---
title: "Adding shading objects"
slug: "adding-shading-objects"
updated: 2026-10-08T13:21:12Z
published: 2026-10-08T13:21:12Z
canonical: "kb.solargis.com/adding-shading-objects"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.solargis.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Adding shading objects

**In this document**

You'll learn how to draw shading polygon objects and shading line objects to represent buildings, walls, forest borders, and fences that cast shadows on the installation. It also covers their properties — surface albedo as a constant or monthly values, object height and footprint, the exclusion zone with its corner join shape, and the read-only elevation derived from the terrain model — plus the additional options available from the three-dot menu.

A **shading polygon object** in the Solargis Evaluate’s [Energy system designer](/v1/docs/energy-system-configurator-introduction#pv-energy-system-designer) is a polygon you draw on the map to represent a solid structure that casts shadows onto the plant — a building, container, tank, or wall — with a configurable **height** (up to 500 m), its own **albedo** (constant or monthly), and an optional **exclusion zone**; it can be placed anywhere on the site, including inside a segment.

A **shading line object** is a line you draw on the map to represent a linear shading feature along or near the installation — a forest border, fence, hedge, or building wall — with a configurable **height** and its own **surface albedo** (constant or monthly values).

If you want to draw segments, see [Adding segments](/v1/docs/adding-segments) document. For restricted areas and lines, see [Adding restricted](/v1/docs/adding-restricted-areas) lines.

> **Tip**: To learn how to work with the drawing, see [interactive 3D map guide](/v1/docs/using-3d-map-and-drawing-tools#the-drawing-tools).

## Adding shading polygon objects

You can draw shading polygon objects using the **shading polygon** ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae2d502f-6c0d-4865-a68e-43ad8da61149/Images/Documentation/image-ZQOLRMRB.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-16T20%3A19%3A31Z&se=2026-10-16T21%3A19%3A31Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J9JY2MF2yQeRBSMHiuUlc67vy%2BVdaeN1D3DmlQT3Yng%3D) drawing tool by selecting it in the left 3D map toolbar or by **pressing P** on the keyboard.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae2d502f-6c0d-4865-a68e-43ad8da61149/Images/Documentation/image-8TNRSSET.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-16T20%3A19%3A31Z&se=2026-10-16T21%3A19%3A31Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J9JY2MF2yQeRBSMHiuUlc67vy%2BVdaeN1D3DmlQT3Yng%3D)

**Key features of shading polygon objects**

- Shading polygon objects can not have arrays placed at the top.
- They can be placed inside or outside of the buildable area.
- They can be placed inside segments.
- You can define the object’s exclusion zone in its properties in the panel to the right.
- Shading objects can be moved using the move tool and duplicated.
- They can be moved around using the [move tool](/v1/docs/clone-adding-segments-restricted-areas-and-other-objects#transformer-and-grid-connection-move-tool).

### Shading polygon object properties

Once you draw the polygon object, you can customize its properties in the **panel to the right**.

**Terrain approximation**

Shows the read-only **Elevation** of the object — the highest point of the surface beneath it — as derived from the terrain model.

> [!TIP]
> **Note:** Exclusion zone with a value of `0 m` the object shades but doesn't restrict placement; increasing it keeps PV tables clear of the structure by the set distance — worth flagging in the section description if the article covers both shading and clearance use cases.

## Adding shading line objects

You can draw shading line objects using the **shading line** ![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae2d502f-6c0d-4865-a68e-43ad8da61149/Images/Documentation/image-3Q8CGA5M.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-16T20%3A19%3A31Z&se=2026-10-16T21%3A19%3A31Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J9JY2MF2yQeRBSMHiuUlc67vy%2BVdaeN1D3DmlQT3Yng%3D) drawing tool by selecting it in the left 3D map toolbar or by **pressing S** on the keyboard.

> [!TIP]
> **Note**: The image below shows that the fence near the road would cover one third of the tables to its side in the early evening.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae2d502f-6c0d-4865-a68e-43ad8da61149/Images/Documentation/image-7HXLH65L.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-16T20%3A19%3A31Z&se=2026-10-16T21%3A19%3A31Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J9JY2MF2yQeRBSMHiuUlc67vy%2BVdaeN1D3DmlQT3Yng%3D)

### Shading line object properties

You can set the **height** of a line object and decide how to apply its **surface albedo** - as a **constant** for the whole year or as **monthly values** that you can edit. If you want to edit the monthly values, use the “Edit” button.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae2d502f-6c0d-4865-a68e-43ad8da61149/Images/Documentation/image-SFSD44WQ.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-16T20%3A19%3A31Z&se=2026-10-16T21%3A19%3A31Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J9JY2MF2yQeRBSMHiuUlc67vy%2BVdaeN1D3DmlQT3Yng%3D)

## Editing shading polygons and lines

You can change the shape of shading polygon/line by editing their vertices:

1. **Select the shading polygon/line** you want to edit (on the map or in the main menu under Constraints).
2. **Press “E”** on the keyboard to start editing the vertices.
3. **Move around the vertices** with your mouse or add new ones as required.
4. Save the changes using the **“Finish”** button or by pressing the Enter button on the keyboard.

For more details on how to use the drawing tools, see [Using the drawing tools](/v1/docs/using-3d-map-and-drawing-tools#using-the-drawing-tools).

## Additional shading polygon and line options

Additionally, you can open the shading polygon/line options menu using the **three-dot menu** in its properties panel or by **right-clicking the element** on the interactive 3D map:

- **Rename:** Rename the element.
- **Show/hide**: Shows/hides the underlying shape illustration of the element.
- **Zoom to object**: Centers the 3d map on the object.
- **Edit vertices**: Starts the vertices edit procedure to change its shape.
- **Move**: Triggers the moving tool to move the element around the map (shading polygon only).
- **Duplicate**: Duplicates the element (shading polygon only).
- **Delete**: Deletes the element.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/ae2d502f-6c0d-4865-a68e-43ad8da61149/Images/Documentation/image-PVLJROSW.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-16T20%3A19%3A31Z&se=2026-10-16T21%3A19%3A31Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=J9JY2MF2yQeRBSMHiuUlc67vy%2BVdaeN1D3DmlQT3Yng%3D)