Can I use my property plan or survey as a background?
Yes! Save your plan or survey in the photo gallery on your phone or tablet. (Hint: you can just snap a photo of your survey if you have a paper version.) In the Home Outside app, tap Settings, and then tap Photo. Select your image, and you’re done! Note that you will need to enable access in your device’s Privacy Settings first.
I located my property using the Map Tool. How do I import the satellite image of my property into Home Outside?
- After tapping Map Tool in Settings, enter the full street address in the search bar.
- Drag the pins to mark the corners of your property (use the button at the bottom to add as many pins as you need).
- Tap “Apply” (the checkmark icon) to add the image to your design.
- The map image will be imported into your design in its own layer. Rotate and resize the map image to fit your design area, then lock the Map layer in Layers so it is not inadvertently edited while you design over it.
I want to upload a photo as a background, but the app tells me it doesn’t have access to my photos or videos.
Go into your device’s Settings > Privacy > Photos, and toggle the Home Outside button to ON.
Can I resize an imported image?
Yes, you can resize and rotate the imported image just as you would any other selected item.
I selected a design from my saved Designs and I want to add to it, but I can’t see the edit tools and tapping doesn’t select anything.
You may still be in Preview mode. Tap the pencil icon in the top right corner to edit your design. Changes will be saved automatically to your saved Designs.
The top and bottom toolbars just disappeared!
If you’re in Preview mode, tap the screen, and they’ll come right back. If you’re in Design mode, tap the center of the top navigation bar (where your design’s name is) to make the toolbars disappear and reappear. You may want to do this to see your complete design without toolbars in the way.
I’m having a hard time selecting an element without accidentally moving other elements.
Use the Lock Layers feature to avoid moving elements inadvertently. Tap the Layers icon at top right, and tap the Lock icon to lock a layer. Then continue designing in a new layer. If you need to make changes to a locked layer, just go back to Layers and tap the Lock icon again to unlock it.
I touch an element, but it does not get selected.
Try pinching the screen outward with two fingers. This will zoom in on the area you want to work with, making the elements bigger. When an element is bigger, it responds to touches more easily.
When I tap an element, why can’t I see the selection ring around it?
If you’re zoomed in too far, the ring might be too large for your screen. Zoom out and you’ll see it.
I added some elements to my design, but I realize I want to move and rotate them together. Can I do that?
Yes! You can group adjacent elements together (this works best if they are all in the same layer) and then move, resize, and rotate them as one unit. Tap one of the elements, and then the Group [+] icon in the bottom toolbar. A white rectangular outline will indicate that the elements have been grouped together. Tap Ungroup [-] to remove an element from a group (indicated by a red outline).
Can I turn my screen to change my design from Portrait to Landscape orientation?
No. At this time, the mobile app works in Portrait orientation.
How can I apply a grid background?
To turn on gridlines, tap the Settings symbol. Scroll down to Grid and tap the toggle to make the grid visible. Use the slider to adjust the size of the grid. Exit the Settings menu to see the grid in design mode.
How can I make a Layer invisible?
Tap the Layers icon, then tap the eye symbol to the left of the Layer you wish to make invisible. Tap it once more to make the Layer visible again.
Can I re-order my Layers list?
The symbol at the far right of each Layer serves as a “handle” for dragging it to a different place in the list. Place your finger on this symbol and drag the Layer up or down.
I made a Notes layer for my design and I’d like to print out the notes as a list. Can I do this?
Yes. This is a great way to keep track of plant variety names, shopping lists, and tasks. If you email the design to yourself (using the Share feature), the notes will appear in the body of the email, and you can copy, save, or print them.
How do I share a design on email or social media?
Exit design mode and return to either Preview mode or your saved Designs. In Designs, tap the thumbnail of the design you want to share, which will bring you to Preview mode. In Preview, look for the Share button in the bottom toolbar. You must have an email account associated with your device in order to share a design via email.
How can I print my design?
Save your design as a photo by tapping Share (from Preview mode), then Save as Photo. You can then print from your device’s photo gallery.
Most issues can be resolved by closing the app and restarting your device. All of your designs will be saved in the Home Outside app’s Designs when the app is closed and re-opened.
If you don’t see your question here, please email us at: appsupport@homeoutside.com
