Kevin McAllister
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Everything posted by Kevin McAllister
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Spray circles of random size
Kevin McAllister replied to Dexie's question in Wishlist - Feature and Content Requests
Have you tried the Stipple tool? It allows you to draw a polygon and fill it with pattern shapes. It is fairly adjustable in terms of patterning. KM -
I am guessing the "vertical scale" you are creating is a grouping of 2D objects you have created on the screen plane while working in an elevation view (front, back, left, right) on the design layers. This may not get you what you want. Dimensions, text and other notations are not 3D objects and live in the screen plane. They can be transferred to the new layer plane of VW2010, but they will not display as you expect. When on the sheet layer, make sure that "project screen objects" and "display planar objects" are checked for your viewport. You'll probably find that your 2D "vertical scale" that you drew doesn't display the way you expected. You are better off to mark vertical dimensions and references using annotations for your viewport. Double click (or right click) on the viewport and choose annotations. Anything you draw in the annotations area will be in scale with your viewport. HTH, Kevin
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My guess is that you're drawing something other than architectural work. Your workflow is much like in my field, set and exhibit design, where each individual element is detailed on its own and also shown together in context. The symbol approach will work for you but can become unmanageable if you have a lot of individual elements. I have often wished that you could choose an individual symbol from the layer pull down of a viewport, much like the symbol becomes a "layer" when you edit it. It would make detailing individual symbols very easy. With exhibits I've found that I put each individual exhibit area on its own layer, much like Vectorworks encourages architects to put each floor on its own layer. That way I can still use classes for object types (ie. graphics, display cases etc.). By turning the layers on and off in various viewports I can get all the required views of a given exhibit area without other objects in the overall gallery obstructing them. With my set work, I organize by classes instead, since there would never be a need to turn off all the doors or individual elements. Each scenic element would have a class. In this instance there would be very few layers, perhaps one for the theatre architecture, on for the lighting, and one for the set. What type of application are you drawing for? It may help others give you their own perspective. Cheers, Kevin
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3D Crop
Kevin McAllister replied to Kevin McAllister's question in Wishlist - Feature and Content Requests
Imagine that the existing shape you want to crop is a complete model that is referenced in or an existing symbol that you want to crop part of away without actually editing the symbol. As you say, there are work arounds that actually involve working directly with the object you want to crop. I am suggesting a bigger picture sort of approach. One could always crop Sheet Layer Viewport items on a Design Layer by masking them, but most people wouldn't choose too..... The more I think about it, it is somewhat like an interactive 3D section or cutaway. KM -
I think that a way to crop in a 3D model would be immensely useful. Either directly in a model or in a 3D design layer viewport. Essentially creating a 3D masking shape and doing the equivalent to a Solid Subtraction. I often find myself wanting to experiment with options that involve cutting away to add new design elements. The crop would want to be able to be turned on/off via classes. (I guess ultimately the behavior would be like objects that cut holes into walls.) KM
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I've often encountered this with section viewports. In the end of drawn over the offending bits in the viewport annotations, which is a terrible work around. I have experimented a bit and I think some of these problems occur when sectioned objects are grouped in one or more layers of grouping (ie. a group within a group). This "grouping" issue affects some rendering modes as well, displaying extra lines etc.. I've never reported it as a bug because its very random and hard to isolate. Kevin
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Its all in the method of constructing the 3D model. Instead of slicing holes in the shape and then extruding it you need to create all the shapes in 3D including the holes and then do a solid subtraction. This will create the same shapes without the lines. For whatever reason the lines only appear in OpenGL. KM
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A bit of a Vectorworks Newbie Needing Advice
Kevin McAllister replied to Jack Memoria's topic in General Discussion
Very true. When you work with Vectorworks, it helps to think of most 2D objects as surfaces, not as collections of lines and curves. This way of working is what sets Vectorworks apart from Autocad. I would suggest going back to your base three objects and giving them all a very visible fill or hatch. You will see they are three distinct objects and don't form a surface. Join them together using the Compose menu command as Mike suggests and then extrude. You could also use the Paint Bucket mode of the Polygon Tool to create a shape within the boundaries you've drawn, and then extrude that. You can edit your existing shape but double clicking on the bottom object, and then double clicking on the extrude. This will take you back to your base shapes. KM -
A bit of a Vectorworks Newbie Needing Advice
Kevin McAllister replied to Jack Memoria's topic in General Discussion
Here is a 2009 version of the same file... K -
A bit of a Vectorworks Newbie Needing Advice
Kevin McAllister replied to Jack Memoria's topic in General Discussion
Sounds a little strange. Maybe post a file of your result. Here is an example done as I described.... Kevin -
A bit of a Vectorworks Newbie Needing Advice
Kevin McAllister replied to Jack Memoria's topic in General Discussion
Jack, Look in the Mode Bar at the top of the screen while the Split Tool is selected. Make sure the second icon (Split By Line) is selected. I suspect the first, Split By Point, is currently active. You could also use Trim By Line, which is the last option. It will trim away the un-needed portion of the trimmed shape. Sorry that I missed this in my original instructions. Kevin -
The SP for VW2009 was released today - http://techboard.nemetschek.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=133451#Post133451
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A bit of a Vectorworks Newbie Needing Advice
Kevin McAllister replied to Jack Memoria's topic in General Discussion
Hi Jack, Its not entirely clear from the photos the details of the rake, but assuming it rakes in one direction I suggest the following method- - draw the platform in plan view as a surface, including the curved corner. (If you're unsure how to do this, I would suggest drawing an arc and a polygon and then using the Add Surface command in the Modify Menu). - while in plan or plan/top view extrude the surface using the highest point on the rake as the delta Z value. - switch to a side view. Draw any guidelines over the extrude that may be helpful in laying out the rake angle. Using the Split Tool (it looks like a #11 X-acto Knife) draw a line along the angle of the rake. If you select the extrude first and hold down the option key, the Split Tool will only cut through your object. If you don't, it will cut through any 3D object along the line you make with it. - delete the un-needed piece. Cheers, Kevin -
Michael, Nicely laid out demo! Some great detail about some of the more complex tools and how to use them. As someone who owns a copy of Jonathan's book, I can say there is some good material in it. Certainly a great start for beginner/intermediate modelling and for a more traditional architectural approach. Unfortunately we are still missing a resource that really talks about the various 3D objects and their advantages and disadvantages (ie. nurbs vs. solids vs. 3D polys etc.). After a year of some serious 3D use, its become clear to me that the key to a successful 3D workflow in Vectorworks is thinking through the process of building the 3D object first. This often means some trial and error objects as one experiments to get the order and process right. It also means a more methodical, less organic design process. (The process may be much simpler for architecture, but everything I have been modelling is non-modular.) I have begun to understand a desire for a non-linear modelling process (ie. Spaceclaim) that others have talked about in these forums. Kevin
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Dump the 2010 Help System
Kevin McAllister replied to Bruce Kieffer's question in Wishlist - Feature and Content Requests
I would agree. I much prefer the old browser based system over Adobe Air. -
I very much dislike the fact that it resets itself every time you click in or out of the help window. Its very difficult to implement the help suggestion and then check back to help for the next step.....
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Navigation Palette, Interior CAD or....
Kevin McAllister replied to Kevin McAllister's topic in General Discussion
I would definitely be interested in an add on like that. I'm going to have to find time to play with a demo version of InteriorCAD to see what other interface tweaks it incorporates. Their literature concentrates on the cabinet aspect which looks very powerful, but is definitely aimed at a specialty market. I couldn't find any information on the more general improvements it brings to the table. Thanks to all who responded. Kevin -
I watched a demo for Interior CAD (which is built on Vectorworks) and there was a navigation palette in the bottom corner of the screen. I have included an image here. Does anyone know if this is a feature of Interior CAD exclusively or if its someone else's add on? Thanks, Kevin
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Out of my depth: what to show in a demo?
Kevin McAllister replied to Kool Aid's topic in Entertainment
As someone who is a set & lighting designer, though for theatre, here's my two cents worth - - its true that Spotlight is somewhat lighting heavy. Its also more theatre/event oriented. Myself, I recently upgraded to Designer to broaden my tool set. - one of the most important features of the Industry series over Fundamentals is the ability to import/export PDFs. - the batch print / batch export PDF features were what drew me to upgrade to Spotlight years ago. The expanded title block features are also a must for bigger projects. I think you'll find that the set designers' job varies from project to project and that Vectorworks will be used in various ways. Sometimes it a 2D drafting tool, sometimes a 3D visualization tool, sometimes a layout tool and often as a thinking tool. The ease of incorporating visual reference (ie. jpg, pdfs, tiffs, etc.) makes it way more user friendly than Autocad. For film, I can imagine something like Camera Match would be indispensable, especially if you are doing location work. I must admit I've been using it for so long (since Minicad 5) that I can't imagine doing a project without it. Kevin -
The Click Object to Offset button in the mode bar is gone in VW2010. Hold down the Command Key to select an object (not sure what the equivalent is on a PC). This also holds true for the mirror, rotate and move by point tools as well. KM
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Help!: Warping 3D Text (True Type Polyline extrusion)
Kevin McAllister replied to huangfba's topic in Solids Modeling
Text Along a Path could get you close to a useable result (see attached image, you need to adjust the Rotate About Path angle in the OIP to make the text stand upright). The problem in this specific case is the size of the text vs. the degree of curve in the surface. Text Along a Path generates letters that are still flat planes, so letters the size needed would not follow the tight path. KM -
Depending on the content of the PDF, you can often ungroup it, delete the bitmap portion and be left with editable lines. KM
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Help!: Warping 3D Text (True Type Polyline extrusion)
Kevin McAllister replied to huangfba's topic in Solids Modeling
Ultimately there is no way to "bend" the letters in Vectorworks. Jonathan does list a few of the work arounds, but each has its drawback. To achieve this accurately I have done it in Rhino and imported it into a Vectorworks drawing. This would be a great wish list item. KM -
You could use Guides (submenu under the Modify menu). Guides can be turned on or off universally. Turn them off and they don't print. KM
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My Wish List for VW2011
Kevin McAllister replied to Jershaun's question in Wishlist - Feature and Content Requests
Thomas, You can already create section viewports with a variety of section planes. While on a sheet layer, select a viewport and choose Create Section Viewport from the View menu. Depending on the view of the original viewport and the direction of the section line you can get almost any section you need. Realizing you can create section viewports from other viewports was a great discovery for me. Hopefully it helps you too. KM