> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.parafin.ai/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Changelog > What's new in Parafin ## Redesigned project creation Integrating zoning data meant rethinking what belongs in project creation. The result is a cleaner four-step setup (name, location, site boundaries, brand) followed by **Generate Designs**, with one unified interface that covers creating a project, editing a site, and changing the brand. Setbacks are configured from the project dashboard, where you have the full zoning context. ## Zoning Integration Zoning data is now integrated directly into the Parafin workflow for sites across the United States and Canada. Coverage is free for all Parafin users. ### New Zoning Panel The **Zoning Panel** collects every available zoning detail for your site in one place. Open it by clicking anywhere in the project information section and expanding the **Zoning** section. You'll see the district code, description, zoning type, a direct link to the municipal zoning source, and the key dimensional controls that drive feasibility. Walkthrough of the new Zoning Panel inside a project [Learn more →](/tutorials/zoning-panel) ### Zoning Filters Apply FAR, maximum building height, and minimum open space constraints to your project with a single click. Each constraint displays a suggested zoning value — apply it as-is, enter your own value using the text field or slider, or turn the control off for that metric. Changes update your project assumptions in real time, and variant generations adjust accordingly. Toggling and applying Zoning Filters in the panel ### Defining Setbacks with Zoning When zoning data is available for your site, Parafin displays suggested zoning values for front, side, and rear setbacks. Apply them as-is or adjust using the slider or text field; the site footprint in the viewer updates in real time. Defining setbacks using suggested zoning values Assign each labeled boundary to front, rear, or side yards. Parafin applies the matching zoning setback value to each designated edge. Assigning setback values to labeled site edges ### Zoning Data Coverage Zoning data is sourced from Zoneomics and refreshed weekly, covering the United States and Canada. If your site doesn't show zoning data, [let us know](mailto:support@parafin.ai) and we'll add it in the next weekly update. Map of Zoneomics zoning data coverage ### Project Creation Progress Bar A new progress bar shows where you are in project creation. It reflects each major step — location, site definition, setbacks, and brand selection. Project creation progress bar showing each step of setup ## New Setbacks Panel Edit site setbacks directly from the project dashboard using the new **Setbacks** panel. Open it from the setbacks button in the top toolbar, or by clicking anywhere in the project information side panel. Opening the new Setbacks panel from the toolbar Opening the Setbacks panel from the side panel ### Instructions dialogs Inline instructions dialogs surface guidance on new features. Dismiss any dialog by clicking the **X** button. Instructions dialog for a new feature ### Side grouping for simplified setbacks Group adjacent sides together to simplify side labeling when county parcel geometry produces more sides than you need. Grouping adjacent sides together in the Setbacks panel ### Adjusting setback distances Adjust individual setback distances inside the panel. Changes apply to the site footprint in the viewer in real time. Adjusting setback distances in the Setbacks panel ## Smarter Viewer Toolbar A new viewer toolbar and refreshed viewer controls. ### Viewer Toolbar A new toolbar in the top-left corner of the viewer centralizes the key design actions: * **Undo / redo** * **Mirror building** * **Edit site boundaries and setbacks** * **Create a snapshot** of the current view The new viewer toolbar in the top-left corner of the canvas Close-up of the viewer toolbar actions ### Viewer Controls The navigation controls in the bottom-right corner of the viewer have been refreshed: * **Toggle** between Street View and 3D Satellite view * **Re-center** your site in the viewer * **North arrow** to orient your bearings * **Zoom** in or out The refreshed viewer controls in the bottom-right corner Close-up of the refreshed viewer controls ## Smarter Menus, Filters, and Editing Assumptions Cleaner menus, inline filter editing, and an Edit Assumptions side panel. ### Main Menu A new **main menu dropdown** in the top-left corner navigates to My Projects and other common destinations. Some users reported they weren't sure how to get back to My Projects from inside a project; this fixes that. Opening the main menu dropdown from the top-left corner ### User Profile & Settings Access your user profile and password from the top-right corner of the screen. Opening the user menu from the top-right corner ### Filters Every filter is now accessible directly in the **Project Panel** — no more jumping screens to adjust a constraint. All filters available inside the Project Panel Toggle filters on and off with a single click. Toggling filters on and off in the panel Adjust filter values right in the panel, without opening a dialog. Adjusting filter values directly in the Project Panel Or edit every filter at once in the side panel. Editing all filters at once from the side panel ### Edit Assumptions in the Side Panel Edit all of your project assumptions by clicking the **Edit Assumptions** button in the variant popup. Your changes are reflected across every variant in the project. Editing project assumptions in the side panel ### Non-Guestroom Program Option Labels Refined labels make non-guestroom program areas easier to scan. Updated non-guestroom program option labels ## Project Panel redesign Project-specific details now live in a single **Project Panel** on the left. ### Project Panel Project Name, address, and site details have moved from the header to the top of the new Project Panel. Brand insights and the variant ranking sit just below. The new Project Panel on the left side of the screen ### Edit project name in place Click the project name in the Project Panel to rename the project without leaving the dashboard. Inline editing of the project name in the Project Panel ### Project Information dialog A dedicated **Project Information** dialog surfaces and refines location and site details: rename the project, view location and site info, adjust boundaries and setbacks, and share the project with your team. Opening and using the Project Information dialog The Project Information dialog with project details ### Brand Information dialog Click the Brand section in the Project Panel to open a **Brand Information** dialog. View the regional brand representative's contact info, or switch to a different brand for the same site. Changing brands for a project using the Brand Information dialog ### Variant sorting Sort optimized variants by **Yield**, **Key Count**, **Equity Multiple**, or **Budget per Key**. Variant ranking with sort options ## LARC GIS, RaaP for Hyatt Studios, and viewer improvements Location-based RevPAR estimates from LARC GIS land in the project dashboard, RaaP construction cost estimates extend to Hyatt Studios, and the viewer expands. ### LARC GIS RevPAR estimates (beta pilot) LARC GIS is a hotel-industry geographic information system from Lodging Analytics Research & Consulting that tracks lodging market conditions, supply, and revenue forecasts. Toggle **Use LARC Estimate** in the project dashboard to incorporate LARC's location-based RevPAR estimate into the investment model, and apply an index to adjust the estimate. LARC RevPAR estimate toggle in the project dashboard ### RaaP construction cost estimates for Hyatt Studios Hyatt Studios is the latest brand with [RaaP](https://www.raap.builders/parafin) construction cost estimates available in Parafin. RaaP estimates are tuned to brand-specific materials and finishes and break out costs in CSI MasterFormat® divisions. Previously available for Home2 Suites only. RaaP divisional cost breakdown for a Hyatt Studios project Toggle **RaaP Cost Estimate** on a Hyatt Studios project to switch from $/gsf or $/key estimates to detailed RaaP cost estimates. Pilot access is invite-only. ### Expanded viewer The viewer expands to use as much screen space as possible. Collapse the variant details window using the tab to expand even further. The expanded viewer with the variant details panel collapsed ### Improved viewer interaction New controls for camera angle and zoom: * **Recenter** the view on the building * **Snapshot** tool to capture the current view for download or PDF inclusion * **Info button** that lists keyboard and mouse controls * **Map style toggle** between satellite imagery and a minimalist map view Refreshed viewer interaction controls ### Dedicated export window Clicking the download button in the Variants window now opens a dedicated export window with four export options. Past exports remain accessible from the folder icon. Dedicated export window opened from the Variants download button ## Photorealistic 3D, snapshots, and UI improvements Photorealistic 3D satellite views replace the flat 2D map, aerial view snapshots become first-class artifacts, and the project dashboard gets dynamic tables, separated floorplans, and richer program-options filters. ### Photorealistic 3D satellite views Parafin now uses Google's photorealistic 3D tiles for the satellite view, showing surrounding buildings and landscapes in lifelike context. Photorealistic 3D satellite view of a project site with surrounding buildings ### Aerial view snapshots Click to capture a snapshot of the current viewport. Snapshots save automatically and are accessible from the folder icon. Snapshots are also included in the development and design reports for the corresponding design option. An aerial view snapshot of a project site ### Floorplans Floorplan previews are now separated from the main viewer and live at the top of the middle panel. Click a floorplan preview to expand it to fullscreen. Floorplan previews at the top of the middle panel ### Tables The middle-panel tables are now scoped to the currently selected design option. Collapsed tables show a clean high-level overview; expand any section for granular detail. Dynamic tables in the middle panel showing high-level and detail views ### Helpful diagrams New diagrams visualize Site Summary, Building Summary, and Guestrooms data alongside the existing tables. Helpful diagrams supplementing the data tables ### Program options information and filters A summary of non-guestroom program details — meeting room options, pool configurations, building entrance layouts — sits prominently in the dashboard. Click to refine the configuration; the ranked variant results filter to match. Non-guestroom program options summary with filter controls ### RaaP construction cost estimates (invite-only pilot) In partnership with [RaaP](https://www.raap.builders/parafin), construction cost estimation is available for select projects. The pilot launches with Hilton's Home2 Suites brand. Estimates use CSI MasterFormat® cost breakdowns for transparency into the underlying numbers. RaaP divisional cost breakdown for a project Toggle **RaaP Cost Estimate** on a Home2 Suites project to switch from $/gsf or $/key estimates to detailed RaaP cost estimates. Pilot access is invite-only. RaaP Cost Estimate toggle on a Home2 Suites project ## 3D satellite preview, aerial snapshots, RaaP pilot 1.44 introduced a 3D satellite view (beta), aerial view snapshots, improvements to the team invite process, and the start of the RaaP construction cost estimation pilot. The fully-fledged versions of these features are documented in 1.49. ## Instant Launch (beta) Start typing a brand and a location and a new project launches from the prompt. Instant Launch is in beta — feedback wanted. The Instant Launch prompt-based project launcher ## App migration to parafin.ai and UI refresh The Parafin app has moved from `app.parafin3d.com` to `app.parafin.ai`. Existing bookmarks redirect automatically. ### UI refresh * Revised color scheme aligned to the Parafin brand * Visual cleanup of tables, toggles, and panels * Improved site geometry simplification when creating and editing site boundaries * Better wording, formatting, and deliverability for system emails from `no-reply@parafin.ai` * Usability tweaks for the project budget filter The refreshed Parafin app interface after the parafin.ai migration ## Site geometry editing improvements * **Cleaner geometry** when editing selected parcels * **Real-time length measurement** while drawing and editing site geometry * **Multi-select** for budget lines that factor into Developer Overhead & Fee and Contingency Allowance * Filter projects by **project budget** * **Cloned-from icon** in the project list — hover to see the source brand * More informative emails for account and password updates Site geometry editing with real-time length measurement ## Site drawing tool improvements * **On-screen prompts** in the site drawing tool * **Delete points** from a site shape * Improved **open space filtering** The improved site drawing tool