Drawing objects in 3D views

[Maz]

Hi:

I had earlier posted a question about the 2D/3D relationship in VW. This is a follow up:

I know I can draw an object an view it from any angle. But I can't figure out how I could draw an object, say a rectangle, while I am in angled view, say isometric AND see the object be drawn isometrically.

So far, when I try doing this, the object is always drawn in top/plan view, even if the working plane and the view are isometric.

Any idea what I am talking about?

thanks,

[Ray Libby]

A rectangle is a 2D object, you only have one view of a 2D object because there is no 3rd dimension yet. Draw the rectangle in plan and extrude it to make it 3D. Extrude it .001, pick your view and it will look like a rectangle in 3D.

[Maz]

Hi:

Apparently I didn't explain myself clearly. I know that you can draw anything and then change the view to see it at an angle. That is obvious.

But if the working plane or ground plane are in isometric view and you start drawing anything (whether 2D or 3D), the object you are drawing is not drawn on the working/ground plane but is drawn parallel to the monitor screen.

Its like looking at a picture of a landscape and a rectangle floating in the middle of the frame and parallel to the frame.

Or said in another way, what if you want to draw a building from a perspective view (not plan or elevations). How do you do it?

Thanks,

[Ray Libby]

Try the extruded rectangle tool. In my workspace it's on the 3D tools pallete.

[Maz]

that isn't what I am talking about.

[propstuff]

If I understand you Maz, you want to be looking in an isometric view, take a conventional (eg 3D polygon) tool, and have it draw the edges parallel to the standard x,y&z axis. (?)

If this is the case, it doesn't work that way. VW "always" draws and extrudes perpendicular to the screen. It's really quite a handy feature at times.

hth

N.

[Bart Rammeloo]

Maz,

If you want to draw in 3D, you

(a) need to use 3Dtools like 3Dpolygon or NURBS

(b) need to change your working plane so that your objects will be drawn in the correct plane.

The first one is easy - that's just a matter of selecting the right tool

The second on is also easy: with the 3D-arrow tool you can easily change your working plane (move and rotate), and with the Working Plane palet you can even save different working planes. There's also a tool that lets you define the working plane by clicking 3 points or by clicking a face of an object. All very simple to use.

[Edit: removed uncorrect information about I, J and K coordinates. Feeling pretty studid]

Cheers,

BaRa

[ 01-26-2004, 08:04 AM: Message edited by: BaRa ]

[Andrew Bell@NV]

quote:

---

Originally posted by propstuff:

If this is the case, it doesn't work that way. VW "always" draws and extrudes perpendicular to the screen. It's really quite a handy feature at times.

---

This is only true of the 2-D tools. 3-D tools generally work with the working plane, which by default is the X-Y plane.

There is no 3-D rectangle tool built-in to VectorWorks, just a 3-D polygon tool.

[Maz]

Prop:

That is exactly what I want to do. And as you mention it is not possible.

Now, what is so great about not being able to do that?

[Maz]

Hi:

Propstuff understood what I am trying to explain. please read his message above yours.

cheers,

[propstuff]

Hi again,

I understood the question but not the answer! HA! :-)

Andrew is correct.

I rarely use the rectilinear 3D tools and always start from 2D for polygonal extrudes, sweeps, lofts etc because of the ease of constructing them precisely and editng the polylines later.

(Then again it could be just the legacy of paper, T squares and pencils imbedded in my brain)

I just had a go with the 3D polygon tool in an isometric view and it worked for me.........

Although I've never really understood the 3D cursors. They don't seem to bear any relationship to anything that gets drawn when I do it.(??) Perhaps that's because my 3D work is rarely rectilinear?

hey ho,

cheers,

N.

[Maz]

Thanks everyone for answering my question.

cheers