---
title: Reference Floors, Backgrounds and Grid Guides
category: Floor Plans
tags: floor plans, reference floor, background image, grid, coordinates
contextKey: floorPlans.referenceFloorsBackgroundsAndGrid
micro: Use grid labels, reference floors and background images to align the plan.
quickTitle: Guides and backgrounds
quickSummary: Grid coordinates, reference overlays and background images help you trace, align and refine your floor plan without overworking it.
screenshot:
---

# Overview

Floor Plan guides help you draw with confidence. They are there to support the story map, not to force architectural precision.

# Grid Coordinates

Grid coordinates label columns A, B, C and rows 1, 2, 3. They make it easier to talk about where a room starts, line up blocks, and move selected blocks without counting squares manually.

# Reference Floor Overlay

The reference floor overlay shows the floor above or below as a faint guide. Use it when you need to check whether rooms, corridors, stairs or shafts line up across floors.

This is especially useful before adding stairs. If the landing above is too far away from the hall below, the plan will make that obvious before the manuscript does.

# Background Image Overlay

You can upload a sketch, scanned plan or reference image and use it as a guide while drawing. The image sits behind the grid and blocks.

Depending on the current floor, you may be able to adjust opacity, scale, offset and lock settings. Lower opacity makes the sketch easier to trace over. Scale and offset help line the image up with the grid. Lock keeps it from getting in the way once it is positioned.

# Suggested Workflow

1. Sketch the rough layout on paper.
2. Scan or photograph it.
3. Upload it as a background.
4. Trace rooms using blocks.
5. Add transitions for doors, stairs and hidden routes.
6. Lock or remove the background when the plan is clear enough.

# Related Guides

- [Creating Floors and Rooms](/Help/Article/floorPlans.creatingFloorsAndRooms)
- [Stairs, Ladders and Floor Levels](/Help/Article/floorPlans.stairsLaddersAndLevels)
