[Layers Question . . .]

Thanks for your help!!!!!!!

[Layers Question . . .]

To all,

Converting each layer to 'Top Plan' did the trick!!!!!

With Unified view enabled, as it has been all along, all became 'Top Plan.'

Works well now.

Again, thanks to a ll who helped out and kept at the problem.

The discussion section of the Vectorworks web site is sufficient reason to use the product even if it weren't the best already.

Ed in Brooklyn (moved from Dallas)

[Layers Question . . .]

Thanks for the reply!

All the things you suggest have been done earlier.

I can see the layer with the image on it, and then when I add a design layer above it it is opaque white.

One aspect: All the layers show they are 3D layers, I think. At least, they have small oblique cubes to the left of their names in the layers drop down menu. Should these be 2D layers and, if so, how are they created?

Also, do the choices in the 'Working Plane' drop down menu affect the visibility through the layers, or how the layers are seen?

I really can't see other variables.

[Layers Question . . .]

Thanks to all who answered my post (SEE BELOW) on 'seeing through' layers.

I still don't have what i need. When I make a new layer above the one with the photographic image (in this case from Google Earth, to make a site plan) the new layer is opaque white.

Is there any way to make the layers behave as they do in Photoshop, be 'transparent' until you put something on them.

Adjusting the layer transparency also makes the objects I'm drawing transparent, and that's not what I'm after.

Perhaps the answer is to do the drawing and then use Photoshop. Seems awkward.

Your help will be applauded !!!!

---------------------------------

ORIGINAL POST

I want to do a drawing with an aerial photo underlay, to do the drawing 'above' it.

I've put the photo on a layer, and have created a design layer above it.

The problem is that the design layer obscures the photo below.

How do I make the the design layer transparent and have only the lines and filled areas on that layer be visible over the photo?

I know there must be a simple answer, but I can't find it.

Thanks.

[Layers Question . . .]

I want to do a drawing with an aerial photo underlay, to do the drawing 'above' it.

I've put the photo on a layer, and have created a design layer above it.

The problem is that the design layer obscures the photo below.

How do I make the the design layer transparent and have only the lines and filled areas on that layer be visible over the photo?

I know there must be a simple answer, but I can't find it.

Thanks.

[Opening VW 2013 files with VW 2012?]

Thanks!

[Opening VW 2013 files with VW 2012?]

I need to open a colleague's VW 2013 files with my VW 2012 version.

How can I do that?

Thanks!

[How to make openings in walls?]

Thanks!

Very helpful.

[How to make openings in walls?]

Thanks !!!

A question: Can I then remove the window / door and have the opening remain?

Or, how can I make just an opening . . . say for a colonnade or series of arches, etc, to another open space (with no windows or doors to separate inside from out?

[How to make openings in walls?]

I'm just beginning to use the VW 2013 Wall Tools to model a rather complex small building.

Question: How does one make an opening in a wall while maintaining the wall characteristics? . . . for a window, door or just an unfilled opening?

Can you point me to a video or stop-by-step instruction? Does this work on walls make up of several layers of construction or components?

Many thanks.

[Applying textures to surfaces of a 3-D solid . . . ?]

Thanks for the prompt reply. I've built the model thus far by using 3-D shapes without designating them as 'wall' or 'slab.' Can I designate them after the fact? How?

Many thanks.

[Applying textures to surfaces of a 3-D solid . . . ?]

I am building a 3-D model of a building in VW 2013. I have generated a texture shader that represents board-marked concrete, the material of the exterior faces of the structure.

Can I use a shader from regular smooth concrete (no board marking) for other faces of the prismatic (non-curved) structure, such as interior columns, tops and inside of parapets, jambs and sills of openings, etc? Or do I need to generate a very thin 3-D layer of of board marked concrete to add to the exterior of the building as a 'skin'?

Thanks in advance for any help on this rather complex project.

[How to import a 3D Max (.3dm) file into VW 2013?]

Can I then import the file from Rhino?

Thanks!

[How to import a 3D Max (.3dm) file into VW 2013?]

One of my students gave me a project file in 3D Max (.3dm). How can I import it into VW 2013?

Thanks!

[Screen Background]

Thanks for the quick reply and solution!!

Ed in Dallas

[VW 2013 . . . Color background to sheets]

I just upgraded to VW 2013 and opened an earlier file (VW 2010). What had been a white background in the 2D drafting sheet is now a pale green.

How do I return the sheet tone to white?

Thanks,

Ed in Dallas

[RW 2010 Brick Texture changes orientation]

Thanks !!!

Your suggestions of Select Object, Go to OIT, and adjust Rotation . . . worked like a charm.

I appreciate the quick solution!

[RW 2010 Brick Texture changes orientation]

I have constructed a brick clad building in VW 2010 (Mac) using RW to create material textures. I modified the built-in "Brick" pattern.

The result has been very good. However, when I recently opened the file, the brick went from running horizontally to running vertically.

How do I get the pattern back to its correct orientation? What happened?

Any help will be much appreciated!

------

Ed in Dallas

[Adjusting transparency of Image Props]

I am learning to use image props in architectural models. I'd like the image props to display various degrees of transparency to allow buildings to be read through these entourage elements. Is there a way to achieve this?

Thanks in advance.

[Is there a 'best' way to import a SketchUp model to VW 2010?]

I would like to import a reasonably simple Sketchup model (row houses) into VW so I can use Renderworks to make a more sophisticated image.

Is there a good or 'best' way to do this? What are the hazards?

Thanks,

Ed in Dallas

[Want to model metal perforated with round holes]

I love the GRID TRANSPARENCY option in Renderworks Textures. It creates surfaces perforated with squares or rectangles.

Is there a way of creating surfaces perforated with circles? This would be very useful in modeling perforated metal for screens, sun control, balustrades, etc.

Thanks in advance!

[Upgrade Path to VW 2010]

I am using VW 2008 (academic) and would like to upgrade to 2010 (academic). Would the 2010 upgrade program do this directly or is the intermediate step of 2009 required?

Mac OS 10.5.8.

Thanks!

[How to create an 'open' grid?]

Thanks for the information! I used the pattern you uploaded and then created one of my own. Sometimes one needs a little push to understand a new technique!

[How to create an 'open' grid?]

I want to create an open grid texture in RenderWorks to simulate mesh for balustrades and fences. I can't seem to get the grid shader to work. The mesh needs to be "see through", essentially square voids in an opaque surface.

Software: VW with RW 2008.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Can I render AND retain lines on edges -- like Sketch-Up?]

Thanks for the info on GL. Works well with one exception -- many of the rectangular solids (walls, panels, etc) have a diagonal line on the major faces, from one corner to another.

Any ideas on how to eliminate this effect?

Best regards,

Ed