While I was writing this wish about projection settings I was reminded of a couple of bugbears I have about graphical projection in Vectorworks.
1. Better nomenclature
Vectorworks uses the term "Isometric" to describe a view that can in fact be isometric or perspective, depending on whether the user has perspective or orthogonal projection active. (and in fact the icons in the Standard View dropdown menu in the View Bar show perspective projection).
I understand why it's like this, because there's no good nomenclature that describes both an isometric and perspective view from a standard angle. Except perhaps "3D", but then the Top, Front, Right, Bottom, Back and Left views can also be 3D views.
One way around this could be to use dynamic menus that change depending on the projection that is currently active. So if isometric projection is active the Standard View menu would offer "Right Isometric". If perspective projection is active it would offer "Right Perspective" instead.
2. Fix oblique views
I don't ever remember the Oblique Cavalier and Oblique Cabinet views ever consistently working properly. In fact in 2023 they don't seem to do anything. And in 2022 it's much the same problem.
But, apart from wanting them to actually work, the same principle as item 1 could be applied. If Oblique Cavalier 45 projection is active, the Standard Views menu would dynamically change to describe views as Oblique Cavalier 45, and provide the ability to switch between different views while maintaining Oblique Cavalier 45 projection.
3. Custom Parallel Projection settings
Even better would be a new Custom Parallel Projection settings window, allowing us create custom axonometry, which we can save as Styles. Vectorworks could then include all the most common ones as Parallel Projection Styles, including Dimetric and Trimetric.
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Christiaan
While I was writing this wish about projection settings I was reminded of a couple of bugbears I have about graphical projection in Vectorworks.
1. Better nomenclature
Vectorworks uses the term "Isometric" to describe a view that can in fact be isometric or perspective, depending on whether the user has perspective or orthogonal projection active. (and in fact the icons in the Standard View dropdown menu in the View Bar show perspective projection).
I understand why it's like this, because there's no good nomenclature that describes both an isometric and perspective view from a standard angle. Except perhaps "3D", but then the Top, Front, Right, Bottom, Back and Left views can also be 3D views.
One way around this could be to use dynamic menus that change depending on the projection that is currently active. So if isometric projection is active the Standard View menu would offer "Right Isometric". If perspective projection is active it would offer "Right Perspective" instead.
2. Fix oblique views
I don't ever remember the Oblique Cavalier and Oblique Cabinet views ever consistently working properly. In fact in 2023 they don't seem to do anything. And in 2022 it's much the same problem.
But, apart from wanting them to actually work, the same principle as item 1 could be applied. If Oblique Cavalier 45 projection is active, the Standard Views menu would dynamically change to describe views as Oblique Cavalier 45, and provide the ability to switch between different views while maintaining Oblique Cavalier 45 projection.
3. Custom Parallel Projection settings
Even better would be a new Custom Parallel Projection settings window, allowing us create custom axonometry, which we can save as Styles. Vectorworks could then include all the most common ones as Parallel Projection Styles, including Dimetric and Trimetric.
4. View widget/cube + behave like Blender
See:
https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/101549-overhaul-of-graphical-projection/#comment-444807
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