Bring reference material into your project as an underlay. Trace over it, plan on top of it, and keep it pinned in place.
Add underlays (CAD or image) from the toolbar's Context group button, Main menu → Import, or just drag and drop the file straight onto your canvas. You can add multiple underlays, move them, and change their levels from the capsule menu.
CAD underlay (DXF, DWG)
- Choose CAD Underlay (DXF, DWG) and select your file. (💎 DWG import requires a paid plan; DXF is available to everyone.)
- If the file's units aren't specified, Hypar asks you to choose them. Files that appear larger than 5 km trigger a scaling prompt so you can correct the units.
- Use the placed underlay’s capsule menu to move it to a different level, replace, change units or pin in place.
Image or PDF underlay (PNG, PDF, JPG)
- Choose Image Underlay (PNG, PDF, JPG) and select your file.
- Set the scale so the drawing measures correctly. Either choose a known scale (e.g. 1/8" = 1'-0") or click a dimension on the underlay and Set real-world length to what it should measure. Hypar warns you ("Scale not set!") until a scale is applied.
- Hypar also sanity-checks units; if your underlay looks imperial but the project is metric (or vice versa), it offers a one-click switch of project units.
- Use the placed underlay’s capsule menu to move it to a different level, replace or pin in place.
- If you import a vector PDF, Hypar will even snap to your PDF lines.
Laser scan (LAZ, LAS) ( 💎 paid feature)
- Choose Laser Scan (LAZ, LAS) in the main menu under import and select your file.
- Pick a processing Quality (Low, Medium, High, Max) and click Import. Higher quality takes longer to process.
Last verified against Hypar v0.2.019 (July 10, 2026).