3D light postions dissapear in plan

[Keileen]

I am having a frustrating time setting up my lighting grid in V. 12.5. I want to draw my grid as a collection of 3D object pipes so I can assign the correct z value above the stage floor and create an accurate section view. However, everytime I convert a 3D object into a light position it dissapears in top/plan view. It reappears accurately in a side or isometric view, so I know it is there. But I need the plan view representation so I can place my lighting instruments.

I tried creating a symbol from a 3d obj first and then inserting it with the light position object tool. The created symbol worked in all views, but as soon as I placed it as a light position it once again dissapeared in plan.

The 2D light positions I create work just fine (but obviously don't project into 3D views.) I'm working in show/snap/modify for classes, I have a few classes set to invisible as they would crowd the drawing, but "none" is set to visible. This just doesn't make sense.

Is this just an inherent problem? Is there a way around it? Right now I'm about to tear my hair out.

[Keileen]

The name of the light position is visible--and I can select it, but the vertex handles also seem to indicate that nothing is present in plan view other than the position name.

[Rick Martin]

Kiersten, your objects need to have 2D data in them - right click on the lighting position object in the resource browser and edit 2D. Add a line that is the same size as your 3D object.

[David Ormsby]

Rick is correct, you need 2D data. When you convert a 3D object into a Lighting Position, it becomes a Hybrid Object, and the only 2D data in your are the text.

Actually, if you edit your symbol in 3D, from the top view, you can draw a rectangle directly over your 3D pipe. This way you will be sure the 2D and 3D are aligned with each other.

[Rick Martin]

That's a great tip David! The 2D elements are automatically moved from the 3D space into the 2D space.

[Jim_Allen]

This is from a thread last fall:

Here is the order of steps. Try this in a fresh, layerless, classless file.

1) draw a line

2) select the line and copy it

3) create symbol... - make sure that you select "leave instance in place"

4) right click on the newly made symbol in the resource browser and select "edit... 3D"

5) select "edit - paste in place". The line that you copied in #2) should paste in place.

6) extrude that line.

7) exit the symbol.

8) reselect the symbol on the page.

9) convert it into a lighting position.

10) now everytime you add the symbol as a position - you will be able to give it a z value.

Note that if you are extruding a line for the 3D portion you get nothing but a vertical plane. In order to get a "pipe", you need to draw a circle, extrude it into a pipe, and then reorient it into the proper position - all while working in the 3D part of the symbol's resource.

[michaelk]

Actually, you can skip a couple of steps.

1. Draw a line.

2. Duplicate line

3. Extrude duplicate.

4. Select both

5. Group

6. Convert to Light position.

You don't need to create a symbol unless you will be using similar positions again (like battens)

In that case:

5.5 Create symbol. (Leave instance in place as necessary.)

6. Place symbol as a light position.

HTH

Michael K

[Cris with no H]

Actually, VW will create a symbol every time you use Convert to Lighting Position. The nice thing is, you can then use that symbol over and over to create identically shaped new positions. Save some file space.

Cris Dopher

[michaelk]

Chris

You're right, of course.

Although sometimes, like with battens, I like to create a batten as a 2D/3D hybrid symbol, but not a lighting position. And then use the lighting position tool to place a batten as an electric while using the symbol itself to be a batten...

But that's usually the only time I use the lighting position tool.

Michael K

[Cris with no H]

Although sometimes, like with battens, I like to create a batten as a 2D/3D hybrid symbol, but not a lighting position. And then use the lighting position tool to place a batten as an electric while using the symbol itself to be a batten.

That's a great idea!