ShadeCAD features

Built around the way
shade sails are made.

Purpose-built tools for the information that moves through a shade sail job—from site measurements and geometry through pattern development, material layout and installation reference.

Core capabilities

Everything centred on the job geometry.

01

Site measurement

Capture edges, diagonals, tagged corners and optional reductions in a field-friendly interface.

02

Sail geometry

Work with 3, 4, 5 and 6 point sails using the diagonals appropriate to each shape.

03

Corner reductions

Apply individual reductions while retaining the original measured dimensions for reference.

04

Curved edges

Control edge curve values in millimetres and review the resulting pattern geometry.

05

Midpoints

Add a measured midpoint on an edge with its own reduction and independent curve percentages on either side.

06

Pattern views

Move between plan, pattern and clean fabrication layouts without losing the underlying job data.

07

3D reference

Review post heights and sail geometry spatially without changing the 2D pattern dimensions.

08

Job files

Save and reload job information including material product and colour for later use.

09

PDF output

Produce job sheets with inputs, pattern drawings, clean pattern layouts and optional 3D information.

Measurement + geometry

Start with what was actually measured.

ShadeCAD is designed so measured dimensions remain meaningful throughout the workflow. Measured diagonals can be distinguished from calculated diagonals, while reductions and curve development are applied to the pattern.

  • Measured versus calculated diagonals
  • 3–6 point sail support
  • Shape-specific diagonal selection
  • Impossible geometry validation support
ShadeCAD Pattern View showing a four-point shade sail, edge dimensions and both diagonals.
Measured geometry first.Edges and measured diagonals remain the foundation of the developed pattern.
ShadeCAD Clean Pattern view showing a shade sail shape overlaid with material layout rectangles and material required summary.
Clean pattern + material layout.Fabrication view showing the sail shape together with material rectangles and required area.
Pattern development

Turn measurements into workshop information.

Pattern View brings reductions, curves and dimensions together visually. Clean Pattern focuses on fabrication, showing a true shade sail form together with material layout rectangles and annotations where required.

  • Corner reductions on/off
  • Independent curve % either side of a midpoint
  • Curve reduction values shown on the pattern
  • Clean pattern material layout
  • View-specific annotations
  • Duplicate and offset material rectangles
Site Measure

Keep the field interface simple.

ShadeCAD Site Measure is intentionally focused on the information needed on site. It can be used for a new measure and later as a read-only reference for installers returning to fit the sail.

  • Mobile-friendly measurement entry
  • Tagged corner and reductions
  • Calculated diagonal feedback
  • Midpoint position and reduction
  • Load saved ShadeCAD job data
Open Site Measure →
ShadeCAD Site Measure
JOB DETAILS
MEASUREMENTS
Calculated diagonal 7426
Save / Shade
Output + job management

Keep the job together after the drawing is done.

Save jobs for later, carry material details with the file and produce multi-page PDF information for workshop or records.

JSON

Save + reload

Store job geometry, material details and settings in a reusable job file.

PDF

Print to PDF

Create input, pattern, clean pattern and optional 3D pages from the current job.

3D

Spatial reference

Use post heights, rotation and elevation controls to review the sail in 3D.

ShadeCAD

Measure it. Develop it. Make it.