Elevations

[bellarch]

Is there a way to use a drawing created in 3D to create elevations?

[Ray Libby]

Please create a signature with your version of Vectorworks and computer specs including OS. Click on the My Stuff link at the top, My Profile.

This will make it possible to help.

[Pat Stanford]

If you have a recent version of VW (2008/2009, maybe 12), you can use the Create Section Viewport command and draw the section line outside the model to get an elevation.

[Jonathan Pickup]

there are two main ways to use the 3D model to create your elevations. the first method is as Pat says, use the section viewport to make the elevation viewport. this works well at the early stages of the project, but may not work well for you at the working drawing (contract documents). at CD stage you might find that converting your 3D model to a line drawing using the command, Modify > convert > convert Copy to Lines, is more useful.

if you have the Vectorworks Essential Tutorial manual available from http://www.nemetschek.net/training/guides.php, you will find detailed instructions on both methods. this manual is avialable for Vectorworks 2009. If you have an earlier version of Vectorworks then the manual is available from http://www.archoncad.com

[gmm18]

I don't see anyone yet suggesting the most basic method,

which is to create a "front, side, or back" view Viewport, and render with Hidden Line.

You should be able to find easy instructions just by hitting the Help button

in the upper right side of the menu bar.

[Jonathan Pickup]

front, back or side viewports might work, but not if the building is not square on the page, or if you want the building on the site with the ground line shown.

[cad@sggsa]

gmm18.

I also thought of that but if you need to see the inside you wont be able to use that route.

I would go with the section tool on this one.

[gmm18]

I didn't think they were asking for a section view, just a simple elevation...

It sounded to me like bellarch is a beginner, and sometimes keeping it simple is the best way to start.

Don't want to scare people off on their first post...

[Christiaan]

gmm18, while it's unintuitive, the section tool is also an elevation tool.

[Dieter @ DWorks]

front, back or side viewports might work, but not if the building is not square on the page, or if you want the building on the site with the ground line shown.

You can set the view to other angles!

And normal viewports are faster then section viewports.

Edited March 11, 2009 by DWorks

[visard]

Wouldn't you also like to mention the kind of elevation. Exterior elevations are easily shown by projecting the model, looking at it from front, back and side and rendering in hidden line. But interior elevations can only be constructed from a closed model with the section viewport tool, then rendered in hidden line. And yes, once you get into CD's a convert to line elevation is often the only way to show the image you want since modeling fine detail is both crude and time consuming.

Edited March 11, 2009 by visard

[Bruce Kieffer]

gmm18, while it's unintuitive, the section tool is also an elevation tool.

Christiaan,

Can you explain this further?

[Jeffrey W Ouellette]

Bruce,

Look at the BIM sample file "Alexandria Lofts". The "Create Section Viewport..." command is used to create a)building sections and partial building sections, b) wall sections, c) building elevations, and d) interior elevations.

The only difference is the location of the section "cut" and the extents that are displayed.

To get a building elevation, cut lay the section line down parallel to the facacde you wish to display, say 10' from the facade, then point back to the building.