (on the right) to rotate a blueprint.

    4 - Rotated Blueprint.jpg
     

2) Scale

Scaling your blueprint ensures that all walls, furniture, and room layouts are sized correctly. In the RoomSketcher App, just set the length of one known wall or item, and the app takes care of the rest.

To scale a blueprint:

  1. On the Scale tab, press the middle of the tape measure and drag it to an area of known length.
  2. Press and drag the ends to size the tape measure to the item on the blueprint.
  3. Type the known length in the New Length field on the right.

    5 - Scale.jpg

    Note: If New Length turns red after you enter a length, it means that your length was either too short or long for scaling the blueprint.
     
  4. Press Apply. The blueprint is now scaled.
  5. Press Save. The Blueprint Properties page closes.
    or
    Use the Rotate or Crop tab to finalize your blueprint.

3) Crop

(Optional) You can use the Crop tab to remove any extra text or space around your blueprint.

To crop a blueprint:

  1. Press and drag the blue lines close to the edges of the floor plan.



     
  2. Press Save to close the Blueprint Properties page.
 

How Do I Draw Over My Blueprint?

Once you’ve uploaded your blueprint, either in web portal or in the RoomSketcher App, it becomes your perfect tracing layer. You’re now set to draw over it and turn it into a professional floor plan.

  1. Open Walls mode to draw all the walls, using the blueprint as a guide. Here are some tips:
    • Ignore Doors and Windows as you draw. You will add them in the next step.
    • Use + and - keys to make the wall thicker or thinner while drawing it. 
    • Use the arrow keys to move a wall while you are drawing it.
    • Press the B button or the B key on your keyboard, to see just the blueprint.
    • Press the F button or the F key on your keyboard, to see just the floor plan.
    • Or press the F+B button or the A key on your keyboard, to see All. 
  2. Next, open Windows mode and use the blueprint as a guide for where to add windows, doors, and stairs.
  3. Next, open Materials mode to add floor, ceiling, and wall finishes.
  4. In Furniture mode, you can add appliances, fixtures, and furniture to complete the project.

Tip: Press app_menu.jpg Menu > Blueprint to toggle the blueprint ON or OFF as you draw or after you have reopened your project.

 

How Can I Add a Blueprint on a New Level?

Do you want to draw from a blueprint on another level? Just follow these steps:

  1. Add a new level (see more here: Work with Floors or Levels).
  2. Open the app_menu.jpg Menu, and click Blueprint. 
  3. Continue with step 3 from section Upload a Blueprint, Image, or Sketch.
     

How Do I Find My Blueprint Again?

Once you’ve uploaded and started drawing from your blueprint, you might later wonder where to find it again. Open your project, click the yellow menu in the top left corner, and under View, select Blueprint so that it has a checkmark next to it. The blueprint should then appear in the drawing pane.

If you still don’t see your blueprint, check out our full troubleshooting guide here: Find my Blueprint in RoomSketcher

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use this feature, Import from Sketch, with a Free subscription?
No, the feature to upload a blueprint and draw over it is only available with a Pro or Team subscription.

Can I upload a blueprint and then AI draws it for me?
Yes! RoomSketcher's AI Convert feature lets you upload a static blueprint (JPG, PNG, or PDF) and the AI will automatically detect walls, doors, and windows, turning your blueprint into a fully editable floor plan project that you can open and refine in the RoomSketcher App. AI Convert is available in web portal, please read more about it here: Can I Import a Blueprint and Let AI Create My Floor Plan?

What if my blueprint is in a PDF with multiple pages?
When you upload a PDF with multiple pages in the RoomSketcher App, you'll be prompted to select a page. Just enter the page number, and that page will be uploaded.

Can I change the scale later if I make a mistake?
Yes! You can always return to the blueprint settings and adjust the scale until it perfectly matches your measurements (open Menu, then Blueprint Settings).

Will my blueprint appear in my final floor plan?
No. The blueprint is just a guide for you. It won’t show up in your final RoomSketcher 2D or 3D floor plans.