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That seems to have worked! Thank you!... But I have to be in the Definition Layer for it to work, not in my Lighting Design Layer (the layer in which I originally drew the ladder)... is that correct?

I have created a lighting pipe ladder, using the tool, converted to a lighting position, and have then used the "Create Plot and Model View" command to put the ladder in the correct place in my model. Should I be able to add instruments to the ladder AFTER the "Create Plot and Model View" command? I figured if it was using a reference viewport, it should update - but I am having no luck. I add instruments to the ladder in my lighting design layer, but they are not showing up on the corresponding boom in the model. Is this something that should be possible and I'm doing something wrong? Or you have to get all your instruments "hung" before Create Plot and Model View command. I tried adding the instrument in the model layer, lighting layer and definition layer, same results - no instrument in the model layer. Thanks. the attached pic shows an instrument added to the Light Position Object on the left, and not showing up on the associated boom on the right.

Thanks I'm going to give this a shot. It seems odd to me that one has to go through such a process for this to work. But thanks!

Thanks for the response. It seems very strange to have a Light Pipe Ladder tool that you can't actually hang lights on, I mean really, what is the point!! Anyway, I created my own ladder using four pipes created with the Convert to Light Position, but now something even weirder is happening. When I move the pipes as a group, it usually works fine, but when i try to move it into the position I need it in on my set, four of the 8 lights disappear. I Undo, they come back. Move another direction, fine. Move where I need them, four disappear. I've been working on getting a simple 4 rung light ladder for over four hours now. I can't see why it is so difficult. Screen shots of the magically disappearing instruments attached. All I did was go to plan view, move the group, then back to front view, and they've gone. I am pulling my hair out.

When I use the lighting pipe ladder tool, seems to work fine in plan view, but in front view, all of the instruments are piled on top of each other on the top pipe of the ladder. If I try to place them when in front view, they jump to the top pipe. ?

Thanks. I was actually playing around with extracting the surfaces, only problem is the extracted surfaces are in exactly the same plane as the original surface (which is correct of course), but this means sometimes changing the color works, sometimes I have to move the new surface 1/8" or so from the original surface for the color to read. Make sense? I'll try the mesh thing. I'm doing it on step units where I want the various treads and risers to be different colors. And it would be helpful if there was an easy way to edit so I can edit the design on the fly. Thanks for the answers!

Is it possible to choose a different color (or image) for different surfaces of the same object? Say different color faces on the side of a cube? How would one do this?

Thank you! That's great.

Thanks, this makes sense.

I know there has to be a simple way of doing this, but I haven't found it yet... I have set with multiple screens and platforms that are re-arranged on stage for each scene. I've got all the pieces in 3D and can move them around as needed, however, is there a way of saving each "scene", i.e. the positions of all of the pieces, so that I can switch back and forth between them easily without having to drag each piece separately? Thanks.

Well, I was doing the transparent background wrong, alpha channel worked. Thank you! Still confusing why the color thing didn't work, but at least I finally have the prop I need. Appreciate all your help.

Thanks, I did actually try the transparent background option, same problem. Did not try alpha channel yet. As for the sliders, yeah, I just posted the pictures to show that nothing changed at all when changing settings. Thanks for the advice and files, I'll check them out. Much appreciated!

help?

I'm in vectorworks 2012.

I have created many, many image props from jpg and psd files in the past but something just came up that I don't seem to be able to figure out. I have a folder of photos that I have been using to create image props of "rock musicians" for a set. I created three already - importing the image into photoshop, erasing what I don't want and then creating a background layer in a vibrant color that vector works can use as the keyed out color. Then "Create Image Prop" in vectorworks, "Use This Props color" for the mask etc. All works fine. Until suddenly, it's not. The last image I've been working with, when I look at it in the "Create Mask" dialogue - the tolerance and color matching sliders do nothing. Changing the transparent color does nothing. The transparent color mask continues to be an unusable mess. I've tried changing the mode, background color, bits/channel etc in photoshop. Nothing changes. Restarted all programs and computer, same thing. All photos were form the same photographer and in the same format. What happened? What can I do to fix this? Thanks.

I made an image texture with an image mask of an expanded steel floor. I applied the texture to a 1/4" extruded rectangle to make a sheet of expanded steel. This worked great when rendering using OpenGL - I can see through the expanded steel and it maps great. When I render in renderworks - fast, fast with shadows, final quality - the object either entirely disappears (it's still there, I can select it), or just turns white. What am I doing wrong? Thanks Vectorworks 2010

What is the simplest way to create a 3D curved wall? I used the Arc tool, made the outside radius I wanted, then again for the inside wall radius. Connected the ends of the arcs using the line tool. Composed all. Extruded. But it does not come out as a solid. Only a wireframe shell (I just did an open GL rendering). In general I have a lot of problems using any type of curved line and trying to create a 3D object. Using polyline, freehand etc, I never get solid objects when I extrude. What is the process I should be using. Thanks so much.

Thanks!

The red line was my method - and notice how your red ellipse extends outside the boundary of the vertical edge of the door on the left? That was the problem I was having. I could then not find that left-most edge. But I believe that that red ellipse is now actually true perspective as the center point of the top has shifted to the left, but it's hard to get an accurate width once the ellipse is tilted.

OK, thanks, as long as I know not to look for a better method anymore! That's pretty much what I was doing.

Thanks, I've tried things like that but I'm really trying to find a way that is not "eyeballing" it. Seems like there has got to be something more accurate.

Vectorworks 2010

I am trying to draw a forced perspective archway on a flat. I can't find an accurate way of doing this. The ellipse needs to be tilted so that it's axis is not horizontal to match the perspective needed. When I take an ellipse, then rotate it, I can only snap to the "center left" or right, of the ellipse, and not the tangent of the ellipse that is now the furthest right or left point of the ellipse. thanks for all help.

Also, when I am in Front view and click on "Create section view" it flips me back to Top/plan view.

Thanks, that works pretty well. The only problem I am still having with it is the Class issue. If I have a bunch of repeating elements in the same class, but I only want to have an ortho of one of them, do I have to select one and put it in it's own class so that when I do a section viewport, I only get one? (Selecting in class options). Otherwise, when I do a section viewport I get everything in that class. Is there another way around this?